The National tribune., 1888-02-09

tended back from the river, IN which were
number Of buildings comprising the town;
while on the bank Of the river at the mouth Of
this ravine were the QnaTtermaster and Com
miss2ry Buildings
The garrison consisted OF q section Of the I'd
z. S. Art. (colored), one battalion Of the 9Th Q.
s. a. A. fcoiored) under the command Of Aaj.
L F. Booth. and one battalion Of the 18th
Tenn. Cav. fwhite), commanded by Maj. w. 4.
Bradford IN all about 800 cOlored and $50 white
troops Mai Booth, being the ranking officer,
was IN command Of the post. TIE fort mount
ed six pieces Of artillery, consisting OF two g.
pOunders two I2-pOHndeF howitzers and two
10-pouDder PARROTS. The tin-clad gunboat No.
New Era, Capt. Marshall, took part in the
conflict, Ehelling the enemy IS they showed
themselves iu the ravines.
The writer was az the time on detached serV-
ice az the post as Acting Assistant Surgeon, his
regiment. the 7th Kan. Cav, being home on
veteran furiOugh. The hospitals were located
some distance in front and 10 the left or south
Of the fort, on the opposite Of the ravine in
which the town was situated, and were neees-
Esrily exposed and soon fell into the hands of
the eRemy, By WHOM the buildings and tents
were free and destroyed.
The enemy appeared IN force at suurise on
the different r0aGs, aud after some slight skir-
mishing our forces were ordered into the fort.
The attack WAS so sudden that we had no time
70 get the SEX 70 q safe place. temporary
hospital was located on the river bank at the
foot % tae bluif and directly IN rear Of the
fort
While standing on the esTthworks Of the
fort with Surgeon Fitch, watching the effect Of
Our shells he received severe wound in the
hip from some sharrsho0ler. This was the
FIRST casually, and occurred about 7:30 2. u.
Shortly after
EAJ. BOOTH WAS SHOT DEAD
FL
his shells. had his body carried down under
the bluff and mailing the guntoat asked Capt
Marshall 10 send a boat ashore for the dead
body, and also 20 get the Surgeon on board "a
have his wound dressed, as we had no instru.
uonts. No attention, however, was paid K
bhiE request, and ] was compelled afterward tc
witness the most revolving iBdignities shown
70 the remains Of this brave man By the chiE
airy"
Our troops we're poorly supplied with small
srms, many naviug none, aud the ammunition
Was soon exhausted by the white men Of To,
18th Tenn; bat with al these drawbacks thi
enemy gas repglsed several times and held a
bay until aaout > ?. m, when Forrest fndinl
At 8 costly Way Of taking the fort. E.. b.
fighting for it-resortsd 10 his usual tactics c
getting into better position under cover Of
flag Of truce in which ne demanded the
USc0NDITIoSAL SURRENDER OF TIE PLACE
giving Maj Bradford is minutes 10 march III
troops out. IL Was while this flag was IN tia
WenOtioed our hospitals IN flames. Afterward
i was known that many Of the sick wer
burned in these hospital buildings-aH col
oreo-mostiy smallpox patients; the white
being IN g building near the fort. Maj Brad
ford after consulting moment with his of
GERS refused 70 surrender. While this flag {
truce was flying, a steamer lthe Liberty
passed down stream, not making any stog
There were troops Gu board. la about 20 mir
utsE after this 3 large steamer the Div
Branch passed up also without stopping w
noticed this boat had a large number Of sol
diem on board, als0 artillery on the forwar
part
] have read the statement made by Gen. {
y. Shepiey 70 the committee appointed BY Cor
gress 20 investigate this affair. he was a pa
senger on this vessel at the time, and state
that There was no firing at tie fort az th
time. The Union Gag was flying, and afts
we passed the fort we could sec Tag Of true
outside the Qualifications" I have only TO sa
that II Gen. Shepiey or any one on board tn
Olive Branch saw that flag Of truce, they coul
also soc 81 least three brigades Of rebels as I'll
point where this flag was planted was a
ground alopinF back from the fort with col
siderable rise Of ground between the lag an