Towards dark the enemy took shelter behind houses, in rooms, and hollows, and kept up a scattering fire until half past 11 o'clock, when it entirely ceased, and the rebel general withdrew his command out of the range of my guns, and went into camp for the night.
On the morning of the 26th the enemy again made a demonstration by surrounding the fort in the distance. As soon as I discovered this, I ordered Major Barnes, of the 10th Kentucky cavalry, to send out squads to burn all the houses within musket range of the fort, from which the sharpshooters had annoyed us the day previous.
While the houses were burning General Forrest sent in a second flag of truce, with the following communication:
"Headquarters Forrest's Cavalry Corps,
"Near Paducah, Kentucky, March 26, 1864.
"Sir: I understand you hold in your possession in the guard-house at Paducah a number of confederate soldiers as prisoners of war. I have in my possession about thirty-five or forty federal soldiers who were captured here yesterday, and about five hundred who were captured at Union City. I propose to exchange man for man, according to rank, so far as you may hold confederate soldiers."Respectfully,N. B. FORREST,
"Major General, Commanding Confederate Forces.
"Colonel S. G. Hicks,
"Commanding Federal Forces at Paducah, Ky."
In answer to which I sent the following:
"Headquarters Post of Paducah,
"Paducah, Kentucky, March 26, 1864.
"Sir: I have no power to make the exchange. If I had, I would most cheerfully do it."Very respectfully,S. G. HICKS,
"Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Com'dg Post.
"Major General N. B. Forrest,
"Commanding Confederate Forces."
With the above General Forrest sent a list of the names of the prisoners captured, (!) all of whom, with one exception, were convalescents in the general hospital, and too feeble to get to the fort.
The following troops composed my command during the fight:
Companies C, H, and K, 122d Illinois infantry, commanded by Major J. F. Chapman, one hundred and twenty men; 16th Kentucky cavalry, Major Barnes commanding, two hundred and seventy-one men; 1st Kentucky heavy artillery, (colored,) two hundred and seventy-four men, commanded by Lieutenant R. D. Cunningham, of the 2d Illinois artillery, making a total of six hundred and sixty-five men.
Opposed to this was the rebel force under the command of Generals Forrest, Buford, J. G. Harris, and A. P. Thompson, of six thousand five hundred men.