Maysville weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1864-1866, 1864-06-16
From the Cincinnati Commercial.
Morgan Raid.

have given the main points Of the history
of the affair at Keller's Bridge, and of the
disaster to the railroad and trains at that
point. But the nature of the fight. as dis
PLAYING gre at bravery and endurance on tn
part of tbe National Guard engaged. and the
heavy loss, comparatively speaking that at
tend ed the fight, call for a more particular
account of the same. Keller's Bridge tn 9
scene of the engagement, is just s,xsy-nxe
miles south of this city, and one mlie t ~
side Cvutbiana It was destroyed oy tne
rebels on Thursday last in oroer 70 Prsyen'
the sending of troops along the railroau.1
Fat FIVE o'clock Saturday morning lase' the
171st was disembarked at TINS poinS' To-
gether with handful OF men VINO ~elo "
act as cavalry. The trains which bad con-
waved them imn ediately backed down the
road two miles, where they were thrown
from the track and burned. Upon being
disem bark ed the men of the 171st were sup
piled with ammunition and proceeded to
eat their breakfast. Suddenly their quiet
was disturbed by the rattle OF musketry at
Cynfhiaua, telling that hot work was going
on there between the 168th and the rebel
forces. And in few moments, to their
great surprise, they ascertained that the
fields around themselves were alive with
the rebel forces. volley Of muske'ry was
poured in upon them by squad Of the en-
envy masked behind the fence of a clover
field. From the first it was evident to Gen.
Hobson and Colonel Asper that their little
band was completely surrounded. And,
from the disposition made of the rebel
troops, It was evidently their design to coD-
duct the fight in bushwbacking style from
the brush, hould our forcos resist. which
they probably did not believe would be the
case, as they were evidently two to their
one in the first of the fight.
Under these circumstances the regiment
was divided into several squads aud sent to
both east and west of the railroad. occupy
ing such positions as they might secure
The rebels then appeared on every hand,
great activity in firing and con-
siderable skill in keeping themselves under
cover from the fire Of our troops. Through
out, the affair was as between sharp-shoot-
ers, each man firing as he could obtain sight
of one OF the enemy. This continued
about five hours, the loss on both sides be-
ing extraordinarily heavy. That Of the
rebels was much greater than our our own
AS much so, perh APPS. proportionately. as
heir force was superior in number, we hav-
ing 700 men and they, with their reinforce
ments. 1000. Against these great odds,
the resistance made was desperate and de-
termined. General Morgan who, when the
fight here commenced was at Cyntbiana
the rebel force being 10 command OF
General Getty had supposed that the
Union force would have surrendered i'm
mediately. He considered his great odds,
the greenness of our forces, and wond cred,
in impotence, how it occurred that the
lighting continued He had expected an
imme diate surrender, and sincerely de-
sired it, as he did not wish to lose any Of
his men, even though the loss entailed
upon our forces should have been twice
as heavy. Gle certainly had not expected
this desperate resistance. He was sur
prised. He was astounded, when at Nine
o'clock. A. NJ. a courier dashed up to him in
haste at Cynthiana and gave Gen. Getty's
message of 'reinforcements or give it up
Several hundred troops were Immediately
sent down the pike, Morgan at their head,
and with those the line was drawn still clo-
yer around the little band, until Gen. Hob
son was forced TO receive the flag of truce,
md accept Morgan's conditions Of surren-
]er--that the private property of the troops |
should be respected, and that the officers
should retain their side arms. Gen. Hob |
Ion, so all accounts agree in SAYING. had
lone all that could be done. displaying in |
himself the greatest personal courage, and in /
hus sunendering he decided for the best.
Such of the 17lst as remained were then |
lrawn up along the pike their arms were
stacked and burned bv the rebels, and they |
we're marched through CyDthiana a mile
South to a grove, when thew were allowed |
% rest, aud where they found the l68th re-
.iment. or rather FIVE companies of it--all |
hat had been in the fight at Cynthiana-
prisoners like themse In az hour or
ma cd
hree miles North, on the Augusta pike.
where they passed Saturday night Early
Sunday morning came the attack upon
70 main force Of the rebels from Gen. Bur-
ridge, who had arrived from Paris with
trong force, aud two pieces of artillery with
7hich Morgan was unproviGed.
With the first announcement OF the ap-
roach of Burbridge came an order from
Iorgan to the guard over the 600 prisoners
} start them North, which was done, and
nat TOO on the double quick Morgan's
lain force, pursued by Burbridge. follow
70 at distance of few miles. This for
I'd march brought them to Claysville, Is
ortheast of CYnthiana, where they were
allied, drawn up in line, and parolled, and
lowed to depart. In thus disposiDg of
lem Morgan informed them that he had
lough to attend to get out of the State. but
lat be should succeed in doing so. The
bel forces then struck due East with the
,ident intention of reaching Virginia as
on as possible. The paroled prisoners
on their way to Augusta, which
ey reached Sunday night, coming to this
int by steamer yesterday morning. .
GENERAL HoBsoN.
Who was taken prisoner, is now In |!
-auge predicament. having agreed to pro-
re an exchange. He is now at Falmouth,
g escort or guard of rebel officers who
ere accompanying him, having been ia
n prisoner at that point on their way to I
g city, by Captain G. j. Laird Of General
obson's Staff. The question involved C
i'll necess;tata a decision from the War s.