Paducah Ky.,
March 25, 1864.
16th Kentucky Cavalry; 1st Kentucky Heavy Artillery; Detachment
122nd Illinois Infantry.
As an incident of Maj.-Gen. N. B. Forrest's expedition into
Kentucky, the Federal outposts were driven back through Paducah
into Fort Anderson by Forrest's advance guard and later in the
day, when the remainder of his force came up, a general attack
was made upon the Union troops within the fort.
Twice the Confederates attempted to storm the works but each
time they were repulsed. While preparing for a third attempt,
Col. A. P. Thompson, leader of the assaulting party, was
killed, and the design was abandoned.
Confederate sharpshooters had in the meantime taken possession
of the houses near the fort and were picking off the Union
gunners. Firing was kept up until 11:30 p. m., when Forrest
withdrew out of range of the Union guns for the night.
In the morning the Confederates set fire to the town and
withdrew. The Union casualties were 14 killed and 46 wounded.
The Confederate loss was not reported, but the estimate of Col.
S. G. Hicks, commanding the post, was 300 killed and wounded.
Source: The Union Army, Vol.,6 p.,662
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