New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
GENERAL FORREST AT FORT PILLOW.

GENERAL FORREST AT FORT PILLOW
LITTER FROM GENERAL s. D. Ike IN RELATION To
THE CAPTURE OB THE FORT DENIAL THAT
THERE WAS A MASSACRE.
To the Edftor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Ny attention has just been called to the
obituary General Forrest published iu your paper OF
October 80, In which occurs this passage:
His next exploit was at Port Pillow Cn Aprin. whore
blacks and whites. soldiers and nOncumbatauts, men,
women aud children, were slaughtered. with 10 more
dlscrtmifar ion than humanity "It " In vain" Mr.
Greeley says IN hs American Conflict" that Forrest
and his superior. LeuIenant-Gener 2. D. Lee under
paate this internal atrOciiy, IN defiance Of their
own Jscord. II human testimony ever did or
esfFTsh any thing. then this y proved case ~
deliberate wholesale massacre ~ prisoners oi WI AFTER
tney had surrenderod-mauy OF them long aite-and io
the naked reason that some ~ thom were DaeA' aha
others lighting IA black company
/ think it due to General Forrest that this matter
should be cleared Up. thought it ranked as one oil
those obsolete les started By sensational press 10 M
fame public opinion during the war, which history had
dsproved long ago have personal interest in TIE
matter, was not present the occasion. But A.
brother officer think justice should Dee done the reputa
ton OF brave At The time, boins In command %
the department, had investigation made, not 20
"pallgie," Mr. Greeley says. but 20 present unds-
puted facts. They are, briefly these The place was IN
tenable military position; the interior of the fort
commanded by knobs around II. aud there was
space adjacent, convenient for massng troops
OF the attacking party which could not be reached
from the fort. There a number Of huts which
they had elected 10 destroy, which afforded protection
III advancing. The usual demand FOR The surrender ~
the place regularly made and declined In his ies-
tinony the captain OF the gunboat says there dts
unct understanding between himself and the cou.-
mander OF the garrison that il the Confederate were
successful in the assaul, the troops were Go retreat
under the bh 20 the protection of Do. guns This plan
was carried out. The garrison did surrender pun
down tine ag. In leaving ting crest OF ther works and
r,tgoatng toward the gunboat they did not leave OFF
firing What claimed by the Fedcras 20 bee
a violation of flag Of truce, merely military pre-
caution at the sight OF reiuforcemonts coming TO the
fort 10 the necessary consequence of the mcnacinE
approach, OF transport bearing troops. wnle he truce
exstod-and when the commander ~ the fort was ma-
lies is -ecng Ia gain time bv negotiations, with the
hope of wing succor 10 D., To- bee noted n.
singular that while tie Federal Cpinmi--ioucr, Oing
exhibits clearly thc fact that they examined ell sey
into the conduct OF General -Lepey, IN not carrying
succor a mis- very Juuctur o ihe FORT IAcy accepted
his excuse. bis tnauIty. not that there Vas truce.
Tie garrison NJ tho made up io.low- 'sec
l3m Tennessee Cavalry Major William p bradford com
handing, 10 Office o. ana 80 enlisted men IT. b't''.
ON United states Heavy Afihrit tc'illn'l'' .i,'
and 2l3 enlisted mcni one section Company D. "a
Unted states Llshf ARTILLERY c"orea cIh,.li- sioA 90
OIL, in all J57.' The asserted mlum8u iIasicrc Is
wounded over tO thc Federal AUTHORIZES Hno it.u'n'd
with : officers ana 10 mcu, prisoners oi war
military men know that in the successful as-auI oil
fortified position. tAt victorious sac ls hard tu restrain.
thcir best cudcavof-. TAe luhs Oh Nc VIII cUmIUr
tayorhly with auy otter u-a,-orl pct cent came oA
without hich, hi fhc statistic, GOA both Sides
d. "a fair average. Two hundred aud unrtteu Utn and
seven officers, from 90. exclusive OF V..ndei Dr. hni
humiliation. As for the statement that o. men,
women ami children were rlu-ht.. Get Win
no more discrimination than humanity, VIII
say. there seldom llr-e number O4
women or children such pIatciud % any were flcrt
d. wac unknown to thr Con.ederlirs now assert that
10 those c1lorcd troops" had been White mcu, t- skill
mi,h would never have bcea known as nn " internal
atrocty' There we're Atrocities DO every battle ut lur
Wat-I Wholesale slaughter oil TUE men. Nur'u and
Southland Dis absurd to pass u these over iui make
ana eUoUuty Ot single aSou. HIS a tlH uAfu lu
rake over the asIcs ~ hate tO hud something io
blight mans obituary Now THAT Forrest ir del let
liz uo lam Justice. Yours uu.y, F. J.. lii.
COItMGaS, IiSs., Soy. o. l-1I.