, 1864-03-29
TuE FIGHT AT PADUCAm.
Bravery OF the Union Troops.-.The
Negr9cs can FlEht..-The L0ss-Tho
.DeeyrucSlon OF the Town.
From Onr Special Correspondent

fFrom Onr Special Correspondent
CAIRO, March 81, 1861.
War is coming near home again in good
earnest. Forrest ls on the rampage again
with larger force than ever before, and de-
te1mIned not to 1eave until he has done all
the damage he possibly can, while there 10 no
his stay very dangerous. It was only de-
tachment Of his force, under Faulkner; num-
bering 200, TINT made the attack on Union
City. After capturing that place this de-
tachment rejoined the principal command,
numbering in all about $500, ander the
command Of Gems. Forrest, Faulkner and
:: Thompson. They then proceeded to Padu-
/, cab, reaching thai, place ut p. n. Of the
!. 25th Their advance was made known to the
garrison In the town BY the retreat Of the
pickets, and by: scouts, As the rebels I'D;
ransed, entering the town near the depot,
the Union troops retreated towards the fort.
i. . rebel Captain and nine men rode up to the
Sergeant of the Guard and commanded him
to surrender; the Sergeant replied BY shoot
Ing The Captain through The neck, and after
wards succeeded in making his, escape
to the fort. The. garrison Of the
place, consisted Of three companies
Of the 1aod Illinois regiment, a few
Kentucky cavalry, just organizing, and about
500 negroes in all numbering abont six hun
rebels sent flag oftrnce to the fort, demand
ing IN immediate surrender. TheI gallant
Colonel replied that he could not sec it, The
rebel aharpEhooterB then occupied the hoQ-
Ees nearest the fort and commenced to. pick
off our men,: To drive out these = fire Was
opened upon them by the guns Of the fort
AID two gunboats lying. In the river: Owing
was given for the removal Of the women aud
children, md In fhe fight that followed seve-
ra1 were killed or wounded. A large part of
them were toWel across the river on
the WharEboat. The ferry-boat returned for
another load, but was fired upon by the
made gallant charge upon The fort, but
were Iepulsed with great slaughter by its
brnve defenders. -:
Twice hey sent i summons Tor it's surrcn-
| der, but were each time refused. They then
rctreated to the town, and contented them
property. Tic Quartcfmaster buildings and
| Commissaty stores were destroyed, but for
tunate1y the quantity Of stores WIS not large.
They made the attempt to break into the
banks, but failed to break open the vaults. It Is
reported that some of the citizens vents about
| WiLl lue Iepe1s, anu pointed out Inc property
of:the Union citizens to be destroyed. One
| woman By the NAME Of Grimes, whowas af.
| terward Killed, ran through the streets, ex-
claiming, ttLet us kill the Yankee rascals.'' II
A large number Of buildings were destroyed
/ and one steamboat ON the stocks: The
houses nearest the fort were destroyed by the
Union soldiers to prevent their sheltertng
the rebel sharpshooters. Our guns contin-
ned their fire until about midnight, when the
rebels left. 0nr loss in the engagement will
not much exceed II killed and 10 wounded,
while the rebels acknowledged loss OF 1000
The rebel General THOMPSON was Killed,
and his body recognized in the street
Our troops fought with the greatest
bravery. The negro troops remarkably we'll
working the gums equal to the best men in
the service. As soon as the state Of affair.
was known at this post, g reinforcement O
2,oc0 men and battery was sent to the re
lief Of Col Hicks; also, a supply OF ammu
milton, Of which bis stock was nearly ex
hausted. The rebels continued to remain II
the ueishborhood until yesterday afternoon
when they left for some other point It Ii
feared, from Intelligence that has been re
cciyed, that Columbus will be attacked, ant
force has been sent there