Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-04-04
THE BATTLE AT PADUOAH.
FULL AND GRAPHIC DETAILS.
IndOmitabIe Pluck Of Colonel Hicks and
his Little Garrison,
FEARFUL SCENES IN THE CITY.

FEARFUL SCENES IN THE CITY.
When the refusal Of Colonel Hicks was
communicated to General Forrest, q gen.
eral charge was ordered, and away the
whole line dashed upon the works. The
fort is a small, low earthwork, surrounded
by shallow ditch. The fierce onslaught
was met by q sheet of flame from the fort,
which made many Of the asssilsnts bite
the dust bat it stsid them not-on they
came, yelling like demons, many Of them
crossing the ditch, and were killed upon
tho walls Of the fort, before, broken and
repulsed the thinned ranks Of the enemy
sullenly retired.
The shsrpshooters in the houses which
commanded the fort kept up an incesssnt
FIRE upon the garrison, while the voIleys
from the main body we're almost continual.
Four or FIVE times during the afternoon
snd evening was the attack renewed, and
each time successfully repulsed, until the
whole ground between the fort and the
town was covered with the slain and
wounded. The artillery Of the fort was
by no means idle during this time, but
was dividing its attention between the at
lacking party and the houses which con-
tanned the shsrpshooters, whom they final
ly dislodged, and the buildings destroyed
to prevent their again being made hiding
places for rebel soldiers. The final charge
was made ct o'clock, after which Forrest
retired beyond gunshot and took refuge in
the city among the buildings.
A number Of citizens went into the fort
and fought braVely during the whole en-
gsgement One took his family to place
Of safety, when he took his place with the
soldiers behind the rsmparts. In the
early part Of the action a ball severely
wounded him in the arm, but he refused
to give up so long as rebel was in sight,
and continued to fight until the enemy
retired. After the second repulse, one Of
the Kentucky cavslrymen rushed out Of
the fort and found the body Of his brother,
who had been killed in the first charge.
Many Of the citizens could not cross the
river before the battle commenced. OF
these, several ladies sought refuge under
the bluff, out Of range of shot. A rebel
shsrpshooter, knowing that the federals
would not harm the ladies, sought refuge
in the crowd, and from behind his new
fashioned breastworks opened fire upon
9LN Va tAE kunbIdAbs LnA6 WAS pQEub rs
long as possible until a shot was sent
into the bank few feet above their heads,
when the women ran shrieking for other
shelter, and Mr., Reb. did the tallest run
ming on record.
In Broadway crowd of women collect
ed, behind them stood q rank of rebels,
who kept up an incesssnt fire upon the
boats. Several shells were sent over their
heads, but the women stood their ground,
protecting the scoundrels behind them.
Finally a shot fell in their midst, killing
one young woman and TOunding several
rebels.
Little respect was paid to 8 mans senti-
ments-sympathizers stores suffered about
equally with Union mems. Immense
booty was obtained and carried off-the
amount Of loss can hardly be estimated.
There is one instance, however, which oc-
CURED, in which they showed some little
regard for q friend-nesrly every horse
and mulein the city was taken, except q
few belonging to the government-it was
believed that those belonged to q strong
rebel sympsthizer, and on that account
the horses were not taken.
Firing from the Funbosts and the fort |
and the rebel artillery continued at inter |
walls until near midnight on Friday, after
which all became quiet aud scare q shot |
was heard till after the retreat of Forrest,
which occurred on Saturday, between tive
and three O'Clock in the afternoon. The |
enemy retired toward Msy6eld, tearing up
ihe railread track in his rear. A large |
aumber of houses were set on fire, both by |
shells and by the rebels. The first des-
iroyed were some buildings occupied by !
he government, get in flames by the reb-
sls; others followed in quick succession,
Until probably fifteen or twenty houses Of /
Tsrious descriptions we're burned to the
,round.
When the battle was over it was found
hat the ammunition, both in the fort and
IN the gunbosts was nearly expended.
little or no provision was in the fort, and
he men sadly wanted food after their sr-
iuous labOrs. As soon as the news of the
,attle reached this city, reinforcements
we're dispatched to Paducah, as well as
ammunition and provisions. When the
provisions arrived, Colonel Hicks sent
ull supply to the suffering citizens, and
lad it distributed among the hungry
rowd Of women and children on the illi-
lois shore.
The rebel Brigadier General Thompson
vas shot through the head, while on his
lOrse near the fort, during the fight. At
er falling to the ground q shell struck
i'm in the abdomen and blew him to
'ieoes. His spinal column was found sew
raj feet from his msngled body.
Towards evening the ammunition in
he fort became well nigh exhausted.
When this was discovered Colonel Hicks
rdered that, should ammunition run out,
he works should be defended with the
syonet as long as man remained alive.
The enemy's force was estimated st
700, and had six small pieces Of artillery,
which was not Of much service, emily firing
Wo or three shots, one Of our shots knock
ng one Of them twenty feet into the air
nd smashing the carriage, which was sf.
erwards captured, the enemy taking the
un, however.
Our forces number no men, consisting
( the following named troops: Ist bsttal-
on 18th Kentucky, 800 men, raw recruits,
isjor Barnes commanding; three compa-
les l22d Illinois, l20 men, Major Chap
IAN, and $50 1st Kentucky Heavy Artil-
cry, (colored troops) all under Colonel 8.
t. Hicks, 10th Illinois.
THE Washington correspondent Of the
pringheld Republican writes Of the su-
horess Of Rock Me TO Sleep, Mother"
nd ofhAr haautifnI aoDoq.