The Portland daily press., 1862-12-01
A Letter from Kentucky.

The writer of the following letter, addressed
to S. l.. Carleton, Esq.,-by whom we are al
lowed to publish it,-was in this city in atten-
dance upon the National Division of the Sons
of Temperance, in 1860, and we think made
an able and interesting address in the New
City Hall on that occasion:
AUGUSTA, KY, Oct. II, 1862,
Dear Bro Cdrteton:-I have been desiring
for some time to write to you, but the excite
ment and the confusion incident to the attack
and pillage of our beautiful little town has
prevented me.
You have doubtless seen published accounts
of the conflict and capture of our town after
the severest conflict of the war, when we take
into consideration the small number who de-
Tended the place. As those accounts were
published before full and accurate information
could be obtained, l propose to give you as
accurate an account as can be obtained.
The fight took place on the afternoon of the
9th of Sept, 1862. For two weeks previous
portion Of John Morgans forces had been
making demonstrations on various parts of our
county, stealing horses, capturing home guards
and threatening our town. To defend our
selves against this robber band, we could only
oppose a small force of home guards, and at
the time of the attack two thirds of these
were absent in another portion of the county
on dnty. At about 2 o'clock p. NJ. of the
9th, five hundred and fifty of the meanest cut
throat thieves that ever disgraced the military
profession, with three pieces of artillery, sur
rounded the town. To oppose these were
about sixty men and boys, armed with mus
kets, commanded by Col. j. L. Bradford, my
younger brother To this | should add that
there were two gun boats stationed before the
town, with one gun each.
The fight was opened by shot from the
Belfast, commanded by Capt. Sedan, which
fell just by the rebel battery, killing five of the
enemy. She fired the second and the third
shot, being warmly replied to by the three re-
bel guns, but not doing her the slightest inju-
ry; then the other gun boat, which had not
fired gun, pulled up anchors and ran away
leaving sixty men to contest the matter with
five hundred and fifty worse than savages.
How well they contested it the sequel will
show The foe came on with drunken and
savage yell that would have shocked pande-
monium ITSELF But as they rolled into the
street, our brave boys met them with yoley
from the windows of the houses, that made
many a foe bite the dust, but the yells grew
fercer, and with savage malignancy they DASH
ed headlong into the bloody fray, setting fire
| to the buildings in which our men were post
ed; thus for thirty or forty minutes the con-
| test ragged, our men fighting with the most he
role courage. until forced by the flames from
the burning buildings TO call for quarter
Then was exhibited the hwtality and the
savage character of those who are engaged in
this wicked and Internal rebellion. They rush
ed into the burning buildings and shot our men
after they had thrown down their arms, and
then refused their friends the privileges Of
| snatching their mutilated bodies from the
| flames. Is this their boasted chivalry? The
records of time do not afford darker paral-
lei. But their victory was a dearly bought one
to them, and our little band of heroes deserve
the highest plaudits of grateful country.
From a most careful collection of facts,
will give you as nearly as may be, the casual
ties of the conflict. On our side there were
twelve killed and five wounded, two of whom
| have since died On the part OF the rebels there
| were about one hundred and twenty killed and
wounded, doubtless many of these were also
| burned. A week after the conflict we still con-
| tinaed to find their dead.
Our town wears a sad and ruined aspect
| one third of it being in ruins, but our hearts
mourn more for the loss oil the brave ones who
fell so herocally defending the cause of Justice
| aud humanity. When history writes the deeds
| of this war it should borrow the coloring from
the internal pit, or history will be falsehood.
! But must close.
| Me and mine are all safe, and did not suffer
loss, for which We feel very thankful. My boy,
OF twelve years DID, had to be pulled out of the
| fight. The prisoners who were taken to Lex
| ington and paroed, have all returned. l saw
| ed myself from being prisoner and was saw
ed the humiliation of accepting parole at
their vile hands. Hoping that war may never
| come to you or yours,
l am truly yours, DC,
j. j. BRADFORD.