that he would not surrender. Immediately after the second flag of truce retired, the rebels made a rush from the positions they had treacherously gained, while the flags of truce were sent in, and obtained possession of the fort, raising the cry of no quarter. But little opportunity was allowed for resistance. The Federal troops, black and white, threw down their arms, and sought to escape by running down the steep bluff near the fort, and secreting themselves behind trees and logs, in the bushes, and under the brush, some even jumping into the river, leaving only their heads above the water as they crouched down under the bank.

The scenes which now followed became a subject of investigation by a Committee of Congress, who state in their report as follows:

The rebels commenced an indiscriminate slaughter, sparing neither age nor sex, white or black, soldier or civilian. The officers and men seemed to vie with each other in the devilish work. Men, women, and even children, wherever found, were deliberately shot down, beaten, and hacked with sabres. Some of the children not more than ten years old, were forced to stand up and face their mothers while being shot. The sick and wounded were butchered without mercy, the rebels even entering the hospital buildings, and dragging them out to be shot, or killing them as they lay there unable to offer the least resistance. All over the hillside the work of murder was going on. Numbers of our men were gathered together in lines or groups and deliberately shot. Some were shot while in the river, while others on the bank were shot and their bodies kicked into the water, many of them still living, but unable to make any exertion to save themselves from drowning. Some of the rebels stood upon the top of the hill, or a short distance down its side, and called to our soldiers to come up to them, and as they approached shot them down in cold blood; if their guns or pistols missed fire, forcing them to stand there until they were again prepared to fire. All around were heard cries of "No quarter, no quarter;" "Kill the d-n niggers;" "Shoot them down." All who asked for mercy were answered by the most cruel taunts and sneers. Some were spared for a time only to be murdered under circumstances of greater cruelty. No cruelty which the most fiendish malignity could devise was omitted by these murderers. One white soldier, who was wounded in the leg so as to be unable to walk, was made to stand up while his tormentors shot him. Others who were wounded and unable to stand up were held up and again shot. One negro who had been ordered by a rebel officer to hold his horse was killed by him when he remonstrated. Another, a mere child, whom an officer had taken up behind him on his horse, was seen by Chalmers, who at once ordered the officer to put him down, and shoot him, which was done. The huts and tents in which many of the wounded had sought shelter were set on fire both that night and the next morning, while the wounded were still in them, those only escaping who were able to get themselves out, or who could prevail on others less injured than themselves to help them out; and even some of them thus seeking to escape the flames were met by these ruffians and brutally shot down, or had their brains beaten out. One man was deliberately fastened down to the floor of a tent, face upwards, by means of nails driven through his clothing and into the boards under him so that he could not possibly escape, and then the tent set on fire. Another was nailed to the side of a building, outside of the fort, and then the building set on fire and burned. The charred remains of five or six bodies were afterwards found, all but one so much disfigured and consumed by the flames that

