The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1864-04-09
Army Correspondence.
THE LATE REBEL ATTACK ON Pa
DUCAH, Ky.
PADrcAH. KY. APRIL / 1854

To the Editor OF the CA1,c1 Free Tr1isr:
As you have 10 doubt, before this reach.
es you, seen notices of the recent Rebel
attack on this place and you fellow towns
man, Maj. w. L. GIBsoS, so well known TO
your citizens, is our Provost Marshal aud
wa. in the fight have concluded that i,
might be interesting to your readers TO
give detailed account Of it, as l was
present In the city part Of the time, and
in sight of it the balance Of it.
few days before the attack, we re-
ceived information that the Rebel Gen.
Forrest, with force Of 700 men and e
or pieces Of artillery had attack ed
Union City, Tenn.-then that he was at
Minge Station, beyond Mayfeld, Ky adj
vancng towards that placs-then that he
was on this side, advancing en- Paducah-
and finally. Oh Friday morning last, the
18th ult.. that he was rapidly approach
ing and about l clock T. NJ we learn.
ed that his advanced guard were just out.
side Of town. flag of truce, 6eass naing
a surrender, was started in ty Forrest,
but fred upon by some OF OR men, and
returned. The Rebels thsn came rushing
on into town, forming at first a long line
Of them formed their lines beyond and
the city, for the purpose Of taking it, if
they could, and part soon .prsad them
selves over town. and commenced pillag.
ing the stores and taking horses, mules,
etc, without much regard to friend or foe
showing plainly that their great object
was robbery and plumber, in the dcs.
peration to which they have been driven.
In the meantime, as Col 8. q. HICKS
the commander OF the Post here, had or
dered that in case Of an attack, the non.
mbatants, women and children should
retire to the wharf, as the town would be
shellsd, long lines of then, began to pour
down, among them your cerrespcndent:
and began to fill the large wharf boat, and
steam fsrryDoat, which were soon filled
to crowding
While waiting for all to get on board,
and for the ferry-boat to get up steam to
take us across tho river, the fight had be.
gun at the Fort about . o'clock F. NJ
and lasted some hour and half; during
which time the Rebels made two direct
assaults on the Fort, and were repulsed,
with terrible slaughter. our guns moving
them down, and making lanes through
their ranks, which were closed up as fast
as made. / have omitted to saw that Col.
Hicks. Maj. GIBSON, and other officers had
retired to the Fsrt before the fight there
came on; and that our whole force did
not number more than 1000 men, inclu>
ding some 200 or 300 colored soldiers UNI
der the command of Lieut.. Col. RICHARD
CUNNINGHAM. After attempting IN vain to
carry the Fort, the Rebels could stand
| the CALLING FIRE no longer, aad were com-
PEELED to retreat when q loud shout
went up from the Fort, which was echoed
back from the wharf-boat and the shore.
Fortunately we had two gunboats pres
eat, which during the fight aided materi-
ally by throwing shells among the Rebels,
| by which many Of them we're killed.
The wharf boat was dashed to the ferry.
| boat, which had now got I'D steam. and
being cut loose from her fastsnipgs on the
shore, was thrown round into the stream,
| and by her towed across Ike river to the
| Illinois shore, . short distance down the
river. As soon as we had passed the gun.
boats, one Of them took position opposite
Broadway street, and the other above her
| q piece, and began Smelling the town with
| terrible effect; which lasted until away in
the night. The guns Of the Fort were al
50 turned also upon the town, now full Of
Rebels. engaged in piiiaging, plunderiag
and robbing
must mention here that Forrest sent
q flag of truce into tho Fort demanding
an unconditional surrender of it, in an
arrogant and insolent manner; and stating,
that if it was net surrendered, he would
carry it by STERN, and show no quarter
| a demand well calculated to make the
brave men in the Fort fight with greater
desperation. Col. HICKS replied to him,
that he had been placed there by his su-
periors to defend the place, aud that he
should obey orders and decline surren-
dsring; and, - three flags Of truce were
sent in during tho time, have heard tbs
Col. Hicks replied to some Of them, that
if he wanted the Fort to take it--whicb
Forrest was compelled 10 decline" There
is no:truer or brayer man to be found
than Col. Hicks and by his gallant de-
fence ofthe Fort against such nverwh slm>
ing numbers, their attacking force being
at least 3 to our Z. aad their whole force,
t. our l, o fearful edds, he has gained
new laurels, covered himself with military