* * * * *
_Official statement of facts connected with the attack, defence, and
surrender of the United States military post at Union City, Tennessee,
on the 24th of March, 1864._
CAIRO, ILLINOIS, _April 4, 1864_.
On the 23d of March it was generally understood at the said post that at
least a portion of the rebel General Forrest's command were advancing on
us. At about eight o'clock p. m. of that day the advance of the enemy
were seen and fired upon, near Jacksonville, six miles from Union City,
by a small scouting party sent in that direction from our post. This
party reported the facts immediately to Colonel Hawkins, of the 7th
Tennessee cavalry, who was commander of the post.
The picket guard was then doubled, and two or three companies were
ordered to keep their horses saddled during the night.
I was notified at 4.30 a. m. of the 24th of March to order my horses
saddled. About five o'clock firing commenced all around the line of
pickets. The main part of company B, Captain Martin, were abreast, and a
part of company I, also, I think. The remaining force, about 500
strong, were distributed around at the breastworks. The pickets were
driven in, with a loss of two killed and several wounded. About 5.30 a. m.
a cavalry charge was made from the south side. It was repulsed with
but little difficulty. The same were immediately dismounted and charged
again, this time coming within twenty or thirty yards of the
breastworks. They were repulsed again, and with considerable loss this
time. Immediately following this another charge was made in front, from
the northwest, and again repulsed. Immediately following this, the
fourth charge, and last, was made from the northeast, which charge
confronted my company, and were repulsed again with loss. This charge
was made at about 8 a. m. About this time the colonel came to this part
of the works; I remarked to him that it was my opinion the rebels were
defeated in their first programme; that they would either leave the
field or assemble and make a consolidated charge. Our troops were in
fine spirits. Sharpshooting lasted till 9.30 a. m., when an escort, with
a flag of truce, approached my position. I sent notification to Colonel
Hawkins of the approaching truce flag, and then advanced in person and
halted the truce escort two hundred yards from the defences. Then
Colonel Hawkins came; a document was handed him, the contents of which I
know not. At this time the rebel troops were in full view, in the logs
and stumps. The truce escort retired, and in twenty minutes after again
came. I again halted them on the same ground as before, and remained
with them during this interview. This time an order was handed to
Colonel Hawkins, which I read. As near as I can remember, it read as
follows:
"HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES FORCES,
"_In the Field, March 24, 1864_.
"_Commanding Officer United States Forces, at Union City, Tennessee_:
"SIR: I have your garrison completely surrounded, and demand an
unconditional surrender of your forces. If you comply with the demand,
you are promised the treatment due to prisoners of war, according to
usages in civilized warfare. If you persist in a defence, you must take
the consequences.
"By order of
"N. B. FORREST, _Major General_."
Then followed a council of our officers, in which a large majority
violently opposed any capitulation whatever with the enemy.
Notwithstanding this, the colonel made a surrender at 11 a. m., which,
to the best of my knowledge and belief, was unconditional. No artillery
was seen or used. The surrendered troops were very indignant on hearing
of the surrender. Only one man had been killed and two or three wounded
inside of the works. It was generally believed to be a rebel defeat. Our
troops, after grounding arms, were marched away on foot. The rebel
troops were commanded by Colonel Duckworth, and as nearly as I could
estimate them, there were 800.
A list of prisoners was made on the 26th, at Trenton, which numbered
481, including ten of Hardy's men and a few of the 24th Missouri
infantry, who were doing provost duty.
T. P. GRAY,
_Captain, Company C, 7th Tennessee Cavalry_.
* * * * *
HEADQUARTERS POST OF PADUCAH,
_Paducah, Kentucky, April 6, 1864_.
SIR: I have the honor to report in relation to the late engagement with
the rebel General Forrest. On the 25th instant my scouts came in at
about 12 o'clock m., bringing no news of the enemy's whereabouts. I
immediately ordered out others, and directed them to proceed on the
Mayfield road. They had gone but three miles when they were met by
Forrest's advance guard, who fired upon them. They hurriedly fell back
and gave the alarm, and in less than ten minutes after they reported,
the enemy were driving in my pickets, who opened a skirmish-fire and
fell back to Fort Anderson, according to previous instructions. I
immediately ordered the little force under my command to double-quick to
the fort, which order was promptly obeyed; yet, before they could reach
there, such was the impetuosity of the attack, that their rear was fired
into by the enemy.
