The National tribune., 1900-06-07
these Confederates, who didn'tsee any good
use of cattle guards anyhow.
RoGERsYILLE AVENGED

RoGERSvILLE AVENGED.
At this point of the story must ask my
readers to go back a few months, that may
speak of the affair at Rogersville, Tenn,
which occurred on Nov. 6, 1853. On this
interesting occasion things did not como to
the 7th Ohio favorably. We didn't run
into any bull pens or cattle guards, but
those who could took water in theirs
that day and were thankful, and some,
may say, took water in theirs" who were
never before known to take water in any
form. Circumstances alter cases, as every
soldier knows, and everything comes to
him who waits. We had waited a good
while to get even for the rough handling
we had at Rogersville when the 4th KY.
Confederate Cav. called on us before
breakfast, and on June II, 1854, we re-
turned the call at the same unreasonable
hour, and it was the 4th KY. Cav. who were
being treated so rudely by being taken pris-
oners out of bull pens and cattle guards,
and we were not done with 'em yet.
Among those who went down under the
fire of the 4th Ky. Cav. at Rogersville was
Capt. Theodore +. Allen, of the 7th Ohio.
In the charge through the woods pasture
at Cynthiana Capt. Allen was with the
center companies Of the 18th Ohio. hunting
for a chance to even up for being shot down
at Eogersville. Arriving at the top Of the
hills overlooking the town OF Cynthiana,
he saw the enemy beginning their retreat
across the long covered bridge spanning
the Licking River. Capt. Allen was the
Adjutant-General of Garrard's Brigade,
and hastily gathering Il squad Of such
officers and soldiers as he could summon,
composed mostly of Co. OF the 9TH ONO,
and with himself, AdTt Mitchell, Lieut..
Burton and the First Sergeant Of Co. 3 as
the first set of fours charged into the rebel
column in the effort to take from them the
bridge and thereby cut of their line Of re-
treat. Not more than so men were in this
charging column, but it went forward
solid wedge at the full speed Of their horses.
and their revolvers were in full play. The
effort to seize and hold the bridge was
eminently successful.
Capt. Allen, Adj't Mitchell and Lieut..
Burton with their charging column rode
right into the bridge, cutting the retrcating
column in two parts. Both Union and Con-
federate troops were in the bridge at tn"
same time, and the long covered bridge
swayed with the galloping horses. After
passing out Of the bridge, Lieut.-Col. Pryor,
of the 4th Ky. Cav, tried hard to check the
| advance under Capt. Allen.
AS the Confederates in their eargerness
undertook TO escape by taking water in
the Licking River, our boys on the east side
of the river hurried them into the water with
the battle-crv of "Rogersville," while Capt.
Allen. AdJt Mitchell. and Lieut.. Burton
with the veterans Of Co. 3, occupying the
west bank of the river, extended the glad
hand Of hospitality by making prisoners Of
nearly all who succeeded in crossing the
stream. Our victory was complete, and
"Rcgersvil!c" vas avenged.
Col. Gitner, with fragment Of his bri-
gaIe, including about 40 men Of the 4th
Ky, escaped across the Licking River and
by making wide detour, after enduring
great hardships, finally reached the mount
aims of Virginia. Gen. Morgan, with
small detachment, escaped over the Au-
gusta road leading north from Cynthiana.
He made a rapid march via Clay Village,
Sardis, and thence into the mountains of
eastern Kentucky to the Big Sandy River
and thence into Virginia.
The work cut out for Gen. Garard, COM
manding the left wing of our forces, was
cleaned up in thorough, expeditions and
complete manner. We were soon in full
possession of the field held by the enemy
in our front and stubbornly held in our
grasp the enemy's only line Of retreat from
our part of the field. The right wing,
under the personal command of Gen. Bur
bridge, was not so expeditions in accom-
plishing the work cut out for it, and failed
to capture the Confederate line Of retreat
on their part of the field, the Augusta road,
until after Gen. Morgan and a portion Of
his men had passed safely over this road,
thereby making good their escape. For
this defeat of Gen. Morgan an extra star
was awarded to Gen. Burbridge's shoulder
STRAPS, and | have always felt that he was
not by any means so deserving of this pro-
motion as was the commander Of the left
wing, where our success was in every way
more complete than upon that part of the
field commanded by Gen. Burbridge.