The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
THAT RAID MORGAN MADE

THAT RAID MORGAN MADE.
The Story Told by the Newspapers OF
That Time.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: L nave q
conv of the Cincinnati Daily Commercial
dated June IA, 1864, containing The News
from Kentucky-Later from Morgan-He
il in fuil retreat-Particulars of fight at
Keller's Bridge-Gallant conduct of the
16sth Ohio n G.-Conduct of the 171st
Ohio N. G.,"etc.
"In our accounts published thus far" the
paper saws, "we 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 displaying great bravery and endurance
on the part of the National Guarl engaged,
and the heavy loss, comparatively speaking,
that attended the fight call for a more par
ticular account of the same.
"Keller's Bridge, the scene of the engage
ment. is lust IS miles south of this city, and
one mile this side of Cythiana. 1t was de-
stroyed by the rebels on Thursday last, in
order to prevent the sending of troops along
the railroad.
AT O'Clock Saturday morning last the
171st was disembarked at this point, to-
gether with handful of men, who were to
act as cavalry. The trains which had con-
veyed them Immediately backed down the
road two miles, where they were thrown
from the track and burned. Upon being
disembarked, the men of the 17lst were
supplied with ammunition, and proceeded
to eat their breakfast. Suddenly their quiet
was disturbed by the rattle of musketry at
all hot hot
on there between the 16Sth and the rebel
forces And in few minutes. to their great
surprise, they ascertained that the fields
around themselves were alive with the
rebel forces.
"A volley of musketry was poured in on
them by a squad masked behind the fence
of clover-field. From the first it was evil
dent to Gen. Hobson and Col. Asper that
their little band was completely surrounded,
and from the disposition made of the rebel
troops it was evidently their design to con-
duct the fight in bushwhacking style from
the brush should our forces 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, and sent
to both east and west of the railroad occu
pying 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 sharpshooters,
each man firing as he could obtain sight of
one of the enemy.
This continued about five hours, the
loss ON both sides being extraordinarily
heavy. That of the rebels was much greater
than our own, as much SO, perhaps, proper
tionately. as their own force was superior in
number, we having 700 men, and they, with
their reinforcements, 1000. Against these
great odds the resistance made was desperate
and determined.
Gen. Morgan, who when the fight here
commenced, was at Cynthiana ithe rebel
force being in command of Gen. Getty), had
supposed that the Union force would sur
render Immediately. He considered his
great odds, the greenness of our forces, and
wondered in inpatience how it occurred that
the fighting continued. He had expected
an immed iate surrender, and surely desired
it, as he did not wish 10 lose any of his men,
even though the loss entailed upon our forces
should be twice as heavy.
He certainly had not expected this des-
perate resistance. He was surprised. he was
sstounded, when, at 8 o'clock a. M. a courier
dashed up TO him in haste al Cynthana,
gave Gen. Getty IS message of reniorcements
or give it up. Several hundred troops were
Immediately sent down the pike, Morgan at
their head, and with those the line was
drawn closer around the little band, until
Gen. Hobson was forced to receive the flag
of truce and accept Morgans conditions of
surrender: that the private property of the
troops should be respected, and that the
officers should retain their side-arms.
Gen. Hobson, SO all accounts agree in
saying. had done all that could be done, dis
playing himself the greatest personal 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