Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-03-29
FROaI CAIRO.

| CAIKo, march 70.
Forrest had about 1000 men in the at
tack on Psducah. His line Of battle was
two and q half miles long. The fight last
ed oil the afternoon. Four assaults were
made on the fort en- mssse, each Of which
was repulsed with great loss to the rebels.
The gunboats fred six hundred rounds. A
large portion Of the town is in ruins. The
rebels plundered stores and carried Of
horses.
During the fight forty cOnvslescenis in
the hospital were csptnred. Forrest sent
flag Of truce to exchange prisoners, but
Colonel Hicks declined.
Three hundred rebel dead lie in front Of
our forts.
Generals Harris and Burbridge were
with the rebels.
Boats from Paducsh at noon yesterday,
report sll quiet, and the citizens returning
to the town. Several women were killed
during the fight.
Our loss was Il killed and 45 wounded /;
the number Of prisoners has not been IS.
certained.
Out of 1900 votes cast at the recent
elections in Arkansas, only 200 were
against new Constitution.
The Rosits and Pswpaw, iron-clsds, were
the gunbosts which participated In the re-.
oentfght at Paducah, opening FIRE stimuli
tansrusly with the fort on the enemy's sd-
vance into the city, and rendered inVslus-
bic assistance throughout the entire en-
gsgement.
After being once repulsed in his assault
on the fort, Forrest sent q communication
to Colonel Hicks, demanding the surrender
Of the fort, troops and public stores, prom
Using that if his demands were complied
with, our troops should be treated ss
prisoners of war, but if not, and he was
compelled to storm the fort, they might
expect no quarter.
Colonel Hicks replied that he was
placed there to defend the fort, which he
should do, and peremptoIily declined to
surrender.
The enemy then made g second and
third assault on the works, but were re-
pulsed each time with heavy loss. The
rebels then broke lines, formed in squads,
and occupied the houses, from which they
kept up fire till late in the evening, when
they were dislodged by our artillery, and
they were Withdrawn. 70
On his way into the city the enemy
fred the Railroad depot which was con-
sumed and towards evening burned the
qusrtermsster's building.
The steamer Dacotsh, not Arizona, Is on
the marine railway and was plundersd
Of all her stores and immense amounts Of
goods and all the horses they could find.
Some merchants lost from $25,000 to
Early the next morning the rebels again
appeared when Colonel Hicks burned all
the houses within musket range, but the
enemy made no advance, and after asking
for an exchange Of prisoners, which was
denied, they returned in the direction Of
Columbus.
Towards the end Of the battle it was
discovered that the ammunition was near
ly exhausted, when Colonel Hicks gave
orders that should it give out the fort
should be defended with the bsyonet IS
long as q man remained alive, which was
resolved with hearty cheer by all the
troops.
The negroes, numbering 220, fought
with great gallsntry.
All quiet at Paducsh yesterday.
Our forces are busily engaged barying
the dead
The enemy had six small cannon.
About fifty buildings were burned, anon
them the hospitals, gas works, some Of the
finest residences, the city custom house
and postofice. The Continental Hotel was
not injured.
Our troops engaged we're the 40Eh Hi
nois and battalion Of negroes.
0he hundred and twenty recruits from
Minnesota arrived tonight, enrOute for
Little Rock.
The 94th and Both Indiana veterans ar
rived en- route for home.