The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-24

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUNNI: DR.. John NJ.
wyeths letter, in answer to mine OF the 18th inst,
is but = repetition Of the arguments used in his
magazine story Of the OF Fort Pillow. Iii
idle TO state that Major Booth would have sur
rendered II he had not been shot before the demand
was made or that Major Bradford WAS incompetent
for not laying down his arms and delivering the
refugee slaves" hs Dr. wyeth calls them) to tho
tender mercies OF such ruthless enemy as the e1-
slave trader known TO be. or to be held "prs
oners OF war" by their former masters.
Jefferson Davis issued a proclamat on on the Esd
day of December, 1852, which was binding on all
Confederate officers That all negro slaves captured
in arms he at once delivered over to tho executive
authorities OF their respective States to be dealt
with according to the laws OF said States
That the like orders be executed in all cases with
respect to all commissioned officers of the United
States when found serving in company with said
slaves in instruction against the authorities Of the
different States OF the Confederacy.
jefferson Davis also outlawed Gems. Butler and
Mcneil and mmanded all officers to hang them i'm.
mediately whom captured. No wonder that Booth and
Bradford refused to surrender. Mr.. wyeth may take
front rank a. historian. but must fall back to the
rear as soldier whom he states that snch loss is in
evitable and is always TO be expected when
sAulting column superior in numbers carries by
storm stronghold in which the defenders refuse to
surrender and resist to the last
Forrest. in his report. says; Upward OF 500
Killed. but few oficers escaping. y . My loss
was about twenty killed"
An assaulting column usually loses heavily whom
desperate resistance 10 made. but, according to
Forrest and also Wyeth. there could have been very
Little nghting on the part OF the garrison.
Mr.. Wyeth gives various excuses for tho slaughter
viz: Between the parties TO these mel Oh borhood
feuds the laws OF did not prevail and so In this
melee. in the heat and excitement OF the assault
with no surrender and the enemy's flag still fl ing
and mi off ha Eata a1s Apht 10
found excuse and made opportunity for bloody ven.
gsAnce." Thicker than leaves the lives began to
fall"
Again. Mr.. wyeth says; "A number who had
thrown away their guns. holding up their hands.
ran toward the Confederatss their former masters)
and surrendered while unfortunately some who did
this were shot down" And the historian in lily
adds: Had the garrison surrendered then. there
would have been no further loss Of life" Mr.
Wyeth also says that notwithstanding Bradford
incompetency, the drunkenness OF portion Of the
garrison and the extreme provocation Of such an
insane resistance. the writer (Wyeth) Is convinced
that in the passion and excitement OF this handto
hand a. encounter there a mum Der of Federas
both white and black shot down when trying to
render. and should have been spared"
Now Mr.. Wyeth writes in THE Sun Il am sure
that he will agree with me, that there no mas.
at Fort Pillow and that Gen. Forrest did all
thatA humane commander could have done to pre-.
vent the unnecessary loss OF Ire. On, no. Mr..
Wyeth. cannot agree with you. Here are two ex.
tracts from history in HGrptr's Adgd:in::
The Confederate General then rode to 4 position
400 yards from the fort upon commanding knoll.
from which he could observe the conduct Of his
troops. and when the twenty minutes had expired,
Gen Forrest stopped the slaughter as soon as he
could reach the fort to which he rode rapidly
possible
And this great cavalry leader could not ride a
quarter Of mile fast enough to stop the slaughter
until the river was dyed with blood for 200
yards. and upward OF 500 former slaves were killed
Few OF the white officers escaping. Gen. Forrest
was q great com mAnder so was "Suwarrow, who
| loved blood rs an alderman loves marrow
Mr.. wyeth refers to the investigation Of the
massacre by Congress and says; AS no retaliation
was ever made there is in that fact OF this invest
| cation an admission that massacre occurred. -
There's logic for you. Because President Lincoln
did not set price the heads OF several Confed
| crate Generals. Butler and Mcneil must be grea,
criminals. and because the garrison of Fort Pillow
| did no: surrender in twenty minutes. they mus
| he put to the sword! Why. Mr. Wyeth, the gar
rson Of Port Hudson held out six week,
| against Gen. Banks. but the colored troops wer,
turned loose their former m asters at the sur
render. How long did Nicksburg hold out and how
| long did Richmond hold out? Did Grant Lpassacr,
| Pembertons men, or were the colored troops o.
| Weitzsl allowed to murder every one in Richmond
| No. Mr.. wyeth. Grant paroled all the vicksbur!
| men and sent them homo. and the colored troop
were used to eItinguish the flames at Richmond ant
| protect the property of their former masters.
| Gen. N. B. Forrest may have shown tho qualitie
| of great commander but he will 90 wn in hiator,
| 40 the hero Of the Massacre OF Fort Pillow"
| GEORGE K. ABBOTT.
| Late lSIst New York Volunteers.