At 2 p. m. the enemy took position surrounding the fort, and a sharp
fight commenced, which in a few minutes became furious, and continued
for about one hour, when it was announced that a flag of truce was
approaching. I immediately ordered my men to cease firing, and sent out
to meet the bearer, from whom I received the following demand for a
surrender:
"HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY CORPS,
"_Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864_.
"COLONEL: Having a force amply sufficient to carry your works and reduce
the place, and in order to avoid the unnecessary effusion of blood, I
demand the surrender of the fort and troops, with all public property.
If you surrender, you shall be treated as prisoners of war; but if I
have to storm your works, you may expect no quarter.
"N. B. FORREST,
"_Major General, Commanding Confederate Troops_.
"Colonel HICKS,
"_Commanding Federal Forces at Paducah_."
To which I replied as follows:
"HEADQUARTERS POST OF PADUCAH,
"_Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864_.
"I have this moment received yours of this instant, in which you demand
the unconditional surrender of the forces under my command. I can answer
that I have been placed here by my government to defend this post, and
in this, as well as all other orders from my superior, I feel it to be
my duty as an honorable officer to obey. I must, therefore, respectfully
decline surrendering as you may require.
"Very respectfully,
"S. G. Hicks,
"_Colonel, Commanding Post_.
"Major General N. B. FORREST,
"_Commanding Confederate Forces_."
While the flag of truce was near the fort, and during its pendency, the
enemy were engaged in taking position and planting a battery. As soon as
the answer was returned they moved forward, and our forces opened on
them, and the fight became general. They attempted to storm our works,
but were repulsed. They rallied and tried it again, and met the same
fate. They made a third effort, but were forced to abandon their design.
It was in this last struggle that Brigadier General A. P. Thompson
(confederate) was killed.
I now discovered, on examination, that my ammunition was growing short,
and out of 30,000 rounds, (the amount we commenced the fight with,)
27,000 had been already expended. In this emergency I ordered the
remainder to be equally distributed; the men to fix their bayonets; to
make good use of the ammunition they had, and, when that was exhausted,
to receive the enemy on the point of the bayonet, feeling fully
determined never to surrender while I had a man alive. When this order
was repeated by the officers to their respective commands, it was
received with loud shouts and cheers.
The enemy's sharpshooters in the mean time got possession of the houses
around and near the fort, from which position they picked off some of my
gunners, shooting nearly all of them in the head.
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.
The casualties of my command were fourteen killed and forty-six wounded.
The enemy's loss, according to the most reliable information that I can
obtain, was three hundred killed and from one thousand to twelve hundred
wounded. His killed and wounded may be safely set down at fifteen
hundred.
General Forrest admitted, in conversation with some of his friends in
this city, that in no engagement during the war had he been so badly cut
up and crippled as at this place.
Our loss in government stores was inconsiderable. The quartermaster's
depot, a temporary wooden building, was burned, and in consequence
thereof a small lot of quartermaster's property was lost. Our commissary
stores, and most of our government horses, mules, wagons, &c., were
saved.
In justice to the officers and soldiers under my command, allow me to
say they acted _well_ their part, proving themselves worthy of the great
cause in which they are engaged, and all deserving of the highest
praise.
The three companies of the 122d Illinois were the only portion of my
command that had ever been under fire before.
And here permit me to remark that I have been one of those men who never
had much confidence in colored troops fighting, but those doubts are now
all removed, for they fought as bravely as any troops in the fort.
The gunboats Peosta, Captain Smith, and Paw Paw, Captain O'Neal, were
present and rendered valuable aid in shelling the city and operating on
the flank of the enemy as they surrounded the fort.
A list of the names of the killed and wounded I will furnish hereafter.
Respectfully submitted.
S. G. HICKS,
_Colonel 40th Illinois Infantry, Commanding Post_.
Captain J. H. ODLIN,
_Assistant Adjutant General_.
* * * * *
HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES,
_Before Columbus, Kentucky, April 13, 1864_.
Fully capable of taking Columbus and its garrison by force, I desire to
avoid the shedding of blood, and therefore demand the unconditional
surrender of the forces under your command. Should you surrender, the
negroes now in arms will be returned to their masters. Should I,
however, be compelled to take the place, no quarter will be shown to the
negro troops whatever; the white troops will be treated as prisoners of
war.