they could not be identified, and the identification of that one is not absolutely certain, although there can hardly be a doubt that it was the body of Lieut. Akerstrom, quartermaster of the 18th Virginia cavalry, and a native Tennessean. Several witnesses who saw the remains, and who were personally acquainted with him while living here, testified that it is their firm belief that it was his body that was thus treated. These deeds of murder and cruelty closed when night came on, only to be renewed the next morning, when the demons carefully sought among the dead lying about in all directions for any other wounded yet alive, and those they killed. Scores of the dead and wounded from some of our gunboats, who were permitted to were found there the day of the massacre by the men go on shore and collect the wounded and bury the dead. The rebels themselves had made a pretence of burying a great many of their victims, but they had merely thrown them, without the least regard to care or decency, into the trenches and ditches about the fort, or the little hollows and ravines on the hillside, covering them but partially with earth. Portions of heads and faces, hands and feet, were found protruding through the earth in every direction even when your committee visited the spot two weeks afterward, although parties of men had been sent on shore from time to time to bury the bodies unburied, and re-bury the others, and were even then engaged in the same work. We found evidences of this murder and cruelty still most painful. We saw bodies still unburied, at some distance from the fort, of some sick men, who had been fleeing from the hospital, and beaten down and brutally murdered, and their bodies left where they had fallen. We could still see the faces, and hands, and feet of men, white and black, protruding out of the ground, whose graves had not been reached by those engaged in reinterring the victims of the massacre; and although a great deal of rain had fallen within the preceding two weeks, the ground, more especially on the side at the foot of the bluff where the most of the murders had been committed, was still discolored by the blood of our brave but unfortunate men, and the logs and trees showed but too plainly the evidences of the atrocities perpetrated there. Many other instances of equally atrocious cruelty might be enumerated, but your committee feel compelled to refrain from giving here more of the heart-sickening details, and refer to the statements contained in the voluminous testimony herewith submitted. Those statements were obtained by them from eye-witnesses and sufferers. Many of them, as they were examined by your committee, were lying upon beds of pain and suffering; some so feeble that their lips could with difficulty frame the words by which they endeavored to convey some idea of the cruelty which had been inflicted on them, and which they had seen inflicted on others. In reference to the fate of Major Bradford, who was in command of the fort when it was captured, and who had, up to that time, received no injury, there seems to be no doubt. The general understanding everywhere seemed to be that he had been brutally murdered the day after he was taken prisoner. How many of our troops thus fell victims to the malignity and barbarity of Forrest and his followers cannot yet be definitely ascertained. Two officers belonging to the garrison were absent at the time of the capture and massacre. Of the remaining officers but two are known to be living, and they are wounded, and now in the hospital at Mound City. One of them (Capt. Porter) may even now be dead, as the surgeons, when your committee were there, expressed no hope of his recovery. Of the men, from three hundred to four hundred are known to have been killed at Fort Pillow, of whom at least three hundred were murdered in cold blood, after the fort was in possession of the rebels, and our men had thrown down their arms and ceased to offer resistance. Of the survivors, except the wounded in the hospital at Mound City, and the few who suc

ceeded in making their escape unhurt, nothing definite is known, and it is to be feared that many have been murdered after being taken away from the fort. When your committee arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, they found and examined a man (Mr. McLogan) who had been conscripted by some of Forrest's forces, but who, with other conscripts, had succeeded in making his escape. He testifies that while two companies of rebel troops, with Major Bradford and many other prisoners, were on their march from Brownsville and Jackson, Tennessee, Major Bradford was taken by five rebels, one an officer, led about fifty yards from the line of march, and deliberately murdered in view of all those assembled. He fell, killed instantly by three musket balls, and while asking that his life might be spared, as he had fought them manfully, and was deserving of a better fate. The motive for the murder of Major Bradford seems to have been the simple fact that, although a native of the South, he remained loyal to his Government. On the other side is the following statement by Lieut.-Gen. S. D. Lee, who was in command of the Confederate department. It is part of a letter on the subject, dated June 28th:

As commanding officer of this department, I desire to make the following statement concerning the capture of Fort Pillow-a statement supported in a great measure by the evidence of one of your own officers captured at that place. The version given by you and your Government is untrue, and not sustained by the facts to the extent that you indicate. The garrison was summoned in the usual manner, and its commanding officer assumed the responsibility of refusing to surrender, after having been informed by Gen. Forrest of his ability to take the fort, and of his fears as to what the result would be in case the demand was not complied with. The assault was made under a heavy fire and with considerable loss to the attacking party. Your colors were never lowered and your garrison never surrendered, but retreated under cover of a gunboat, with arms in their hands and constantly using them. This was true particularly of your colored troops, who had been firmly convinced by your teachings of the certainty of slaughter in case of capture. Even under these circumstances many of your men-white and blackwere taken prisoners. I respectfully refer you to history for numerous cases of indiscriminate slaughter after successful assault, even under less aggravated circumstances. It is generally conceded by all military precedent that where the issue had been fairly presented and the ability displayed, fearful results are expected to follow a refusal to surrender. The case under consideration is almost an extreme You had a servile race armed against their masters, and in a country which had been desolated by almost unprecedented outrages.

one.

I assert that our officers, with all the circumstances against them, endeavored to prevent the effusion of blood; and as an evidence of this, I refer you to the fact that both white and colored prisoners were taken, and are now in our hands. As regards the battle of Tishimingo Creek, the statements of your negro witnesses are not to be relied on. In their panic they acted as might have been expected from their previous impressions. I do not think many of them were killed-they are yet wandering over the country, attempting to return to their masters. With reference to the status of those captured at Tishimingo Creek and Fort Pillow, I will state that, unless otherwise ordered by my government, they will not be regarded as prisoners of war, but will be retained and humanely treated, subject to such future instructions as may be indicated.

