Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-06-29
The Battle AT KeiIars, Bridge.


In justice to the I7lst regiment, which
behaved so gallantly in the engagement
with Morgan, on Saturday June Filth. we
publish the following facts:
The l7Ist left COvingtOn at 10 P. NJ,
June 10th, under orders tn proceed to
lCynthiana and there await orders. Every
precaution was taken against surprise,
sentries being posted on the cars, the Off
GERS kept with the men, and the guns load
ed for immediate use The train reached
Keilar's Bridge at four o'clock Saturday
morning. The men left the cars, took
position on the hill at the left of the
road, accompany or two being detached
on the right to check any rebel advance
from that direction. 4 detail of $50 men
was ordered 70 unload and mount the
horses which were on the second train,
but about that time picket firing was
aearh in Cynthiana, and on the right.
b 7'''iF that cavalry were approaching,
Ca. : mounted his horse, rode to a
hi! i'll the advance and saw large rebel
cavalry force coming up. Just then a
sergeant major of the l6Sth came up sta
ting that Col Garis was hard pressed, but
would try to hold out until re enforce
ments arrived The Lieut.. Col. was or
Asper reported TO Capt. Butler, of Gen.
Hobson' 8 staff, how affairs stool. Gen.
HobsOn at once came forward, and or
dered two companies to he thrown across
the railroad to the right, and to fire on
the approaching column. The fire was
effective. and the rebel line driven back,
when they dismounted and again advanc-
ed, but were driven back Col Gittener's
4 nj heiraln I lnn -, 4 "a.
armed with the Richmond Enfield, gun
of long range and large bore, came up
and the action became general. The
list were armed with French rife, a
condemned gun, of short range, which
gave the rebels decided advantage.
The men fought for six hours, when q
cavalry force came to Gittner's aid,
and was posted for charge upon the
rear. Col. Asper had maintained his
front line, but was fanked on the right
when a cavalry charge was threatened
The men were formed in three lines to re-
pei it, when the cavalry in the rear were
discovered. A flag of truce was
sent from each cavalry force, that
on the right being received by
and the other by Col. Asper. The latter
was w Odpldlu u. morgan NuG
demanded an immediate surrender as
prisoners of war. Col. Asper replied that
his men could fight still longer, but he
would report to Gen. Hobson. On con-
sultation with the latter it was thought
the men could not successfully resist a
heavy cavalry charge, which would proba.
bly, decide the contest, Colonel Asper was
authorized to negotiate the details of a
surrender which were as follows:
Gen. Hobson and staff, Capt. John s,
Butler. A. A. g., Capt. Geo. G. Lott. A.
d. c., Lieut.. w. Lee Osborn, A. d. E., I'd
Lieut. j. W. Arnett, SD Kentucky, Col
III. +. Asper, list o. n. g., Lieut.. Col
H. r. Harmon, l7lst o. n. g., and Major
NJ. A. Fowler, Hist, .. n. g., gave theiI
parole of honor to place themselves in inn
mediate communication with the militia
ry authorities of the United States, fOr
the purpose of obtaining an exchange
for officers of equal rauk with themselves
and failing to accomplish such exchange
gave their word of honor to report direct
to Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan in the
shortest time practicable, and by the
most direct rout under the charge oi
three officers and one private, selected
ito escort them.
= The officers were allowed, with but
one exception to retain their side arms
and horses, Col. Gilman retaining Lieut..
Col. Harmon's horse. The officers re
turned to Falmouth, and remained until
Friday, when General Hobson was direct
ed to proceed with his staff Ia Lexing
ton, and the officers of the list to Gin
cinnati. In the dispatch ordering Gen
Hobson to report to Gen. Burbridge, it is
stated that the rebel officers are to be
held as prisoners of war, and that "the
general commanding considers no Off
GERS and men prisoners of war, except
such as Morgan retained and took of
with him.
Col. Asper, Lieut.. Col Harmon and
Maj. Fowler were cool and brave. Capt
Morris, co. D; Capt. Hatch, co. II Isl
Lieut.. James McGrath, CO. K and Isl
Lieut.. w. ii. Earle, co. |, particularly
distinguished themselves. Sergt Major
Shelter. Sergts. King, co. G, Hopgood, co
E; and Boynton, co. A, are recommended
for promotion. The number OF prison
ers surrendered was four hundred Du
ring the engagement a rebel major was
taken prisoner and retained until the sur
render of the forces.
General Hobson, after the capture, ad
dressed the following letter to Colonel J
F. Asper:
FALMOUTH. KY. June ii.
COLONEL: Brigadier-Gen. Hobson wish
es to say to you, unofficially, that the con
duct of your hundred day regiment
in the fight at Kellar's Bridge, was every
thing that could be expected from mer
who had never been under fire before
The bravery of yourself. particularly
and of Lieut.. Col. Harmon, Major Fowler
and Capt. Hatch, and Morris, merits the
highest praise. The bearing of some
other officers WAS noticed. but then
names are not known.
Though the result was not as favora
bic as could have been wished, the effort.
made, and the general good accomplish
ed, were all that could be desired; and
whatever may result from our capture
you can rest assured that you did youl
duty, and your whole duty.
Il remain, Colonel,
Yours very truly.
JOHN S. BUTLER.
Captain and A. A. g."
There is little doubt that the stubborn
resistance of the list saved Cincinnati
from visitation. While at Falmouth
Major Chenoweth stated that Morgan
had sent force of sixty men 10 Frank
ford as feint, while his main force came
from Lexington to Cynthiana, expecting
to take in detail the forces on the road
from that point TO Covington, seize the
fortifcations. shell Cincinnati and pas:
up the river to Maysville, and on into
Virginia. The battle deranged his plans
and he awaited Burbridge at CyDthiana
where so disastrous defeat befell him
Captain c. Morgan stated that they knew
Hobson's strength, and consequently ex.
pected an easy victory. but were disan-