Battle of Paducah
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Paducah was fought on March 25, 1864, during the American Civil War
. A Confederate
force led by Maj. Gen.
Nathan Bedford Forrest
launched a successful raid on Paducah, Kentucky
, to capture supplies.
In March 1864, Forrest set out from Columbus, Mississippi
, into West Tennessee and Kentucky with a force of fewer than 3,000 men. Their object was to recruit soldiers, reoutfit their force with supplies, and disrupt Union
activities. They arrived in Paducah, Kentucky
, on March 25 and quickly occupied the town. The Union garrison of 650 men under the command of Col. Stephen G. Hicks
retired to Fort Anderson
in the town's west end. Hicks had support from two gunboats on the Ohio River
and refused to surrender, while shelling the area with his artillery.
Most of Forrest’s command destroyed unwanted supplies, loaded what they wanted, and rounded up horses and mules. A small segment of Forrest's command assaulted Fort Anderson and was repulsed, suffering heavy casualties. Soon afterwards, Forrest's men withdrew. In reporting the raid on the town, many newspapers stated that Forrest had not found the more than a hundred fine horses hidden from the raid. As a result, one of Forrest’s subordinate officers, Abraham Buford, led a force back into Paducah in mid-April and seized the infamous horses.
Casualties were 90 Union, 50 Confederate. Although this was a Confederate victory, other than the destruction of supplies and capture of animals, no lasting results occurred. It did, however, warn the Federals that Forrest, or someone like him, could strike anywhere at any time.
The non-commissioned officer in charge of the supplies for the 16th Ky Calvary, encamped at this time in Paducah, was Quartermaster Sgt. Robert Walker Jump.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. A Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
force led by Maj. Gen.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
launched a successful raid on Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
, to capture supplies.
In March 1864, Forrest set out from Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
, into West Tennessee and Kentucky with a force of fewer than 3,000 men. Their object was to recruit soldiers, reoutfit their force with supplies, and disrupt Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
activities. They arrived in Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
, on March 25 and quickly occupied the town. The Union garrison of 650 men under the command of Col. Stephen G. Hicks
Stephen G. Hicks
Stephen G. Hicks Stephen G. Hicks Stephen G. Hicks ( 22 Feb 1809 - 14 Dec 1869 (or 1866) American soldier, born in Jackson County, Georgia, and active during the American Civil War with the 40th Illinois Infantry Regiment. He enlisted on the July 22, 1861, and was honorably discharged on the July...
retired to Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson
Fort Anderson can refer to:*Fort Anderson — A Union fort used in the American Civil War and site of the Battle of Paducah, Kentucky*Fort Anderson — A Confederate fort used in the American Civil War...
in the town's west end. Hicks had support from two gunboats on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
and refused to surrender, while shelling the area with his artillery.
Most of Forrest’s command destroyed unwanted supplies, loaded what they wanted, and rounded up horses and mules. A small segment of Forrest's command assaulted Fort Anderson and was repulsed, suffering heavy casualties. Soon afterwards, Forrest's men withdrew. In reporting the raid on the town, many newspapers stated that Forrest had not found the more than a hundred fine horses hidden from the raid. As a result, one of Forrest’s subordinate officers, Abraham Buford, led a force back into Paducah in mid-April and seized the infamous horses.
Casualties were 90 Union, 50 Confederate. Although this was a Confederate victory, other than the destruction of supplies and capture of animals, no lasting results occurred. It did, however, warn the Federals that Forrest, or someone like him, could strike anywhere at any time.
The non-commissioned officer in charge of the supplies for the 16th Ky Calvary, encamped at this time in Paducah, was Quartermaster Sgt. Robert Walker Jump.