Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-16
Matters Mt Paducah-The People Fright.
auad and RlwfuG,

Matters nt Pnduc0h-The People frtghts
ened and FIyinGi
The Cairo correspondent Of the ST. Louis
Democrat, of the 18th inst, gives the follow
ing picture of things at Paducah, now the
center Of interest:
A sullen, gloomy aspect pervaded the city,
indicative of the most rebellious and obsti-
nate feeling. Every place Of business was
closed. Knots of men stood at every cor
ner, with knit, compressed brows and quiv-
eripg lips, and occasionally suppressed
cheer would arise for JEFF. Davis and curses
on what they termed Lincoln's Abolition
troops. The troops, with heavy, measuredv,
tread, marched on. As we got further up
town, women and children ran out and
cheered for JEFF. Davis. The women seemed
crazy with excitement. A musket went OIL
oy accident in the rear ranks. The first inn
preston was that the troops had been fired
into; but not a head was turned, and the
column moved steadily on. On arriving at
the depot, it was found that all the rolling
stock had been sent off. A large quantity
Of eontraband supplies, marked for the rebel
| States, were found in the depot and imme-
diately seized. They were marked for Fort
| Gibson, Memphis, Union City and New Or
! leans. The whole value Of the seizure is
! over $40, 900.
Among these goods seized were about six
| hundred barrels of Aour, one hundred barrels
of lard, one hundred and sixty bags of coffee,
large quantity of leather, several hundred
boxes of starch, soap and candles, several
hogsheads of bacon, boxes of boots and shoes,
and large quantity of rations.
A large detachment of five companies of
infantry and battery ofSmith's light artil-
lery-the gallant Lieutenant Ohas. Willard,
commanding-all under Major Phillips, were
detached and marched rapidly down the
railroad about seven miles. No enemy was
I,,A Tod iy,
large force advancing, q large bridge and
trestle work were burned in order to prevent
his taking us by surprise.
A large log dwelling house was discovered
to be burning down when our troops arrived.
1t had been set on FIRE by the rebels lest our
troops might take quarters in it.
The stampede of the inhabitants from Pa
ducah was astonishing and immense, and ere
this scarcely hundred families are LEFT
there, out of population Of from fifteen to
twenty thousand people. On Friday and
Saturday, Main-street was perfectly choked
with caITiages and vehicles containing fami.
lies and household furniture leaving the city
for points back in the country. Many went
over to Illinois. A perfect panic seemed tc
possess them, which no assurances of ouI
officers or troops could allay. They had got
the idea into their heads that Pillow was ad
vancing on us, that in case of an attack thai
the town would be shelled and burned by
our gun-boats.
To show their rebellious disposition, will
cite case. General Grant gave permission
to several river officers to hoist nationa
flag on the top Of the st. Francis Hotel
f The landlord objected, saying that it woulC
: | bring trouble on him, that he did not want it
: protection. He was told to keep quiet, tina
that flag must wave from there, in place 0
the Secession flag he had allowed to foa
over him before our troops came, and that
1, H. Ill, s,Na 1..,sAl H.
flag, or pulled it down, they would be led ou
and shot down. This assurance from Gen
eral Paine quieted his nerves. and that fla
hoated, defying the rebels, despite many re
marks by them that 1.-THE damned rag mus
= come down."
n Lieutenant Charley Willard's battery wen
d out on the public square to practise
and on the discharges, women and childre
n | would leap from carriages and run out froI
\ houses, and throw themselves fat in th
street, while their rebel husbands woul
stand and gloat over their terror. Our off
GERS and men had'to go to them and assur
them Of their safety, and that they woul
II be protected, and the poor creatures, II
& lieved of their fright, would thank then
el Stillthe exodus kept on, and it is now though
"a that out of a population of some fiftee
l. are left. The most perfect terror of O battl
4 and of the burning of the city, seemed
rs prevail,
General g. F. Smith is now commandin
at Paducah. At Cairo the greast militar
l. activity prevails. A very large force is bein
= rapidly formed and quartered, either herr
/ at Birds Point, or at the new camp G
is the Kentucky side, called Camp Holt Th
10 last camp was established yesterday..and
IT heavy battery erected, so as to command tt
n Ohio and Mississippi opposite Birds Poin
Ie Fortifcations are also being rapidly throw
a UP here.