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A REBEĻ RAID IN KENTUCKY.

force, including the 3d Minnesota regiment, and a squadron of Kentucky cavalry, after some ineffective fighting was compelled to surrender. On receipt of the intelligence of the capture, General Buell, in command of the Army of the Ohio, issued an order, commenting with great severity upon the remissness of the Union command in being surprised and not making more effectual resistance. The prisoners, including General Crittenden, were carried to Chattanooga, whence the expedition had been sent forth, and a large quantity of ammunition and stores was brought away or destroyed. The news of this capture created no little excitement at Nashville, where an attack was feared, and an active enlistment in the home guard took place. The citizens, however, were speedily renerved by news of the retirement of the enemy, though the vicinity continued to be much harrassed by guerrillas.

Simultaneously with this surprise of Murfreesboro' came a fresh raid into Kentucky of the guerrilla leader Colonel Morgan. Crossing into Kentucky from Knoxville with about nine hundred men, he issued, on the 10th of July, at Glasgow, a proclamation to the inhabitants, in which allusion was made to the defeats before Richmond, which had doubtless given a strong impulse to his undertaking. "Kentuckians," said he, "I am once more among you. Confiding in your patriotism and strong attachment to our Southern cause, I have, at the head of my gallant band, raised once more our Confederate flag, so long trampled upon by the Northern tyrants, but never yet disgraced. Let every true patriot respond to my appeal. Rise and arm. Fight against the despoiler! Fight for your families! your homes! for those you love best! for your conscience! and for the free exercise of your political rights, never again to be placed in jeop

Colonel Duffield to Colonel J. B. Fry, A. A. G., July

23, 1862.

597

ardy by the Hessian invader. Let the stirring sense of the late Richmond fight constantly be before you. Our brave army there and everywhere is victorious. McClellan and his foreign hordes are groveling in the dust. Our independence is an achieved fact. We have bought it, with privation and suffering, and sealed the contract with the seal of blood. Be not timorous, but rise, one and all, for the good cause, to clear out dear Kentucky's soil of its detested invaders. Kentuckians! fellow-countrymen! you know you can rely upon me." Relying upon the sympathy and aid of a portion of the inhabitants to increase his numbers and support his forces, Morgan pushed rapidly forward to the centre of the state, took possession of Lebanon, where he freely helped himself to supplies from the abundant government commissary stores and the property of the townspeople, and but for the effective loyal organization might have made a successful demonstration upon Frankfort or Lexington. Hovering about these cities, and destroying the railway communication with Cincinnati, on the 17th of July, at the head of a motley force of some two thousand Kentuckians, Tennesseeans, Georgians, Mississippians, Texans and South Carolinians, with two pieces of artillery, he fell upon a body of about three hundred and forty men at Cynthiana, in Harrison county—volunteers and home guards, for the most part poorly armed and undisciplined, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Landrum. The Union pickets had hardly been driven in before the enemy commenced shelling the town. Colonel Landrum disposed his little force to the best advantage, placing a number of his men at the bridge over the Licking river and his single artillery piece, a brass 12-pounder, under Captain Glass, of Cincinnati, in the public square, commanding the dif ferent approaches. The enemy came in force at the bridge was dislodged and by every road, street and by-path; the

one of Morgan's cavalry charges made into the town. "At this time," says Lieutenant-Colonel Landrum, in his spirited account of this gallant affair, "I rallied a part of my forces at the railroad depot, at which point our boys gave them a warm reception, emptying several saddles. I then again went for the purpose of rallying the artillery squad, so as to place it on the hill near the residence of M. L. Broadwell, from which position we could have commanded the town, and several roads leading to it, but was unable to find either men or gun, the streets in every direction being in possession of the rebels. My men were exhausted and out of ammunition, but I rallied them, and at the depot distributed it to them. The firing at the time having nearly ceased, I rode along the railroad to Rankin's Hotel to ascertain what position the enemy was taking, and from what direction they were coming in heaviest force. Here I met an officer of the rebel band, aid to Colonel Morgan (a son of the late Beverly L. Clark), who demanded my surrender. I replied, 'I never surrender,' and instantly discharged three shots at him, two of which took effect in his breast. He fell from his horse, and I thought him dead, but he is still living, and will probably recover, notwithstanding two balls passed through his body. Captain Rogers also discharged a shot at him which took effect. I then rallied part of my force, about forty in number, and determined to make a charge upon the enemy at the Licking bridge, and take their battery, which had been brought to that point and was being used with fatal effect upon my little band of patriot heroes. The force, sustaining their artillery, outnumbered ours more than ten to one, and were all the while under cover of houses,