Your letter contains many implied threats; these, of course, you can make, and you are fully entitled to any satisfaction that you may feel from having

made them.

It is my intention, and that also of my subordinate

officers, to conduct this war upon civilized principles, provided you permit us to do so; and I take this occasion to state that we will not shirk from any responsibility that your actions may force upon us. We are engaged in a struggle for the protection of our homes and firesides, for the maintenance of our national existence and liberty; we have counted the cost, and are prepared to go to any extremes; and though it is far from our wish to fight under a black flag, still, if you drive us to it, we will accept the issue. Your troops virtually fought under it at the battle of Tishimingo Creek, and the prisoners taken there state that they went into battle under the impression that they would receive no quarter, and, I suppose, with the determination to give none.

I will further remark, that if it is raised, so far as your soldiers are concerned, there can be no distinction, for the unfortunate people whom you pretend to be aiding are not considered entirely responsible for their acts, influenced, as they are, by the superior intellect of their white brothers. I enclose for your affair, which were procured from the writer after the consideration certain papers touching the Fort Pillow exaggerated statements of your press were seen. I am, general, yours, respectfully,

S. D. LEE, Lieutenant-General.

Forrest and Chalmers "both entered the fort The report of the enemy stated that Gens. from opposite sides, simultaneously, and an indiscriminate slaughter followed. One hundred prisoners were taken and the balance slain. The fort ran with blood. Many jumped into the river and were drowned, or shot in the water. Over $100,000 worth of stores were taken, and six guns captured. The Confederate loss was seventy-five. Lieut.-Col. Reed, of the 5th Mississippi, was mortally wounded."

A party of the enemy on the capture of Fort Pillow made an advance against Columbus, Gen. Buford being in command of their force.

On the 13th he sent the following summons to the commander of the fort:

HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY, Į BEFORE COLUMBUS, KY., April 13, 1864. To the Commander of the United States forces, Columbus, Ky:

Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison by force, I desire to avoid shedding blood. I therefore demand the unconditional surrender of the forces under your command. Should you surrender, the negroes now in arms will be returned to their masters. Should I be compelled to take the place by force, no quarters will be shown negro troops whatever; white troops will be treated as prisoners of war. I am, sir, yours,

Á. BUFORD, Brig.-Gen.

This demand was refused, and Gen. Buford retired without making an attack. At the same time an excitement arose at Paducah, under apprehension of another attack of the enemy. The entire forces, however, retired to Bolivar, Trenton, and Grand Junction. For further military operations in this part of the country, see KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI.

Some active operations took place in North Carolina. The important ports on the sounds, as Newbern, Washington, Plymouth, &c., had been held since their capture by the forces under Gen. Burnside. On the 1st of February, a force of the enemy under Gen. Picket, consisting of Gen. Hoke's brigade, with a part of Gens. Corse's and Clingman's, made an assault

on the Federal outpost at Bachelor's Creek, eight miles from Newbern, and captured it with seventy-five prisoners. They then advanced toward Newbern, where an attack was greatly feared. Before daylight on the next morning a party in barges captured the gunboat Underwriter, with her officers and a portion of her crew. The steamer was aground, but so lay as to cover a portion of the fortifications between Fort Anderson and Fort Stevens, at Newbern. Gen. Picket thus reported his expedition:

To Gen. S. Cooper:

KINSTON, February 3, 1864.

I made a reconnoissance within a mile and a half

of Newbern, with Hoke's brigade, and a part of Corse's and Clingman's, and some artillery; met the enemy in force at Batchelor's Creek, killed and wounded about one hundred in all, captured thirteen officers and two hundred and eighty prisoners, fourteen negroes, two rifled pieces and caissons, three hundred stand of small arms, four ambulan ces, three wagons, fifty-five animals, a quantity of clothing, camp, and garrison equipage, and two flags. Commander Wood, Confederate States navy, captured and destroyed the United States gunboat Underwriter. Our loss thirty-five killed and wound

ed.

G. E. PICKET,

Major-General Commanding.

