The Washington herald., 1914-04-12

Fifty years ago today a Confederate
cavalry force under Gen. Nathan B. For
rest captured Fort Pillow, Tenn. on tn,
Mississippi River, forty miles above Mem
phis. with such heavy loss of life to tn,
garrison that the slaughter was termed q
massacre.
Fort Pillow was a strong earthwork or
the blum Of the river, well constructed
and considered impregnable against ordi'
nary assault The defenses were In thret
disttnctlines: two exterior parapets and
an inner citadel occupying the crest OF
the bluff. This inner fort was horseshot
shaped, its tanks resting on, the edge OF
the blum. and its walls 120 yards from end
to end. The distance across the heel OF
this horseshoe, along the bluff, was
scarcely seventy yards.
The earth wall or parapet was about six
feet high, and equally as thick. Directly
outside II was a ditch eight feet deep and
twelve feet wide. An enemy jumping to
the bottom of this dry moat thus would
have approximately fourteen feet of
earth wall to scale before he could gain
a foothold on the top Of the parapet.
The garrison of the fort consisted of
the First Battalion, Sixth United States
Heavy Artillery (colored), Maj. Lionel F.
Booth, 221 men: one section Company ID,
Second United States Light Artillery
(colored), Il men; and First Battalion,
Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry, Mai. W.
+. Bradford. 2e5 men. Total white
troops. 2s5; total coIored troops. 26e;
grand total, 5S7. Mai. Booth was the
senior officer and in command.
There were no guns on the outer walls
OF the fort. but the inner citadel mount
ed six field pieces-two 6-pounders, two
R-pounder howitzers, and two 1o-pounder
PARROTS.
In addition, the Federal gunboat New
Era, or Number Seven. commanded by
Acting Master James Marshall, was pa
trolling the river. ready to stand by and
shell any attacking force.
The Fort Attacked.
Gen Forrest had been in West Ten
nessee nearly a month.
Having gathered his troops near Jack
son. Tenn, seventy mides northeast of
Memphis, he dispatched Gen. James R.
Chalmers with about 15oo against Fort
Pillow.
This force moved from the vicinity of
Jackson April II, and came in sight of
the Federal fort at dawn next day.
Gen. Chalmers attacked at once. His
men dashed forward. and after an OBJ
stinate fight gained possession of the
two outer defenses by IL o'clock. The
Federals retired within the interior fort
ress and the Confederates sheltered
themselves behind the outer face OF the
second line Of defenses, 800 yards from
the fort.
The Federal commander, Maj. Booth,
was killed about 9 o'clock. while fighting
beside his men. His successor, Maj.
Bradford. though brave, had had but lit
tie practical experience as q soldier.
Shortly after the Confederates gained
possession OF the second line of earth |
works Gen. Forrest arrived on the scene, |
accompanied by a small escort. |
South OF the fort, in a deep gully which |
ran down to the waters edge between II |
and the second line OF defenses, was a
row Of wooden shanties that had been
used for storehouses and sleeping quar-
tiers by the Federals. Forrest determined
10 gain lodgment at this point. for the
position. though within 15O yards of the
fort. was too low to be commanded by
the Federal cannon
1t did not take many minutes for the
Confederates to rush forward into the de-
sired position. Their sharpshooters were
installed in the shanties and soon were
busy picking of Federals who were bold
enough to show themselves above tne
parapet. This was shortly after II
o'clock.
For two hours there was desultory hr-
ing. But at l o'clock Gen. Forrest or
dered his men to occupy a deep gully i'm
mediately north of Fort Pillow. This
gully. through which ran Coal Creek, ex-
tended to the waters edge, correspond
ing with the depression on the south side
Of the fort
The troops north Of the fort slowly
worked their way under fire into Coal
Creek gully. BY o'clock the movement
had been completed. and the Confeder-
ates were here within seventy-ive yards
Of the Federal works.
Federals Refuse Surrender.
About 8 o'clock Forrest sent a demand
for surrender to the FederaIs, assuring
them that they would be treated as pris-
oners of war.
Il can take your works by assault, and
If compelled to do SO you must take the
the demand concluded
To this Maj. Bradford replied, asking
for an hours time to consult with his
own officers and those of the gunboat ,
New Era To keep the Confederates in
ignorance Of the loss of Mai. Booth the .
latter's name was signed to this COM
,
FORREST refused to grant the delay !
asked and Maj Bradford declined TO :
surrender. Gen. Forrest then gave an :
order to carry the fort by storm. ,
While the truce was in progress. four !
vessels had approached the fort. three :
from below and one from above. One.
the Liberty, was loaded with Federal 4
troops. Another. the Olive Branch, pIy-
ing between New Orleans and St Louis, | b