Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-15
The NEWS FROM KENTUCKY.
Later from MOrgan-He is I'm full Re.
treat-Particulars of the Fight Mt
KelIer's Bridge.

From The Cincinnati Commercial Of tuesday,
In our accounts published thus far, we
have given the main points of the history
of the affair at Kellers Bridge, and of the
disaster to the railroad and trains at that
point. But the nature of the fight, as dis
playing great bravery and endurance on
the part of the National Guard engaged,
and the heavy loss, comparatively speaking,
that attended the fight, call for MOI e par
ticular account Of the same. Keller's Bridge,
the scene uf the engagement, Is just sixty
five miles south Of this city, and one mile
this side Cynthiana. 1t was destroyed by
the rebels on Thursday last, In order to
prevent the sending of troops along the
railroad. At five o'clock Saturday morn
ing last. the 171st was disembarked at this
point. together with handful of men who
were to act as cavalry. The trains which
had conveyed them Immediately backed
down the road two miles, where they were
thrown from the track and burned. Upon
being disembarked, the men of the l7lst
were supplied with ammunition and pro-
ceeded to eat their breakfast. Suddenly
their quiet was disturbed by the rattle of
musketry at Cynthiana, telling that hot
work was going on there between the l6Sth
and the rebel forces. And in few mo-
ments, to their great surprise, they ascer-
tanned that the fields around themselves
were alive with the rebel forces. A volley
of musketry was poured in upon them by
q SQUAD of the enemy masked behind the
fence of a clover field. From the first it
was evident to General 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 conduct the fight in BUSH
whacking style from the brush, should our
forces resist, which they probably did not
believe would be the case, as they were evil
IDENTIFY 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 and west of the railroad, occupy
ing such positions as they might secure.
The rebels then appeared on every hand,
displaying 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 hecould obtain sight
of one of the enemy. This continued about
five hours, the loss on both sides being ex-
traordinarily heavy. That OF the rebels
was much greater than our own-as much
so. perhaps, proportionately, as their force
was superior in number, we having seven
hundred men, and they, with their rein
forcements, two thousand. Against these
great odds, the resistance made was despe-
rate and determined. General Morgan,
who. when the fight here commenced, was
at Cvnthiana (the rebel force being in conf
mand of General Getty, had supposed that
the Union force would have surrendered
Immediately. He consideredhis great odds,
the greenness of our forces and wondered,
i'm impatience, how it occurred that the
fighting continued. He had 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 for
ces should be twice as heavy. He certainly
had not expected this desperate resistance.
He was surprised. Hewas astounded, when,
at 8 o'clock A. NJ, a courier dashed up to
him i'm haste at Cynthiana, and gave Gene
raj Getty's message of "reinforcements, or
olive IL ip." Several hundred troops were
Immediately sent down the pike, Morgan {
their head, and with those the line was
drawn still closer around the little band,
until General Hobson was forced to receive
the flag of truce, and accept Morgan's con-
ditions of surrender-that the private prop
ertv of the troops should be respected, and
that the officers should retain their side
arms. General HobsOn, so all accounts
aoree in saving. had done all that could be
done. displaying himself the greatest per-
sonal courage, and in thus surrendering he
decided for the best.
Such of the 17lst as remained were then
drawn up along the pike; their arms were
stacked and burned by the rebels, and they
were marched through Cynthiana, a mile
south. to grove, when they were allowed
to rest, and where they found the l6Sth
regiment, or rather five companies of it.
alf that had been in the fight at Cynthiana
prisoners like themselves. In an hour or
two. however, the prisoners were marched
three miles north, on the Augusta pike,
where thew passed Saturday night. Early
on Sunday morning came the attack upon
the main force of the rebels from General
R,Irbridee. who had arrived from Paris
with n strong force, and two pieces OF ar
tillery, with which Morgan was unpro-
vided.
proach of Burbridge came an order from
Morgan to the guard over the 800 prisoners
tn start them north, which was done, and
that. too, on the double-quick, Morgan's
main force. pursued by Burbridge, follow
ING at a distance of a few miles. This
forced march brought them to Claysyille,
eighteen miles northeast Of Cynthiana,
where they were halted, drawn up In line
and par0led, 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 ne should sue
ceed in doing SO: The rebel forces tnen
struck due east with the evident lntentlon
Of reaching Virginia as soon as possible
Tho naroIed prisoners continued on their
wav fo Augusta, which they reached Sum
day night, Coming to this point by steamer
yesterday morning.