The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-05-07
THE FORT PILLOW MASSACRE"
4 Story tf the War Again Proved
False,

a Story ef the War Again Proved
| False.
| Myths die hard, but the alleged
Fort Pillow massacre received
blow in the Nashville Round Table
| of March s that must prove absolute
| ly fatal-in the minds, at least, of
persons not wholly impervious to
facts.
Politicians during the war, and Re-
publican partisans since have per,
sistently chargedGenaal Forrest and
General Chalmers, his subordinate,
with having massacred the garrison
of Fort Pillow after the surrender
and while prisoners of war. Mr..
Charles W. Anderson, formerly adju
tant and mspector-general of Gener-
nj Forests cavalry corps, the only
staff officer present with Forrest at
the storminS Of the fort, shows III
the Round Table that there was no
massacre, that the fort was not sur
rendered, though it's surrender was
three demanded and refused, and
that the loss of life during the fifteen
minutes Of the action was due to the
total ineapacity of the command
ing officer.
! Fort Pillow was a fortified position
on bluff overlooking the Mississippi
river. In it's rear was deep ravine,
which could be swept by the guns Of
the New Era, vessel which lay
abreast to the mouth Of the ravine,
| below the fort. Higher up the stream
and near the fort were the empty
barges ready to receive the garrison IN
case of need.
There was an understanding it is
shown between Major Bradford, the
commandant al the fort, and Cap
tain Marshal, of the New Err, that,
if driven from the fort by the Con-
federates, the garrison should take
refuge under the bluff, where it would
be efectualy protected by the New
Era's canister. Ammunition was
placed under the bluff in readiness
for use by the garrison in case the
works above could not be held. A
miscalculation as to the grit of the
captain of the New Era spoiled this
| plan of the defense.
General Forests first opera Jon
was to drive the New Era from its
position commanding the Rayine
,c,OSs which the COnfcderateS were
to advance. This he effected by
placing two pieces Of artillery on the
| bluff below the rarine. The Confed-
crate line was then, under heavy
fire. closed in rapidly around the
works. Having sounded bugle call
for truce and parley, General For
rest now sent forward a white flag to
deman the unconditional surrender
of all the troops at Fort Pillow. He
knew" says Adjutant Anderson,
that the place was practically in his
possession, as the enemy could not
depress then artillery SO as to rake
! rrthe-s1eres tile f0T7s: the
constant fire of our sharpshooters
forced the besieeed to keep down be-
hind their parapets." The demand
was renewed twice, when rejected,
IN the belief that the federal COM
nander must see the folly Of resist
ing under the circumstances a force
so much larger than his own.
Major Bradford, however, relying
upon his arrangements with Captain
Marshal for protection under the
] bluff when the fort was taken, refused
all offers. Meanwhile the sight OF
three steamers ascending the river
with reinforcements led General For
rest to place force of $50 rifemen
under Adult INT Anderson i'll a posi-
ton on the face of the blutt. Inns
force not only served to prevent the
troops on the steamers from effect
ing landing, but, being within sixty
yards OF the south entrance OF the
fort. it commanded the line OF re-
treat upon which Major Bradford re-
lied.
This was the situation when Gen
eral Forrest gave the signal to as
sault the fort. At once the yells all
along the line OF charging Confeder
ates. followed by terrible discharge
Of the batteries and small arms OF
the garrison, A few moments latera
portion of the garrison rushed down
towards the river and were met with 4
destructive fire from a dct1chalent I'M
Jnr 3diutant Anderson. The IL;
umphant yells Of the Confederates as
they moutned the enemys parapets
were heard again, and followed this
time in a moment by the whole force
of the garrison pouring over the slope
of the bluff, with arms in hand, seek
ING tue protection Of the New Era's
gins. Under the fire of AdiutantAn-
derson's men they fell thick and fast
being in utter dismay and confusion
at finding the appointed place Of ref
uge in the enelny's hands. Under
this fire and that of their pursuers OF
the assaulting line some $50 were
killed within a few minutes. There
had been Us yet no surrender. Nor
was there any.
As soon as General Forrest entered
the fort he hauled down the1ag. aAd
that was followed Immediately. by a
cessation Of the firing. The mo-
ment." says Adiutant Anderson, ''the
federal colors came down | ordered
firing to cease, and it Was promptly
| done. :.
| What has been calleda massacre
was this firing Of Anderson's men
upon armed force doing battle, such
armed force not having surrendered
and being without intention of sur.
rendering. 1t is IN obvious abuse OF
language, OF course, to call a special
| " destructive collision of armed men
q massacre.
The assault on the works. the at
tempted retreat to the river, the woe
ful disaster consequent upon the fail