The next movement of importance made by the enemy was the capture of Plymouth. This town is on the south bank of the Roanoke River, about eight miles from its mouth. The river flows in an easterly direction into Albemarle Sound. The town originally contained about one thousand inhabitants, but was burned by the Union fleet two years previously. It had been held for some time as a key to the river, and had been strongly fortified. A breastwork with strong forts at different points along the line, had been constructed. Another strong work, called Fort Gray, had also been constructed about a mile further up the river, opposite which a triple row of piles had been driven, to which torpedoes were attached, to serve as a protection to the fleet below. The enemy had a powerful iron-clad ram in the river above. Still further up there was another row of piles with torpedoes, near which a picket boat was stationed to watch the iron-clad. The Federal gunboats Southfield and Miami were anchored in the river opposite the town. The garrison of the town was about twentyfour hundred men, under command of Gen. Wessels. They composed the 85th New York infantry regiment, 101st Pennsylvania infantry regiment, 103d Pennsylvania infantry regiment, 16th Connecticut infantry regiment, two companies of the Massachusetts heavy artillery, two companies of the 2d North Carolina volunteers, two companies of the 12th New York cavalry.

The approach of the enemy was unknown, until they began to appear about 3 P. M., April 17th, in the rear of the town, driving in the Union pickets. A brisk artillery fire was soon opened upon Fort Gray, which continued with some vigor until near midnight. About daylight on the next morning the contest was renewed,

and two charges were made during the forenoon, which were repulsed. In the afternoon, two guns of the enemy were captured by a sortie from the fort. The gunboats then took a position, one above and the other below the town, and the contest continued fiercely until night, when it ceased without any advantage to the enemy. Early the next morning the picket boat up the river reported that the ironclad had passed down. The gunboats were immediately lashed together, to make a joint resistance to the iron-clad. This had scarcely been done when she appeared within a hundred yards. As they approached each other, the gunboats fired without effect. The ram first struck the Miami, and gliding off struck the Southfield on her left side, crushing in six shell at the iron-clad, which rebounded and or eight feet square. The Miami now fired a killed her captain, Flusser, and wounded eight persons. Becoming separated from the Southfield, the Miami was swung round by the current, and unable for a time to render further assistance. The Southfield was now rapidly sinking, and her crew took to the boats and fled. The Miami, after her loss, withdrew. The iron-clad, called the Albemarle, under command of J. W. Coke, came down to the mouth of the river, outside of which were four gunboats. Her position in the river cut off all hopes of sending reenforcements to Gen. Wessels, and he surrendered to Brig.-Gen. Hoke on the next day. This surrender was thus announced by Gen. Peck, in command of the department:

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY AND DISTRICT OF { NORTH CAROLINA, NEWBERN, N. C., April 21, 1864. General Orders No. 66:

With feelings of the deepest sorrow the commanding general announces the fall of Plymouth, N.C., H. W. Wessels, and his command. This result, howand the capture of its gallant commander, Brig.-Gen. ever, did not obtain until after the most gallant and determined resistance had been made. Five times the enemy stormed the lines of the general, and as many times were they repulsed with great slaughter; clad ram, and the floating sharpshooter battery, the and but for the powerful assistance of the rebel ironCotton Plant, Plymouth would still have been in our hands. For their noble defence the gallant Gen. Wessels and his brave band have, and deserve the

warmest thinks of the whole country, while all will sympathize with them in their misfortune.

To the officers and men of the navy the commanding general tenders his thanks for their hearty cooperation with the army, and the bravery, determination, and courage that marked their part of the unequal contest. With sorrow he records the death of the noble sailor and gallant patriot, Lieut.-Com. C. W. Flusser, U. S. Navy, who in the heat of battle fell dead on the deck of his ship, with the lanyard of his gun in his hand.

The commanding general believes that these misfortunes will tend, not to discourage, but to nerve the army of North Carolina to equal deeds of bravery and gallantry hereafter.

Until further orders, the headquarters of the subdistrict of the Albemarle will be at Roanoke Island.

The command devolves upon Col. D. W. Wardrop, of the 99th New York infantry.

By command of Maj.-Gen. JOHN G. PECK.
J. A. JUDSON, Ass't Adj't-Gen.

General Orders No. 5.

While the troops of this command may exult and take just pride in their many victories over the enemy, yet a portion of them have, within a few days, been guilty of an outrage against humanity which brings the blush of shame to the cheek of every true man and soldier.

