The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-24
FROM KENTUCKY.
Particulars OF HObsOn,s Surrender.

Keller's Bridge, the scene of the engage
ment, is just sixty-five miles south of this city
and one mile this side of Cynthiana. It was
destroyed by the rebels on Thursday last in
order to prevent the sending of the troops
along. the railroad. At 5 o'clock Saturday
morning last, the Hist Ohio was disembarkcd
at this point. together with handful of men
to act as cavalry. The trains which con-
veyed them Immediately backed down the
road two miles, where they were thrown from
she track and burned. Upon being dsembarkei
the men OF the Hist were supplied with am
munltion and proceeded to eat their breakfast.
suddenly their quiet was disturbed by the rat.
Tie OF musketry at Cynthiana, telling that hot
work was going on there between the 16Sth
and the rebel forces. And in a few moments
10 their great surprise, they ascertained that
the ne!os around themselves were alive with
the rebel forces. A volley of musketry was
poured in upon them by SQUAD of the enemy
masked behind the fence of clover field.
From the dust it was evident to Gen. Hobson
ana Col. Asper that their little band was COM
pietely surrounded. And, from the disposi-
ton made of the rebel troops, 1t was e;idently
tneir design to conduct the fight in BUSH
whacklng style from the brush, should our
forces resist which they probably did not be-
iieve 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 and sent to both
east ana west of the railroad, Occupying such
poslnons as they might secure The rebels
tnen appeared on every hand, displaying great
activity in firing and considerable skill in Keen.
Ing themselves under cover from the fire of
our troops. Throughout the firing was as be-
tween snarpshOoters, each man firing as he
could obtain sight of one of the enemy. This
continued about five hours, the loss on both
sldeS being extraordinarily heavy. That of the
reoeis was much greater than our own-as
much so perhaps proportionately as their force
was superior in number, we having ZOO men.
ana they, with their reinforcements, 1000
AgaIns1 these great odds the resistance made
was desperate and determined. Gen. Morgan
VINO, when the fight here commenced was at
Cynthlana (the rebel force being in command
OF Gen. Getty, had supposed that the Union
I!rce would have surrendered Immediately.
lie considered his great odds, the ereenness
of our forces and wondered, in impatience
how 1t occurred that the fighting continued.
lie mad expected an immediate surrender. and
sincerely desired it, as he did not wish to lose
any OF his men, even though the loss entailed
upon our forces should be twice as heavy.
he certainly bad not expected this desperate
resistance. He was surprised. He was as
founded, when, at o'clock A, H.. a courier
dashed up to him in haste. at Cynthiana and
gave General Getty's message of /" Reinforce.
ments, or gave it up" Several hundred troops
were Immediately sent down the pike, Morgan
at their head, and with those the line was
drawn still closer around the little band. until
Gen. HobsOn was forced to receive the flag of
truce, ana accepted MOrgan's conditions of sur
renoer[lhat the private property of the troops
should De respected, and that the officers should
retain their side-arms Gen. Hobson, SO ali
accounts agree in saying, had done all that
could be done. displaying himself the greatest
personal courage, and in thus surrendering he
decided for the best.
Such of the Hist as remained were then
drawn up along the pike; their arms were
stacked and burned by the rebels. and thew
were marched through Cynthiana a mile south
to grove, when they were allowed to rest,
and where they found the 16Sth regiment. or
rather five companies of it-all that had been
in the fight at Cynthiana-prisoners like them
selves. In an hour or two, however, the pris-
Oners were marched three miles north, on the
Augusta pike, where they passed Saturday
night.
Early on Sunday morning came the attack
upon the main force of the rebels from Gener
al Burbridge, who had arrived from Paris
with strong force, and two pieces of artillery.
with which Morgan was unprovided.
With the first announcement of the approach
of Burbridge came an order from Morgan to
the guard over the 600 prisoners to start them
north, which was done. and that too, on the
uouulC-qutCh. NloISdu Lldln force, pursued
by Burbridge, following at distance of a few
miles. This forced march brought them to
Claysville, eighteen miles northeast of Cynthi-
ana, where they were halted, drawn up in line
and paroled, and allowed to depart. In thus
dispOsing of them Morgan informed them that
he had enough to attend to to get out of the
State, but that he should succeed in doing SO.
The rebel forces then struck due east with the
evident intention of reaching Virginia as soon
as possible. The paroled prisoners continued
on their way to Augusta, which they reached
Sunday night. coming to this point by steamer
yesterday morning.
Gen. HObson, who was taken prisoner ia
now in a strange predicament, having agreed
to procure an exchange, He is now at Fal-
mouth, the escort or guard of rebel officers ac-
companying him having been taken prisoner
at that point on their way to the city. by Can't
G. H. Laird, of Gen. HObson's staff. The ones.
ton involved will necessitate decision from
the War Department.
The 16Sth gallantly withstood Morpan,s at
tack at Cynthiana, on Saturday morning last
Two companies of the regiment had heen left
at Falmouth, two at BOyd's Station and one at
Robinson's, for the protection of the road. and
but five companies had been sent mn to Cyn-
thiana, in advaGce of the 17lst. These five
companies fought with desperate courage, and
only the Overwhelming odds brought against
them, by Morgan, forced them at length to
anrrordar