Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-25
The FIsht at BarbOursviIIe, Kentucky.

The Fieht Mt BarbOursvilIe, Kentucky.
A letter in the Frankfort Commonwealth
gives some particulars of the raid of the
rebels-and Of what is called a fight
twenty Home Guards against three hundred
cavalry;
LONDON, September 20, 1861
DEAR FRIEND: This morning, and during
the night all the boys engaged in the fight
at Bsrboursville bridge came here, and gave
a full account of the fight. 1t isas follows:
The evening before last about fifty of the
cavalry of the rebel came down TO the bridge
above town, at W. B. Anderson's lanyard.
The citizens anticipated their coming and
tore the puncheons from the frame of the
bridge, and they could not pass. There were
some thirty Home Guard guarding the
bridge; the seceshers fired upon them; they
returned the fire, wounding three; none Of
our men were hurt; the cavalry scampered
off; they watched the bridge all night
there was a fog in the morning, and the
cavalry, about daylight returned, three
hundred in number, and fred upon those
who were watching the bridge, and then the
fight commenced. The cavalry were sup
ported by their whole force, consisting of
three thousand infantry; the Home Guard
repulsed them twice, and although .only
twenty one of the Home Guard stood
the fire, they say they could easily have kept
them in check at the bridge, but they went
back, crossed the gut back about one-tourth
of mile, made their way around, came up
the town, and upon their rear, by the street
where Sawyer,s office is, and upon the rear
of the Home Guard, intending to surround
them. = or
When our boys saw that, they escaped
through Rich. Tuggle's corn. field, and made
their escape; one was shot through the ear,
and one through the top of the shoulder
both slight flesh wounds. The number of
the rebels killed was about thirty, they sup.
pose, and about twelve mortally wounded.
Colonel Rains the commander of the rebel
forces, certainly killed; one captain and one
lieutenant; the privates are guessed at. They
drove a wagon down loaded with their dead,
and the blood was strewn all along the road
from the wagon for miles. This is the best
fight Of the war One hundred more men,
who would have fought like this glorious
little band of twenty-one, would have
whipped this army of three thousand three
hundred. We ascertained their numbers by
their own Acknowledgements after the battle,
aud the fact that the lane from the bridge to
Mrs. Pogue's house was thick with men, six
deep, for one-balf mile.
When they took possession of the town
they destroyed great amount Of property,
ard last night they were reveling upon the
spoils of victory, and one hundred men
could have driven them out. saw. and talked
to deserter who was there, but deserted the
day before the fight; they had been informed
that there were six hundred troops in Bar
boursville; fortunately for them this was a
mistake, as they would have been badly
whipped. They say that next they will take
Goose Creek Salt Works; that they are out
of salt-this Colonel Bottles said openly after
taking Barboursville; next they will take
London, and march on and take Camp Robin.
son. Men, women, negroes, are all fleeing
in the direction of Camp Robinson. London
is almost evacuated. Mrs. Pearl was the
only white woman who stayed in London
last night; she left to-day for Mrs. Baughs.
Our country is in great confusion. Home
Guards are mastering in great numbers all
over the country; il we had the ammunition
we would whip them certain; we have lost
all hope of help from Camp Robinson, or
anywhere else; our situation is deplorable
indeed, but we have to abide our fate; the
whole country is greatly depressed, and one
universal desire for conflict, and if we ever
get in tix, and get chance, we will show
the world that we can fight without being
drilled or disciplined. What will the lead
ing politicians now say about neutrality and
Magoffin. 1t makes ones heart sick to think
of our deplorable condition. Are we to be
su6lugated by armed rebels? What will be-
come Of US God only knows.
The deserter said that the men were op.
posed to fighting Kentuckians. The men
said Kentucky had treated Tennessee well,
and they were against fighting her without
cause, and that they certainly had no cause
of complaint against Kentucky.
He thinks that the whole army would sur
render at once if they had chance; that they
are tired of Secession, and would gladly ac-
cept chance to surrender which have no
doubt is true. wish had control of Camp
Robinson ten days. / would drive them be-
yoDd Cumberland Gap.
l will give you the names of our men, as
far ss l can recOllect, who fought so gal
lsntly ". B, Anderson, T. G. Pitzer, T. G.
Baugbmani John H. Baughmau, the two
Amis boys, two Garberts, Berry Deatheridge,
Dick Herndon, R j. Tuggle, and two boys
whose names do not now recollect. One
fred four shots, and they say he killed four
men, and the other two-tbey are brothers