The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-08
THE FIGHT At PADUCAH.
Interesting Particulars Of the
Affair.
Gallantry of Negro Troops.

Correspondence Of Chicago Times
CAIRO, March q, 1854.
S. Upon arriving within the fort
we learned that when Forrest first came
in he formed line Of battle about two
and a half miles in length, after which he
sent flag of truce to Col. Hicks stating
that he had enough men to storm and cap
ture the fort, but, desiring to av' id unnec-
essary bloodshed, he demanded a surren-
der, promising to treat his captives as
prisoners of war, and threatening, in case
of refusal, to give no quarter. Col. Hicks
replied that he had been placed there to
defend the fort; that he was obliged to
obey orders, and could not, as an honest
soldier, comply with the demand.
While this parley was going on Forrest
advanced 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 gunboats
poured their broadsides into the city, de.
molishing buildings and killing and
wounding many of the enemy. The
guns from the fort Numbered forth
iato the rebel ranks, and, as the Oonfed
crates rushed up to the breastworks,
moved them down like grass. Forrest
put his best regiments in front, and, not
withstanding they exhibited great courage,
some of the men marching up to the very
mouths of the guns, they were repulsed
tour or five times. Their Commanding
General said they had never faltered
before. There were about eight hun
dred men within the fertilization, but
only about One-third actively partici-
pated in the fight. Col. Hicks calmly
directed all the operations, and showed
such bravery and skill as entitle him to
the highest praise. Around the fort lay
heaps of unburied rebels and the black
ened remains of many beautiful dwellings.
While the battle was raging parties of
the enemy secuted through the city, plum
dering stores and robbing stables. A
large amount of goods was carried away
and many horses stolen; none Of the lat
ter belonging to the government were
taken, as the rebels were told they were
the property of prominent secessionist.
The fight lasted all the afternoon, and re-
suited in Federal loss as stated below,
and about 80 prisoners.
The warehouses and dwellings exhibited
prominent marks of the recent struggle.
In many places nothing but bare walls and
cbimneys were standing. Scarcely a
building escaped the terrific fire of the
gunboats, and many of them were COM
pletely riddled by shrapnel and solid shot.
The gunboats Peosta and Paw Paw fired
in all about five hundred rounds, and had
two men slightly wounded. The COM
mander of the latter vessel received a
slight scratch on the cheek, and MIME
ball passed through his pantaloons. The
cabins of the boats were perforated with
shot. 1t was the fire of gunboats that did
so much damage to the town. Had it not
been for the navy, Col. Hicks would have
had much more severe contest.
Special dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, March Is.
In the fort there were about $50 re-
cruits for a United States colored regi-
ment, q portion of the 10th Kentucky cav
airy, without arms, and two companies
of the 122d illinois infantry, in all about
500 men.
It was the negro regulars that fought so
well. They handled the artillery with
great skill, and their bravery is on the
tongues of all the loyal men. One of the
regiments in the attack on the fort was