Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-04
SPECIAL DISPATCHES
ITO the Chicago Tribune.1
FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY.
"U" EHO IEnN NENIUGAI'
General Gilmore's Brilliant Battle
The Rebels Completely
ROuted--A Splendid
Achievement,
LEXINGTON. KH. AnriI 2


General Gilmore and Staff returned from
the front last night, leaving ColOnels VOL,
ford and Runkle to pick up prisoners and
bring up the rear.
General Pegram's long planned and
boasted invasion of Kentucky has ended
in destructive and disgraceful defeat, to
the bitter disappointment of resident reb-
els, and the CONSERVATION Of the Dragging
COnfederates who, at a vast expense of
time, men and money, have at last made
but a meagre haul.
General Gilmore assumed command in
person, and left here with the determine
tiOn to re-capture the spoils of the rebel
expedition and punish the audaeity of the
braggarts. Psrceiving that they had con-
verted retreat into precipitate fight he
left the infantry and pushed on with his
mounted force consisting of the Ist Ken
lucky cavalry, Colonel Wolford 45th Ohio
cavalry, mounted, Colonel Runkle; a de-
tachment of the 44th, mounted, under Ma
jOr Mitchell, and 7th Ohio cavalry, Colonel
Garrard, in all l, 200 men.
Such was the energy Of the pursuit, that,
notwithstanding the rebels had thirty-six
hours the start they were overtaken four
miles north of Somerset.
When the skirnishing commenced, Gen
erals Gilmore and Carter, with WOlfOrds
cavalry and the body guard, were in the
advance.
As often as the rebels made a stand, they
were dislOdged with shell. Within twelve
miles of Somerset, at Dutton's Hill in
very strong position, the rebels drew up in
force and planted their batteries, and here,
about u o'clock commenced the real battle.
The preliminary artillery fight lasted
one and half hours, dismounting three Of
their guns. The wings were then ordered
to advance-WOlford did SO mounted and
Runkle dismounted-and found it too hot
but when the enemy found him out and |
commenced Smelling him he threw aside
all hesitation, and at the head of his men
he gallantly charged up thehfll. The reb-
els moved out to meet him and for an in
slant the line wavered, with the batteries
playing directly upon them, shot and shell
booming over them, and Ieaden rain play
ing around them.
They paused only to take breath, and
with a shout they hurled their columns
upon the advancing foe. Colonel Runkle
and his command behaved like heroes.
at the same time, Wolford, on the right.
and Colonel Garrard, in the centre charged,
md the enemy broke in disorder to their
horses, under cover of wooded hills, and
led pell-mel through the town.
A detachment of Scotts men were seen
lying into the road, to cut off Captain
Stowe, when General Gilmore, at the head
II his bOdy-gfard, charged down upon them
ike a whirlwind, and they turned off into
mother road. General Gilmore and guard
'ntered the town, and held it until the
i4th and 45th regiments came up. The
.nemy made another stand three miles be-
Ow Somerset, and were again routed.
Night came on and our boys were exhaust
d. In the morning it was found that the
ebels had crossed the river during the
light, in great confusion, and more than
me hundred, it is said, were drowned.
They planted battery on the river,
which was quickly demolished We re-
Overed four hundred cattle at the river.
Their loss, in killed and captured is near
= five hundred; fifty were killed. The
Oss on our sidei is but thirty-fve in killed,
wounded and missing. The whole affair
5 said to have been brilliant one.
A surgeon, under a flag of truce, came
n our lines, after the battle, to search for
ieneral Pegram.
General Burnside arrived at Lexington
It 6 o'clock P. NJ, and was received with
,reat eclat by the citizens.