The National tribune., 1884-01-24
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
The Fort Pillow Massacre.
itor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

interested IN the many thrilling accounts
therein given Of the cruel war of the rebel
lion. but / have looked in vain for a detailed
account Of the great slaughter of Union soldiers
at Fort Pillow by rebels under Forrest and
Chalmers, which occurred on the 10th of April,
1864. At that time i was pilot on the United
States gunboat New Era, of the Mississippi
squadron. It carried four guns ll2-pounders),
was of the class called tin-clad, and was
patroling the Mississippi River in the vicinity
of Fort Pillow, which was situated on bluff on
the east side of the river some forty-fve miles
above Memphis, Tenn.
The fort was built of logs and dirt, with
PORTFOLIOS for musketgy and artillery. 1t was
not considered formidable against an army,
but with the assistance Of one or more gum
boats, it was thought TO be strong enough 10
repel any ordinary force. Its artillery con-
sisted of three I6pound guns. 1t was garri-
soned by colored troops principally, and was
commanded by two as brave officers as ever
fought battle, namely, Majors Booth and
Bradford.
On the 10th of April, 1864, Major Booth re-
ceived news from Memphis that Forrest with
a division Of cavalry, was coming, and that it
was his purpose to attack the fort. The orders
received by Major Booth were 10 hold the fort
at al hazards, and he at once communicated
the sane to Captain Marshall, who commanded
the United States gunb02t New Era, which
was lying there at that time IN anticipation OF
such news. A general survey of the situation
was then commenced aad signals arranged for
the coming events. The cavalry kept con-
staDtly Oh the lookout until the evening OF the
11th, at 6 p. M, when Forests advance was
reported within SIX miles Of the fort.
THE FIRST ATTACK.
At6a m, on the 10Th Of April, General
Chalmers with his brigade, attacked and drove
in the Dirkeis Of the fort. and our gunboat was
called into action. Captain Marshall took po-
sitiOn IN The pilot-house TO communicate with
he fort - 10 the position of the enemy and to
direct our fire at them. They were in plain
sight. at from 900 10 GOO yards distant from
our boat forming half circle around the fort.
They. npened fire with musketry, their srtil-
lery net having yet arrived. AT 6:20 the
gunboat began firing, using the fuse shell with
terrible effect TIE artillery Of the fortopened
on them as the same time with canister,
shot and shell making dreadful havoc
in their ranks and causing them TO tenn
porarily disperse. During the lull in the fight
Major Booth ordered al officers and soldiers
inside he fort. and directed that ali tents out
side should be burned, IN order that the view
Of the garrison might be Un0bstTucted. IL was
while setting Ere 70 tent that he fed, NOR
tally wounded. MAJOR Bradford then assumed
command Of the fort he too was cool and
brave officer The QuarterInaster of the fort,
however, refused TO 20 into the fort, but went
instead into a log house containing commissaTy
and QuaFterTnaster stores, which was situated
near the riveE-about one hundred aud fifty
yards below the foIt-and remained there.
This house was burned with the cuartermaster
IN il, and his charred remains were found the
following day while we were gathering and
burying our dead. But to return: The fort
with the assistance Of the gunboat, kept the
rebels at a safe distance until 10 o'clock, when
Forrest arrived with foIr-poEnd gun, with
which he opened on the gunboat and struck
the piiot-house two CHANGING hcks, either of
which would have gone through had they
struck fair on the side or end. When the first
shot struck, Captain Marshall and | were both
severely stunned. and just as soon as the cap
tain could get his breath he ordered me 10
shear OF" but when the second shot struck
he scooted down the ladder for the lower deck,
and shouted back to NE 70 take care Of the
boat. Observing that the farther Out into the
river We got the better range they mad on US, l
brought the boat back IN close to shore, where
they could not dep1ess their artillery sufi-
Gently 10 hit rs. The rebel sharpshooters had
by this time cleared the upper deck, and l was
the only person able 70 see what was going on.
Captain Marshall ordered me TO direct the
firing which did quite successfully, siiencing
the rebels little bakery.
THAT FALSE FLAG OF TRUCE.
About u O'Clock noon Forrest started his
lag Of trace to the fort, which / reported 10
Captain Marshall below, who ordered me TO
conc to anchor. ] accordingly ran the boat
within speaking distance of the fort and an
cb0rcd. We had been there about forty five
minutes whgn the flag returned to the rebel
Lines, during which time about two hundred
rebels came down 20 the duaFtermasters house
and dressed themselves ia Federal uniform.
and then retained 20 their own Iine-ail Of
which I SHY and reported 10 Captain Marshall,
and INSISTED thai f9e should open On them. for
they were most certainly violating truce that
they themselves had asked for. But no: he
world BoL DO il; be said Iie was bound 20 respect
tag oi trace And 50 the last cllsnce OF saving
the fort H4s thrown away Another flag of truce
was presently SEM to the foFt, and. Il the same
time, tbe rebeis-Hart IN Federal uniform
advanced their lines. aad got 50 close 10 the
fort tbat ii bid them from my sight while The
flag u truce was at or near the fort. Imme
ciately after tie flag had disappeared from my
sight, the rebels came pouring over he works
into the fort with Tolley Of muslzctry and Z
rebel YELL and Major bradford Immediately
Surrendered. The fig Of tie fort was taken
down bg tae rebels and firing ceased. in about
three Or four minutes the rebcis Tehoisted thG
flag and then q general slaughter cnsGed
MAJOR Bradford, with al his living soldiers
ran dOWa tic biuE and jumped into the river
and tried 70 swim 10 our boat but the most Of
them were shot in the water and disappeared
from our view. MAJOR Bradford, however. al
though the rebel bullets struck the water al
about hits, was not injured, and being assured
by rebel officer that If he would come ashore
be wouia be treated as prisoner OF war, ht
did 50.
By this time the surgeon the nurses, and th,
wounded had al been slaughtered at the hos
pital tent At the waters edge, and the frin;
ceased. The gunboat wasstill wing II anchor
witbin fQnr hundred yards Of the fort and il
plain vicw Of the artillery IN H. without posi-
biiity Of being reached by the rebel 8-pounder
Our armor was proof against muslzetrY and al
Ensign Charles T. Scbetkcy informed M.
though Captain Marshall reported 10 the con
trary Notwithstanding the boat had plenty O
ammunition for several such fights left. Never
theless apfain Marshall ordered the anchor
up and the boat gotten under way and HEADED
Up stream aud the order was promptly obeyed
The rebels however, thought to make shors
work Of s also for just as soon as we got In ran 2,
OF the gums il the fort they fired three shots
81 Of which struck the water very close to ug
As the resi- Of the ammunition Tor the eunl
was concealed IN the bluff, where they couls
not find IT, they were unable to continue tn,
fire. 1t was a narrow escape. indeed, FOR ha,
the boat been crippled by the shot, We shout,
have become an easy prey TO the mereiles
rebels.
AT that time, Of al the troops that occupie,
the fort - the beginning OF the battle Majo
Bradford and Captain Young were the OIL.
ones alive!
AFTER THE BATTLE.
i was p. n. when We left the fort and ",
oid come oanehor unti IL MISUNDERSTANDING