Civil War Letter from Steamboat Joseph Pierce, March 1864

 Oxford Times, April 13, 1864

At Columbus, Ky, on Steamboat Joseph Pierce, March 27, 1864

Editor Times:  Sir:  Having been near the theater of operations of the guerrilla forces, I have had an opportunity of gathering some information relative to his attack on Paducah, which I desire to submit to the readers of your paper, trusting that coming from one of the boys of Oxford it will not be read wholly devoid of interest.  In the first place Faulkner attacked and took Union City.  His force consisted of fifteen hundred Infantry without artillery.  While this was doing, Forrest with a force comprising 4000 men (Infantry) and a Battery, marched on Paducah. After the capture of Union city the two bodies reunited for an attack on the latter place which they commenced about 2 o'clock Friday afternoon.  Col. Hicks commanding the town had but four minutes warning, when the attack began.  

After a sharp fire from the Batteries, Forrest sent a flag of truce demanding an immediate surrender of the Fort, threatening if the demand was not complied with, to take it by assault. The reply of Col. Hicks was, that he should hold the fort in any event.  Twice more during the attack the demand was repeated, with the threat that if the fort was not given up, no quarters would be shown to its defenders. The whole sum of the defensive force at that time was four hundred men and two gunboats.

The rebels held the town, and from the windows of the houses were able to severely annoy our forces, killing and wounding several of our men.  The two gun boats and Col. Hicks behaved with great bravery, pouring a sharp fire into the enemy's ranks and shelling the town. The citizens had been warned by Col. Hicks that the necessity for doing this might probably arise. the state of sentiment renders it quite probable that the movement had not been made without complicity on the part of the disaffected portion of the population.

The consequences to Paducah were most awful.  As the sharp shooters continued to use their deadly weapons from windows favorably situated for their purpose, and the remainder of the enemy to fire from positions among the houses, affording suitable shelter, there was no other alternative for the defenders of the fort but to deprive them of their advantages.  The busting shells told with desperate effect among the buildings which were soon in flames in several places. 

The inhabitants fled in the greatest consternation, as many as could seeking safety by crossing to the opposite side of the Ohio.  The attack was continued until eleven o'clock at night, when the unwavering courage of the garrison and the effective operations of the gunboats, compelled the baffled and mortified rebels to withdraw from a place, the conquest of which they had confidently counted upon relying upon the immense superiority of their numbers.  

They were reported to be retreating on the way for the May Flower, but strong reasons led to the belief that the attack would be renewed, to provide against which reinforcements had been sent from Cairo.  The loss of the rebels was heavy, between two and three hundred are reported killed.  The number of their wounded was not known.  Among their killed was Brig. Gen. A.P. Thompson.  Our loss as far as ascertained was 15 killed and 40 wounded.  The conduct of Col. Hicks receives the highest [praise].  The effective fire of the gunboats receives high praise.  They rendered good service, but suffered greatly from the sharp shooters fire.  There was no faltering on the part of the garrison.  The reports received from the spot give the men the highest commendation.  They behaved most gallantly; fighting bravely and handling the guns splendidly.  Those forces were negroes.  On several occasions we have heard of negroes fighting well.  Here is another and a striking instance that they can and will render efficient service.  How little they know of their qualities as soldiers, who, when the negroes were first organized into regiments, contemptuously exclaimed, "The n.... can never be made to fight."  Their conduct at Paducah speaks for itself.

At the latest accounts Paducah was in flames. The steamboat Tycoon which left there Saturday noon report that the place was burning.  The Louisville and Iowa were acting as ferry boats taking citizens across to the Illinois side  About 3,000 crossed, houseless and with little else among them than the clothing on their persons.  Gunboats patrolling the river in front of the city.

The White Cloud was a little distance below putting troops ashore, while above the fort the glorious old stars and stripes were triumphantly waving.

Yours &c.   I.