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was here that Jacob Carver, Company E, 18th Kentucky, fell, severely wounded, as brave a man as ever pulled trigger—and I received a slight wound in the ankle. It was here, too, that the lamented Thomas Ware, United States Commissioner for this county, one of the oldest citizens of Cynthiana, was instantly killed, nobly and bravely doing his duty as a patriot. Here, too, was killed Jesse Current, young Thomas Rankins, Captain Lafe Wilson, young Hartburn of Cincinnati, and others; besides many, including F. L. St. Thomas, John Scott, Captain McClintock, John McClintock, Thomas Barry of Cincinnati, and Thomas J. Vimont, who fell severely wounded. In consequence of the terrific storm of balls, and as but few of my men were left, among whom were Wm. W. Trimble and J. S. Frizell, who was also wounded, of this place, others not remembered, I ordered a retreat. In the mean time Major William O. Smith had command of the 7th Kentucky cavalry, and was posted north of the town to hold the Claysville road, and prevent the enemy from gaining the streets from that direction, where he made a gallant resistance near the Episcopal church, until overpowered by superior numbers, and forced to fall back toward the Reform church, and thence to the Court-house, where he and his command were compelled to surrender. At this time more than threefourths of my men were killed, wounded and prisoners, and I determined to cut my way through the enemy and escape with the remainder, if possible. I rallied together from twenty to twenty-five of my men at the depot, and started in a southeast direction through Redmon's pasture, where we met a body of the enemy who had crossed from the Millersburg road. They were secreted behind fences, trees, and hay-cocks. We at once engaged them, and soon routed them. Upon turning round I discovered that the enemy had pursued us from the town, and were on our rear, not more

A REBEL PROCLAMATION.

than forty paces distant. I ordered my handful of men to cross the hillside, and fight them from behind the fences, which they did, and held them in check until nearly surrounded by a body of cavalry, at least ten times their number. I then ordered my men to retreat beyond a fence in a southeasterly direction, to avoid a cavalry charge. Here a part of the men became exhausted, some falling by the way-side to await their fate, their ammunition all expended, when I informed the little Spartan band we could do no more; to save themselves, and I would do likewise, if possible, and bade them good-by."*

The capture of Cynthiana caused some excitement at Cincinnati, about sixty miles distant, for the safety of the approaches to that city and the line of the Kentucky Central railway. LieutenantColonel Sydney Burbank, of the 13th United States Infantry, stationed at Newport barracks, by order of the War Department, took military command of the city, and companies of thirty day volunteers were organized and officered for service. Martial law was proclaimed at Covington, and a military guard set by the provost marshal for its protection. General Boyle, in command of the military district of Kentucky, with his headquarters at Louisville, used every exertion in sending troops into the field for the protection of the state.

Meanwhile a force of mounted infantry hastily gathered at Lexington and its vicinity, set out under command of General Green Clay Smith, and coming up with Colonel Morgan's cavalry near Paris, defeated them, retaking the cannon and horses captured at Cynthiana, with a considerable portion of the stolen property. Morgan, now pursued by General Smith, who was reinforced by fresh troops, returned to Tennessee, reaching Lexington on the 28th, with nearly twelve hundred men, having been

* Lieutenant-Colonel Landrum to Captain John Boyle, A. A. G. Louisville, July 24, 1862.

