Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-30
The FIsht ut West Liberty, Ky.-..Capsain
rEnnI-Inln mnaann. Eu--...-aL


The flight at West Liberty, Ky.-..Uapsain
KOnkle's battery EHEnEed.
The Cincinnati Commereial Of yesterday
contains the following particulars Of the late
dght in Bsalucky, at West Liberty, in which
lnp.. Konkls's battery was engaged
[Since this extract was in type, We have
'eceived an account OF the battle from cur
Iwn correspondent which will be found in
another column -EDs
Col. Len Harris, with his regiment End
Ohio, two guns OF Oapt Konkles Chic bat
ery, and Capt Laughlin's cavalry set out at
hree o'clock Tuesday afternoon OF last wssh
from point thirty-sx miles thss side OF
Vest Liberty, for march upon that town,
Intending to surprise it at daylight the fol :
loving morning. Il was reported that the
rebels, several hundred strong, were advan-
ageously p )sted in the neighbo-hood OF
West Liberty, which is situated on the head
waters Of the Licking river in the county
seat Of Morgan county, and thirty Eve miles
rom Prestonburg, the headquarters of the
rebels in Eastern Kentucky. The gallant
boys Of the Ohio Second pressed forward
with great spirit and vigoT, but the heavy
ain came up and fell for six hours wi hout
ntermission, making the roads SO bad as to
cause detention. The men toiled forward
steadily all night wading the Licking river
The water up 10 their belts-three times.
At eight clock Wednesday morning they
had marched thirty-six m les, and the bush
whackers of the enemy, posted cn a rocky
hillside and in a corn field, opened FIRE upon
The advance, doing no injury, as they were
in manifest trepidation. Col Earris saw
that the fight was to be a mere skirr2ish, and
that the FIRST thing to be done was to clean
the enemy out of the bushes. Giving direc.
tons to the artillery Zone gun had been left
behind, owing to the wretehed condition oi
the roads, and there was but one on the spot)
to send a few shells into the town. and a
suspicious neck Of the woods, the Colonel
gave his horse in charge of a servant, and
went into the bushes with his flank compa-
mics, which were armed with Enfield rifles
They had q most exciting hunt after the
rebels, who were popped over in ell direc.
tions, and driven like flock of frightened
animals through the bushes and eelds. The
Capt. says Col. Harris and his men returned
from this rebel hunt covered all oTer with
burs and Spanish needles. Not one of the
boys was SO much as scratched by al enemy's
ball, though they bad killed seventeen rebels,
most of whom we're living in the. vicinity.
There was no mistake about the killing, for
cofins have been the articles most in de-
msnd since that time in the little town OF
West Liberty. Three well-known citizens
Of the town were killed, and another, the
leading secesh of the place, was seen run
ming away, his right arm dangling, as if il
had been shattered by rife ball
In the first onset one platoon CT Captain
Laughlin's cavalry had been sharply engaged
with a party Of the enemy posted on steep
and rocky hill. One rebel was shot dead
there, and another wounded. Lieut. Sam.
" FOrdyse, Of the cavalry, was strUck by a
rife ball in the left leg, the ball glsncing
from the bone, inAicting painful wound,
The rebels were terrified at tbs bombshells
sent screeching through the woods, and fed
as if they had discovered the devil suddenly
on dark night. There was party of cav
alry-s motley srray-drawn up near the
Court House. A shell hoWled up TIE street,
and exploded near them. TIE captain
shouted "Disperse u and thers was wild
scsmper.
One fellow, well mounted and armed, with
good rife, fingered behind, and cred with
deliberate aim at Col Harris, rs tie latter
rode into the town. He, luckily, missed his
aim. The moment be fired, he pat ais horse
to the top Of his speed to make his escape,
but volIey was fred after him, and be fell
headlong. On coming up with him, he was
found stretched in the read insensible. A
close examination of his person disclosed the
fact that tho lgh his clothes had been cut in
several places by balls, the only wound was
bullet hole through his right hand. The
fellow was secured. The town was deserted
by its inhabitants, only few negrOes re-
naming behind.
Col. Harris expected to march forward to
PrestOnb,,rg, where, in connection with 9th
er forces, battle would begiven If any rebels
could be found.