New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-29
THE ATTACK ON PADUCAH.
The Rebels Repugscd with
Great Slaughter.
Gallant Conduct Of Colonel Eicks and
His Command.
CAIRO, Monday, March %, 1864.

CAIRO, Monday, March %, 1863.
Gen. Forrest had about 1900 men in the at
tack on Paducha JIis hnc of battle two miles long.
The fight lasted all the afternoon -Four assaults were
made on the fort en- masse each of which repused
with great slaughter TO the enemy. The eunboats
fred COO rounds.
large portion OF the town Is in ruins The Rebels
pundered tho stores and carried oft horses during the
fight Forty couvaesc in the hospitals were cap
tred Forrest sent flag of truce TO exchange prison
ers rnt Col. Hicks declined
800 Rebel dead lie in font Of our fort. Generals Har
ris and Burbridge were with the Rebels.
Boats from Paducah ut noon yesterday report oil
quiet tho citizens all returning TO the town Several
women were killed during the fight Our loss was -
killed, and IS wounded.
The Peosts and Pawpaw. iron-clads were the gun
boats which participated in the late battle a. Paducah
opening fire simultaneously with the fort on the enc
mys advance into the city, and rendering valuable
service throughout the engagement
After being once rcpnlsed in the assault on the fort,
Forrest soEt communication to Col. Hicks demanding
the surrender Of tie fort troops and public stores
promising that, II the demand was complied With, our
troops should be treated prisoners of war; but If DO
was compelled to storm the fort they might expect no
quarter. ~
Col Hicks replied that he placed there TO defend
the fort which he should do and pcrcmptory declined
~ surrender.
The enemy then made second and third assault
upon the works. but repused each time with heavy
losses. f.
The Rebels then broke lines formed In squads occu
pied the houses and kept fire until late in the
ing when they driven away, artillery making
the buildings too hot to Lod them. t.. y
On their way into the city the enemy fred the rail-
road depot, which was consumed and toward evening
they burned the QuaItermssel's building, and the
steamer DacOtah mot the Arizona the marine rail.
way. They pundered the stores of an immense amount
of goods. and took all the horses they could find.
Some merchants have lost from S25, 900 10 $4,000.
Early the next morning the Rebels again appearing.
Col. Hicks burned all the houses within musket range
OF the fort.
The enemy. however, made no advance, and after
asking for an exchange Of prisoners, which was de-
clined they retired in the direction of Columbus.
Toward the end Of the battle, it discovered that
our ammunition was nearly exhausted.
Col. Hicks then ordered that when It gave out the
fort would be defended with the bayoDet as long as
man remained alive. which determination was received
with hearty cheers DO all the troops.
The negroes in the front, 30 in all fought with great
gallantry.
All was quiet at Paducah yesterday, forces beng
engaged in burying the dead.
The enemy rad six small cannon. About 80 buiidings
were burned aeludiDg the hospital gas-works. an9
some Of the ncstfcsdcnces in the town. The Custom
House, Post.Ofce and Continental were not injured.
Our troops Consisted CT the 4eh Illinois Infantry.
Col. Hicks battalion OF negroes and one regiment
Qname ~ yet snown).
One hundred and twenty recruits from Minnesota ar
rived tonight en- ROT to for Little Rock The 9th aid
I <vrn rnafrna veterans arrived, on their way
home, from Memphis