The Washington herald., 1914-03-27

He had found himself in a dangerous
/ territory, for he had caused SO much
| trouble there in previous years that the
Federals were on the alert to catch him
mapping. But II was a country which he
| had known from boyhood and in which
he believed no Federal commander could
trap him.
However. as a precaution. he sent out
a force to observe the roads toward
Memphis: then leaving a regiment TO
garrison jackson. he moved with his
command to Trenton, twenty-five miles
| north on the Tennessee and Ohio Rail-
road. to establish a bureau for recruit
ing and conscription-
From that point, on March .. Gen.
Forrest sent a force Of less than four
regiments to attempt the capture of
Union City. thirty-five miles above Tren-
ton. near the Kentucky border. Col w.
l. Duckworth. of the Seventh Tennessee
Cavalry. was in command Of this force
Gen. Forrest next took command in
person of two brigades and led them
northward over the State line into Ken
lucky. His object was the capture Of
Paducah, at the junction of the Ohio
and Tennessee Rivers
RepuIsed At Padacah.
For fully 100 miles Forrest piloted his
troops, 5000 strong, through network
of roads in Western Kentucky. On
March 25 he approached Paducah. En-
tering the town with little opposition.
the Confederates found that the garri-
son had retired to the river bank. where
a strong earth fort had been erected
This work was covered by the Federal
gunbosts in the stream
Though the Federal commander at
Paducah, Col. Stephen G. Hicks OF the
Fortieth Illinois Regiment. had under
him only 4Os men. he felt confident OF De-
ing able to maintain his position. The
Confederates agreed that the fort was far
too strong to be carried without artillery.
After making several demonstrations
AGAINST its defenders, the Confederates
contented. themselves with placing
strong line Of sharpshooters in the houses
which faced the clearing in which the
fort was built. They then turned their
attention to the town itself small
quantity OF cotton, six or eight wagons,
a few quartermaster's stores, and small
vessel and a drydock were destroyed
Now occurred fighting in which the Con-
federates lost heavily. One brigade Of
Forests command, under Col. A. P.
Thompson, had formed on a street open
Ing upon the clearing around the fort.
Col. Thompson, either misapprehendfng
the instructions Of Gen. Forrest. or feel
ing that he had a good chance to gain
the Federal works, led his men in a
charge against the fort.
The attack was reckless. Thompson
was one Of the first to fall beneath the
Federal IRE. and large numbers Of his
men died around him. The assault was
repulsed with small less to the Federals.
Forrest withdrew his men, and after
up about fifty prisoners-inmates
Of the Federal military hospital-left the
victorious garrison and turned back to-
ward Tennessee.
Union City Surrendered.
While Gen. Forrest was en- route to
Paducah, Col Duckworth appeared in
front Of the Federal works at Union City.
The place was garriscned by 500 men
under Col. Isaac R. Hawkins. Of the
Seventh Tennessee Federal Cavalry Regi-
ment. and defended by strong earthworks,
which could readily have been held
against an enemy not having artillery.
When the Confederates under Col.
Duckworth came up the Federal out
posts were withdrawn and preparations
rade to defend the post. Twice the Con-
iederates attempted to carry the work
by storm. but were repulsed with loss. |
In these attacks the Federals lost only |
one man killed and two or three wounded. |
Duckworth, realizing the strength of
The position. and feeling that 1t would |