New-York daily tribune., 1864-04-09
Gallant Defense of the FOra
by Colonel Hicks.
SnHmdred Against Six Thousand
orR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS ACCOUNT.
PADUcAH, KY, March %, 1864.


,h, oce which is noted for the beauty of its situation
a.. soe wharf commodious business houses, tasteful
;dncss and above all the evident enterprise Of Its
,eopIo. Before the war it had population oil about
oooo and was considered the most fourishing little
ety below Louisville it being the principal depot Tor
that portion Of Kentucky known as "Jackson's Pur-
chase Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion the
Secession mania took deep root in the minds Of its
citizens. and when in September. 1861, Gen. Grant
occuped il for the first time, the streets and houses
were found decorated with Rebel flags in anticipation
NJ the arrival of Polks army OF its original popula'
tim NOT more than one.thrd is remaining, those
who make M the four or five thousand inhabitants
which it possessed up to the time of Forests attack
being recent arrivals from other States.
APPROACH OF THE REBELS.
Positive information was received by Col. Hicks on
the 2ith Of the arrival of Forrest at Aayed % miles
south from Puducah, and an attack was not unlocked
for. Your correspondent on that day at COLUMBUS
having come up to that point from Memphis in antici
patton Of an attack upon the former place. ana was
there considered certain that Forrest would attempt to
capture either Columbus or Paducah but most probably
Paducah In fact his occupation Of Mayeld indicated
this place as his objective point The forces under COL
Hcks's command were five companies of the 10th Ken
tucky 81 strong; three companies Of the l22d Illinois,
numbering l24 men, end detachment Of the LIST Ken
tucky Artillery coored) $50 menin all 6e5 Any in
formation Of the strength and position Of the fortca
tions and number Of guns beyond what the enemy has
already learned to his sorrow cannot be given with
propriety. 1t will be sufficient to say that the works
occupied by Col Hicks toward the lower end Of the
city, and cover the roads from the interior.
NEXT MORNING t25TH),
Scouts reported that Forrest only eight or ten
niles distant and was moving in this direction with a
heavy column which rumor broadly stated to be from
5000 TO ZOO strong Immediately upon learning that
we were to be attacked, Col Hicks notified the in
habtant Of that fact by special order and commenced
moving them to the other side Of the river The anxiety
of the citizens for the two preceding days consequent
upon the rumored approach Of the enemy, now found
expression in the widest excitement. and men, women
and children rushed through the streets and down to the
wharf in dread of the approaching conflict. Fortu'
naey means were hard to transfer them 10 the op-
poste shore with dispatch, and when the first attack
was made but few were remaining in the city. Know
ing the great numerical superiority of the enemy Col
Hicks ordered his whole command to the fort and
awaited his appearance.
The GUNBOATs,
Paw.paw and Peosta, which anchored out in the
river weighed and moored toward the upper end of the
Wharf.-The one 70 the month Of the Tennessee the other
alttle below These boats have light armament and
are known on the river 'tin-cads," their plating
being only sufficiently thick to resist the missiles Of
small arms, and perhaps graPeshot.
THE ATTACK.
Nearly all of the woods back of the city has been
cleared away, either by the hand of improvement or
from military necessity and there is almost unob-
structed view for half mile and in some places much
further The ground intervening between the city and
the timber is somewhat undulatng, but not sufficiently
so to afford any considerable advantage TO an advanc
ing line Of battle a little before O'Clock the enemy's
advance came IN sight, and in moment aiterwau the
main body appeared in the act of forming linehs right
extending toward the Tennessee and being nearest o
town while the left was partially concealed by timber
at long cannon range. The men on either flank were
mounted while bodies of dismounted men who at that
distance seemed TO be little in advance of the others
appeared in occasional intervals in the line which
little less than two miles long.
The enemy seems 10 have entered on his campaign
with an accurate knowledge Of what was TO be done
and was evidently posted to the strength Of our gar
rison here as well at Union City. There was no de-
lay in the advance. he pushed his line forward rapidly
and steadily while at the same time detachment from
the right flank several hundred strong dashed into the
now deserted city, and down Market street. ana the
other streets back until coming within rife range o
the fort they opened calling FIRE from The houses upon
the garrison But before this detachment had succeed
ed in getting in town. several shots had been exchanged
between the enemys artillery and ours. The gun
boats had also begun to play upon them. when, upon
finding the city being rapidly occupied by continually
increasing force the Ere Of the gunbOa as previously
concerted was turned upon the houses occupied by the
Rebels the vessels dropping down the river until proper
range could be had.
THE TIGST CHARGE.
1t seems that Col Hicks prudently did not strain his
men at the commencement Of the action. and although
his fire was accurate it was delivered sowlythe range
being different at almost every discharge The ncces
sty he was under Of turning Of his guns upon h
town sackened fire that the enemy was enabled
TO make a charge upon the fort. But the movement WA
perceived and prepared for and the first signs of an ad
greeted with heavy and well-drected FIRE
which created somo confusion The Rebels continued
10 advance however, and part Of them, by vcerinl
to the right threw themselves partially under
the uneven ground and the suburban buildings. On
they came with loud cheers that sounded distinctly
through the increasing of battle and which
were dehantly answered by men, who now, reekine
with perspraon piled their with accelerated
rapdiiy and hurled destruction through tho advancing
lines AS soon as they came within good rife range
terribly destructive fire was opened upon thcm and
men toppled reeed and fell ~ the ground by scores
Although the overwhelming force continued 10 close upon
the fort 1t was now evident that there was much dis
order among them and presently portion Of the line
gave way when the whole force broke in confusion and
rereated precpitatey leaving the ground strewn with
not less than 200 killed and wounded. The discounted