Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-04-06
Forests Rampage In KentHeky---His RepuIse
at Padueah


accounts of FoRREsTs recent movements in
Western Kentucky and Tennessee, where he
was plundering, burning, killing and doing
whatever other damage he could to the Union
cause. We make up the following account
from the correspondence of the Chicago pa
pers.
The first movement was made on Union
City, just south of the Tennessee line. where
Col Hawkins of the 9TH Tennessee cavalry
was stationed with some 400 men He sent
word to Gen. Brayman, the commander of the
District OF Cairo, that Forest Has advancing
on him with some 1000 Gen. Bravman ad-
vised him 70 hold his position if attacked and
be would bring him aid as soon as possible.
He Immediately embarked the 25th Wiscon-
sin and three other regiments on steamers at
Cairo for Columbus. There he took the cars
and went within six miles of Union CITY,
where he learned that Col. Hawkins had sur
rendered his entire forces, who had already
been marched off as prisoners of war Gen.
b. deeming 1t useless to proceed any further
returned. 1t subsequently appeared that it
was only detachment of FORESTS force,
numbering 1000 or 1900, under Faulkner, that
made the attack on Union City, and if Col
Hawkins had been made of sterner stuff he
might have held out till reinforced, and then
repulsed the enemy. Except the prisoners,
the rebels gained little here
After capturing Union City, the rebels,
numbering in all about 6, 800, under the com
mand of Gems. Forrest, Faulkner and Thomp-
son, proceeded to Paducah, reaching that
place at one p NJ. of the 18th. Their al
vance was made known to the garrison in
the town by the retreat of the pickets and
by scouts. As the rebels advanced entering
the'town near the depot, the Union troops
retreated towards the fort. A rebel captain
and nine men rode up to the sergeant of the
guard and commanded him to surrender: the
sergeant replied by shooting the captain
through the neck, and afterwards succeeded
in making his escape to the fort The garri-
son of the place consisted of three compa-
MES of the l22d Illinois regiment, a few Ken
lucky cavalry, just organizing, and about 800
negroes, in all numbering about 600 men, IN
der command of Col Hicks. The rebels
formed a line OF battle about two miles and a
half in length, after which Forrest sent a flag
Of truce to Col. Hicks, stating that he had
men enough to storm and capture the fort but
as he desired to avoid unnecessary bloodshed,
demanded surrender, promising to treat his
captives az prisoners of war, and threaten
ing, in case of refusal TO give no quarter
The gallant Colonel replied to the summons
to immediate surrender, that he could not see
it that he had been placed there to defend
the fort, and could not, as an honest soldier
comply with the demand.
While the parley was going on, Forrest ad-
vanced his sharpshooters and placed them in
houses where they could pick off men in the
fort and on the gunboats. The battle soon
began and for several hours ragged with great
fury. The gL4boats poured their broadsides
into the city, demolishing buildings and kill
ing and wounding many of the enemy. The
guns from the fort Numbered forth into the
rebel ranks, and as the Confederates rushed
up to the breastworks, moved them down like
grass. Forrest put his best regiments in
front, and, notwithstanding they exhibited
great courage, some of the men marching up
to the very mouths of the guns, they were re-
pulsed four or five times. Their Command
ing General said they had never faltered be-
fore. There were about eight hundred men
within the Notification, but only about one
third actively participated in the fight. Col.
Hicks calmly directed all the operations, and
showed such bravery and skill as entitIe him
to the highest praise. Owing to the ext
gencies of the case, but little time was given
for the removal of the women and children,
and in the fight several were killed or wound
ed. A large part of them were towed across
the river on the wharfboat. The ferry-boat
returned for another load, but was fred upon
Finding they could not carry the fort, the
rebels retreated to the town, and eontented
themselves with plundering and destroying
the property. The Quartermaster buildings
and the cOmmlssary stores were DESTROYED,
but fortunately the quantity of stores was
not large. They made the attempt to break
into the banks, but failed to break open the
vaults. 1t is reported that some of the citi-
zens went about with the rebels and pointed
out the property Of the Union citizens to be
destroyed. One woman by the name of
Grimes, who was afterwards killed, ran
through the streets, excIaiming, Let Us kill
the Yankee rascals-" \ large number of
buildings were destroyed and one steamboat
on the stocks. The houses nearest the fort
were destroyed by the Union soldiers to pre-
vent their sheltering the rebel sharpshooters.
Our guns continued their FIRE until about mid
night, when the rebels left, though they re-
manned about the city until z. NJ. on Satur-
day, when they moved off in the direction of
Columbus.
Our troops fought with the greatest bravery,
the negro troops remarkably we'll workixg z
the guns equal to the best men in the service.
As soon as the state of affairs was known at
Cairo reinforcement of 1000 men, includ-
ing the 18th Wisconsin, and a battery was
sent 20 the relief of Col. Hicks; also, a sup
ply of ammunition, of which his stock was
nearly exhausted, but the rebels left before
thew arrived.
The rebels took about SO prisoners, con-
vaiescents taken from the hospitals Among
them were Corp. Thos. 5. Wakefield Co K,
and Isaac Austin, Co. G, of the 25th Wis
consin. These, with the 400 taken day OF
two before at Union City, Forrest offered to
exchange for Confederate prisoners, man for
man but Col Hicks replied that be was not
authorized to make any such arrangement.
The number OF white Federals killed is IA,
wounded Is. Eleven negroes were killed
and wounded, all shot in the head.
The rebels had 500 killed and about !, 200
wounded. The latter they took TO Mayfeld
by railroad; the former they left unburied
Among the Confederate officers slain wa:
Brig. Gen. A. P. Thompson, former resident
of Paducah, whose body was recognized in
the streets.
1t was piece of rare retributive justice
that a considerable number Of those wht
persisted in the assault on the place were for
mer residents of Paducah, and that much o