The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-11-30

vision. Forrest led Bells brigade. and
Chalmers led McCullochs brigade in per
son. About noon our forces Withdrew
from their intrenchments and occupied
the fort One Of the most conservative 70
historians Of the civil war writes:
About o'clock the fire on both sides
slackened somewhat, and the gunhoat
moved out in the river to cool aud clean
the guns. The rebels having thus tailed
in the attack, resortsd to the customary
flags of truce The first flag conveyed
demand from Gen Forrest for the un
conditional surrender Of the fort To
this Major Bradford replied, asking tn he
allowed an hour to consult with his Off
GERS and the officers in command Of the
gunboat In a short time a second flag
| OF truce appeared with a communication
from Gen. Forrest. lie would allow Ma
jor Bradford twenty minutes in which to
move his troops out Of the fort. and, if il
was not done. an assault would be order
ed. To this Major Bradford replied that
he would not surrender. Immediately
after the second flag Of truce retired, the
rebels made n rush from the positions
they had trescherously gained while the
flags of truce were sent in. and obtained
possession of the fort. raising the cry of
No quarterP But little opportunity was
allowed for resistance. The Federal
troops, white and black. threw down
their arms, and sought To escape by run.
ming down the steep bluff near the fort.
and secreting themselves behind trees
and logs, in the bushes and under the
brush. some even jumping into the river, |
leaving only their heads above the water |
as they crOuched under the bank. The |
II I'll 4 4. 4.
ject of investigation by a committee OF
Congress, who state in their report as
follows;
VIII.
The rebels commenced an indiscrim- |
mate slaughter. sparing neither age or /
sex, white or black, soldier or civilian /
The officers and men seemed to vie with /
each other in the devilish work. Men, /
women and even children. wherever /
found. were deliberately shot down,
beaten. and hacked with sabres.
"Some OF the children. not more than
ten years old. were iorc+d To stand up |
and face their mothers while being shot
The sick and wounded were butcher
ed without mercy. the rebels even enter
ing the hospital buildings, and dragging
them out to he rhot. or killing them as
ahFN W NAANs VIZ ANN0N
resistance.
"All over the hillside the work Of mur-
der WAS going on. Numbers OF our men
were gathered together in lines or groups
and deliberately shot. Some were shot
while in the river. while others on the
bank were shot and their bodirs kicked
into the water. many OF them still living.
but unable to make any exertion to save
themselves from drowning
"Some of the rebels stood at the top OF
the hill, or a short distance down its
side. and called to our soldiers TO come
up to them. and, as they approached.
shot them down in cold blood; il their
guns or pistols missed fire. forcing them
to stand there until they again were pre-
pared to fire.
"AlI around were heard cries Of No :
quarter No quArterH Kill the d-n
niggers-' Shoot them down. All who /
asked for mercy were answered by the
most cruel taunts and sneers. Some
we're spared for time. only TO be mur
lered under circumstances OF greater
,ruelty. No cruelty which the most I
irndish malignity could devise was /
omitted by these murderrrs. One white !
Ioldier who was wounded in the leg. wa 4
made to stand up while his tormentors a
hot him. Others who were wounded
md unable to stand up. were held up
md again shot. One negro who had q
been ordered by a rebel officer to hold =
ais horse. was shot by him when be re {
v
Another, a mere child, whom an off q
,er had taken behind him on a horse. b
vas seen by Chalmers. who at once or :
Tered the officer to put him down and {
hoot him-which was done. h
A. n. l.
he wounded sought shelter were set on
ire, both that night and next morning
While the wounded were still liz them.
hose only escaping who were able to get y
,ut themselves, or who could prevail on a
,thers, less injured than themselves, to q
lelp them out and even some Of them,
hus seeking to escape the flames, were
net by these ruffians, and brutally shot I
Town, or had their brains beaten out
)ne man was deliberately fastened down o
% the floor of the tent by means of nails
lriven through his clothing and into the
,oards under him, so that he could not
possibly escape. and then the tent VIA
ct on fire. Another was nailed to the
ide OF a building. outside OF the for;.
md then the building was set on fire and 1
,urned. The charred remains of FIVE or u
iN bodies were alterward found, all hut =
ne too much disfgured and consumed z
" the flames that they could not be- y
Identified, aud the Identification OF thai /
,ne is not absolutely certain" II
TX
These deeds Of cruelty and murder
,losed when night came OF only To be. ~. :
irwed the next morning, when the de-
mons carefully sought among the dead :
wing about ia all directions tor any other
Wounded yet alive. aud those they killed .
scores of the dead and wounded were
ound there the day alter the massacre. .
~ the mrn from some OF our gun. boat
= ho were PERMITTED TO 70 on shore and
collect the wounded and bury the dead
rhe rebels themselves had piad- pre-. /,
.rns- OF burying a great many of their :
lictims, tut they had merely thrown
,h-m, without regard To care or decency, ,
INTO the trenches and bitches about the
ort, or the little hollows aud rayines on !,
The hill side, covering them but partially !
With earth. Portions Of heads aud iacrs !
hands aud feet, were found prUtruding
through the earth IN every direction.
even when your committee visited the
spot two weeks aitpTward, although par.
lies OF men had been sent on shpr. from !
time to time to bury the bodies unburi-d
and re bury the others, aud were even
then engaged in the same work
X.
1--WE found evidences Of this murder |
and cruelty still more painful. We saw
bodies still unburied at some distanc.
from the tort OF some sick men who had
been fleeing from the hospital aud beaten I
down and cruelty murdered aud their !
bodi.s let where they had fallen We
could see the faces and hands of men.
white and black. prOtruding out Of the
Whose gravrs bad not been |