Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-04-07

by my Government to defend the post. In
this, as well as all other orders from my
superior officers, / feel il TO be mr. duty as
an honorable officer to obey, and must
therefore respectfully decline surrendering
as you require.
Very respectfully. S. G. HICKS,
Commanding Post.
The enemy now formed anew, made an
attack and were again repulsed; made a
third effort and were repulsed the third
time. From the beginning the enemy had
to some extent taken cover in the houses
all around the fort. They now broke up
established lines. and occnpied buildings
in swarms. firing from windows and be-
hind houses, but were steadily held back
from advance.
Colonel Hicks turned his cannon on the
houses, driving the enemy therefrom.-
They however. kept up fire from houses
until half-past eleven ia the afternoon,
when they finally retired.
Officers and men in the fort were not
permitted to sleep or leave their posts du.
ring the night. Early in the evening a
squad of the enemy fired the steamer Da-
cotah on the marine ways, which was con-
sumed. The ways were only partially
burned. A few buildings, including that
of the quartermaster, were burned by them
The enemy made his appearance the next
morning. when Colonel Hicks sent ont
parties and burned all houses in range of
musket shot. The enemy kept lowering
around in the distance. but made no move
on the place afterward.
The following is true copy of the COM
munication sent in about nine o'clock in
the forenoon under flag of truce by Gen.
Forrest:
IL. Q.'s FoRnEsT's CAVALRY CoRrs,l
NEAR PADUcAH, KY. March 26.
Colonel S. G. Hicks, commanding Post
and Federal forces at Paducah, Ky.
Sir: l understand that you hold in the
guard house, at Paducah, a number of
Confederate soldiers as prisoners of war.
have in my possession about thirty We
or forty Federal soldiers. which were cap
tured here yesterday, and about 500 which
we captured at Union City. ! propose to
exchange man for man according to rank,
so far as you may hold Confederate SOL
diers. Respectfully;
n B. FoRREsT,
Comn'dg Confederate forces.
The following is true copy of Colonel
Hicks reply:
H. Q's PosT PADUcAu,)
PADucAH, KY, March 26.
Major General N. B. Forrest, commanding
Confederate forces:
SIR: have no power to make the ex-
change you speak of. If 1 had l would
most cheerfully do it.
Very respectfully. S. G.. HICKS.
Col. 4Oth Illinois Infantry, commanding
Post.
When Col. Hicks returned his written
answer to Capt. Anderson, A. A. c., to
Major Gen. Forrest. through his Abide
Camp, Lieut.. Mcknight. Capt. Anderson
requested Lieut. Mcknight to bear ver-
bal communication to Col. Hicks, and ask
him If. in event of further negotiation, he
(Col- Hicks) would be willing to meet
Major Gen Forrest at some convenient
place, each under flag Of truce, and have
q private interview with him.
Col. Hicks returned answer verbally,
that if Gen. Forrest wished to see him,
and have a private interview with him,
that he would meet him at q convenient
place, either with or without arms, Col.
Hicks to take with him Asst. Adj. Gen.
Odlin, Chief of Staff OF N. Brayman, Brig.
General, commanding District of Cairo,
and A. F. Taylor. his Adjutant; General
Forrest to bring with him two officers of
the same rank. To this Col. Hicks reciv-
ed no answer. but waited in suspense,
with Forests forces in view all ihe after
noon. when Forrest fell back toward May
field and Lovelaceville, in the direction Of
Columbus. No force was sent after him.
as only infantry was at the disposal of
Col. Hicks, while FORESTS forces were
mounted.
A detachment of Home Guards killed
the rebel Colonel this morning and several
of his men. near May6eld, and in his pock-
ct was found small rebel flag, quite new,
with the name of Molly" written with in
dellible ink on one corner. It is said that
Molly lives in Paducah, and is believed to
have presented the Colonel with flag
while the rebels were in the city.
The rebel Brigadier General Thompson
was shot through the head, while on his
horse near the fort. during the fight. Af-
ter falling to the ground she'll struck him
in the abdomen, and blew him to pieces.
His spinal column was found several feet
from his mangled body.
With the communication which Forrest
sent to Colonel Hicks, requesting an ex-
change Of prisoners, was sent list OF
names Of the prisoners he had taken at
Paducah. They were all taken in the
hospital. being too sick to gain the fort.
Towards evening the ammunition in the
fort being well nigh exhausted. When
this was discovered. Colonel Hicks order.
ed that, should ammunition run out, the
works should be defended with bay onets as
long as man remaiaed alive.
Forrest was reported at Mayfeld last
night at 10 o'clock. and is said to have &C.
knowledged himself badly whipped.
All quiet at Paducah to-day, burying
the dead.
The enemy's force was estimated at 5,
900. and had six small places of artillery
which was not of much service, only firing
two or three shots. one of our shots knock
ing one of them twenty feet into the. air
and smashing tbe carriage, which was sf
terwards captured, the enemy taking th'