It is well known that, during the late evacuation of Washington, North Carolina, that town was fired, and nearly, if not entirely, consumed, thus wantonly rendering houseless and homeless hundreds of poor women and children (many of them the families of soldiers in our own army), and destroying the last vestige of the once happy homes of those men who have now given up all to serve their country in the hour of peril. And this was done by men in the military service of the United States.

It is also well known that the army vandals did not even respect the charitable institutions, but, bursting open the doors of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges, pillaged them both, and hawked about the streets the regalia and jewels. And this, 00, by United States troops. It is well known, too, that both public and private stores were entered and plundered, and that devastation and destruction ruled the hour.

The commanding general had, until this time, believed it impossible that any troops in his command could have committed so disgraceful an act as this, which now blackens the fame of the army of North Carolina. He finds, however, that he was sadly mistaken; and that the ranks are disgraced by men who are not soldiers, but thieves and scoundrels, dead to all sense of honor and humanity, for whom no pun

ishment can be too severe.

The commanding general is well aware what troops were in the town of Washington when the flames first appeared. He knows what troops last left the place. He knows that in the ranks of only two of the regiments in the district of North Carolina the culprits now stand. To save the reputation of the command, it is hoped that the guilty parties may be ferreted out by the officers who were in Washington

at the time of these occurrences.

This order will be read at the head of every regiment and detachment in this command, at dress parade, on the day succeeding its receipt, and at the head of the 17th Massachusetts volunteers, and the 15th Connecticut volunteers, at dress parade, every day for ten consecutive days, or until the guilty par

ties are found.

By command of Brig.-Gen. I. N. PALMER. J. A. JUDSON, Ass't Adj't-Gen.

Subsequently the iron-clad Albemarle was destroyed by Lieut. Cushing, of the navy (see NAVAL OPERATIONS), and Plymouth recaptured. Some military expeditions from Newbern into the State, were made during the year. (See NORTH CAROLINA.)

VOL. IV.-5 A

In Virginia, a few desultory operations took place previous to the commencement of the great campaign of the year. On the 3d of dred animals, was captured by the enemy on its January a supply train, consisting of two hunreturn from Petersburg, in West Virginia, to New Creek. A few of the men and animals escaped. The enemy, being in considerable force, now made several demonstrations for the purpose of reaching the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, but were unsuccessful. On January 28th, a train from New Creek to Petersburg, laden with commissary stores for the garrison at the latter place, was attacked three miles south of Williamsport, and, after a sharp contest, captured by the enemy. The losses in this region in horses, wagons, stores, &c., to February 1st, was estimated at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

The headquarters of Gen. Meade, in command of the Army of the Potomac, was near Culpepper Court House. This position was occupied by that army, from December, 1863, until May, 1864. The army of Gen. Lee, on the south side of the Rapidan, confronted it. A few reconnoissances were made, but without important results. A cavalry expedition into the neighborhood of Richmond was the most active movement at this period of the year. It commenced with the advance of the 8th corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, from Madison Court House, on February 27th. A division under Gen. Birney followed on the next day. Madison Court House was occupied by a brigade of infantry, with a small force of cavalry, but the main force was encamped along the heights of Robertson's River. From this position pickets were sent out to the right and left. Gen. Birney's force occupied James City, a small village west of Culpepper. Meanwhile a cavalry force under Gen. Custer pushed forward by way of Madison Court House, in the direction of Charlottesville, the junction of the Alexandria with the Lynchburg railroad. About the same time, in the afternoon of the 28th, Gen. Kilpatrick, with his division of cavalry, and a portion of Gens. Merritt's and Gregg's divisions, with a light battery of six guns, being nearly eight thousand men, left Stevensburg for the lower fords of the Rapidan, intending to make a dash upon Richmond. This force crossed at Germania and Ely's Fords, distant about sixty miles from Richmond. The command encamped on that night eight miles south of the Rapidan.

The headquarters of Gen. Lee were at Orange Court House, and the movements of the infantry with the command of Gen. Custer, toward Charlottesville, threatened to turn his left, and thus serve as a diversion in favor of the advance of Gen. Kilpatrick. Early on the morning of the 28th (Monday), Gen. Custer pushed forward across the Rapidan, and passing through Stannardsville arrived within four miles of Charlottesville. Here a body of cavalry under Col. Caskie were encountered. Six caissons, some camp equipage, and a few