Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-31

look at the charge that Confederate officer
ordered lieutenant who was carrying a
little negro boy on the saddle before him, to
put down the lad and shoot him. As the
story goes, the lieutenant put down the boy,
but refused to shoot him, whereupon the
commanding off Ger himself shot him. 1
was charged with being that officer. The
man who witnessed, as he said, this Incl
dent, affirmed that this brutal officer wore
star on his shoulder. In the speech made
in Congress alluding to this affair ex-
planned that, since I wore two stars en-
circled with a wreath, which was the inslg-
have been that officer"
ANOTHER MASSACRE.
''But such an incident might have hap
pened at Fort Pillow"
"No; it could not have happened at all,
for this reason: The women and children
had all been sent away before the fight.
There were no boys there. The feeling
against the black soldiers was, of course.
massacre OF negroes / ever saw was in the
battle Of Tishamingo creek. 1t is called by
the Federals, think, the battle of Bryce's
Cross Roads. That was the greatest victory
gained in the war, considering the number
of men engaged in it. It was complete
wipe out of the Union troops by Forrest.
Forrest and his cavalry were on a narrow
plain between the Hatchee and Tallahatchee
rivers. Forrest had only 4, 800 men, while
the Federals, under General Sturgis, had
$1,000 infantry and 5000 cavalry. The
cavalry came up first, and we easily de-
feated them. having a greater number of
men and position, and they went flying to
the rear. Sturgis, hearing Of the rout of
his cavalry, hurried up his infantry at
double quick from six miles away.
"They came running up painting, their
tongues hanging from their mouths, breath
less from their long and hurried MARCH, and
as they met the flying cavalry. thinking the
woods to be full Of Forests men, they
never stopped to form but also fled, we fol-
lowing in hot pursuit. Among the Federals
were several negro regiments, and Forrest
had heard that they had been made to swear
upon their bended knees that they would
show no quarter to Forests men. They
bore on their banners, Remember Fort
Pillow" and "No quarter to Forests
Men," This aroused the rage of our troops,
and they shot down every negro they could.
The woods were full of dead negroes. For
rest had 1000 prisoners, and as he heard
that no quarter was to be shown 10 his men
he notified General Washburn at Memphis
that if such was the case. he should proceed
to execute his prisoners, but this was not
done"
GENERAL FORREST.
''Did you ever hear how Forrest went
into Memphis and captured General WASH
burns uniiorm?"
81 do not remember to have heard that
incident. 1t must have been quite an es-
capade."
"Indeed it was. You see General Hurl-
burt, who had been in command at Mem
phis, had been superseded by Washburn
because be had not been able to capture
Forrest At that time we had only 5000
men, and Forrest came to me one day and
said: i will give you half of our force,
and if you can keep Washburn busy will
get into Memphis 1 agreed, and 2, 500 men
were assigned to me, with which managed
to occupy General A. G. Smith until For
rest actually got into Memphis. al
though he had to leave in short
order, of course, not having men
enough to hold the place. He went into
Washburn's bedroom and captured his uni
form, which he afterward sent to him under
flag of truce. Washburn acknowledged
the compliment by sending him in return
piece of grey cloth for Confederate use.
Such were some of the little pleasantries of
the war. Forrest was always dare devil,
and up to any rash undertaking. General
Hurlburt is said to have complained that he
had been removed for not capturing Forrest,
while Washburn had not been able to even
keep him out of his bedroom"
A GOOD SOLDIER.
"What did you think of Forrest?"
Forrest undoubtedly did more for the
Coufederacy than any other officer. consid-
ering the force under his command. He
was strange man. He seemed to have two
distinct sides to bis character. He had the
mildest blue eyes 1 ever saw, and could be
very gentle and soft in his manner, especially
when in the presence of ladies; but when in
battle and when enraged, have seen him
wear the face of a fend. He was hand
some man, six feet tall. weighing 180
pounds, with not a superfuous ounce upon
him He was an ignorant, unlettered man,
he could talk very we'll, having
associated with gentlemen. His great fort
was in strategy, but as for military tactics,
he knew nothing of them. He could net
drill his men, and that part was left to
me.''
Forrest is said to have been very brutal
man."
FORESTS men were always ready to fol-
low him because they were inspired by his
dash and bravery. He was absolutely fear
less. He was fatalist, and, like the Mar
madukes, believed that he could not die un-
til his appointed time. Forrest denied the
slaughter and burnings at Fort Pillow, in a
with Ben Wade, of Ohio,
President Hayes being present at the time"
SOPHIE SPARKLE.