599

absent twenty-four days, during which time, he boasted, that he had travelled over a thousand miles, captured seventeen towns, destroyed the government supplies and arms in them, dispersed about fifteen hundred home guards, and paroled nearly twelve hundred regular troops. He lost in killed, wounded and missing of the number that he carried into Kentucky about ninety.*

In another part of Kentucky, on the Ohio, Henderson was occupied by a guerrilla force under Colonel A. K. Johnson, who, on the 17th of July, issued a proclamation, from that place, to the people of Kentucky, in which he sought to excite an enthusiasm for the confederate cause. "It has gone forth to the world," said he, "that you are a subjugated people-that the iron heel of despotism has destroyed all spirit of resistance and crushed out the last spark of patriotism. This idea has gone through the North, and they look upon you with contempt, and send their hirelings to rule over you. It has crossed the Atlantic, and the eyes of Europe have been looking at the position of Kentucky with wonder and astonishment. Down in the sunny South, amongst those who ought to be your brothers, you have become a by-word and a scoff. The Kentucky army have turned their anxious eyes to their native state, and at each new outrage would listen for the tocsin of war; but they have listened and hoped against hope until the last ray has expired. The Confederate Cabinet and Congress have looked for some movement indicating a desire for freedom; but they looked in vain and think Kentucky lost. there is one man who has never despaired. That man is John C. Breckinridge, the hero, the statesman and the patriot. With the same never-despairing love that a mother bears to her offspring does he regard Kentucky-with the same anxious care has he watched

But

Colonel J. H. Morgan to Major-General E. Kirby Smith, July 30, 1862. Moore's Rebellion Record, v. 50.

her. He has asked his government and the world to suspend public opinion until his state should have one more opportunity to redeem her character; and now, citizens of Kentucky, this opportunity has presented itself, and for the sake of your former fame and glory for your country-for your liberties, which ought to be dearer to you than life itself-come to the field. Rally to your country's call. Rise in your majesty, and drive from your midst this monster of oppression. Then prepare now to meet the enemy; send the young men to the field; let them retrieve the character of this once proud and noble state. Circulate through the country that the Confederate government does not war against the citizens of the country. Can you, with the example set by the people of the South, tamely submit? They have, with heroic devotion, applied the torch to their property, and, with unparalleled unanimity, have they battled for their country. Will you not risk as much as they to achieve your freedom and independence?" The depredations of the guerrillas, however, in the town and on the opposite bank of the Ohio, in the plunder of a hospital at Newburg, in Indiana, were not calculated to ingratiate the new government with the people, who speedily compelled these lawless assailants to retire from the scene of their outrages. Russelville, the capital of Logan county, southwest of Bowling Green, was also, on the 29th of July, occupied by a band of guerrillas, who overpowered the home guard. The same day, in another quarter, the citizens of Mount Sterling, the capital of Montgomery county, east of Lexington, made a vigorous defence, under Provost Marshal Evans, against a body of rebel assailants from Boone county, led by Colonel Bullett, who were again beaten on their retreat by Major Brocht, provost marshal of Lexington, with a detachment of the 18th Kentucky regiment, which had been in pursuit of them.

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Aggressions like these, in addition to the requisitions upon the national army, demanded action from the state authorities. Governor Magoffin accordingly, on the 28th of July, issued a proclamation summoning the general assembly to meet at Frankfort on the 14th of August, "to take into consideration the interests of the commonwealth, as the same may be involved or connected with the present distracted state of our country." From this document it appears that owing to a conflict between the military board, formerly created by the legislature; and the Governor, the militia still remained unorganized. "A civil conflict," said Magoffin, "is impending over us. I am without a soldier or a dollar to protect the lives, property and liberties of the people, or to enforce the laws. Daily appeals are being made to me, as the governor of the state, to protect our citizens from marauding bands, and in the peaceful enjoyment of their property and rights under the constitution. I am left without the power and means to afford relief, and I am consequently left no alternative but to appeal to you, their representatives, in the hope that it will not be in vain. Any attempt on my part to organize a force for that purpose will certainly but precipitate the evil, and I therefore not unwillingly convene the general assembly, that they may determine themselves the extent of the authority to be granted by them, and, looking to the policy adopted in the state, and to the late action of Congress and the President touching slavery, provide for the safety of our institutions and the peace and tranquillity of the commonwealth." The Assembly was met by Governor Magoffin with a further recital of the necessities of the state, coupled with a recommendation of the old peace resolutions of Senator Crittenden in the closing Congress of President Buchanan's administration. Shortly after the Governor resigned his office and the Secretary of State, James F. Robinson,

BATTLE AT ROGERSVILLE.

was placed by the Assembly in his stead.

The guerrilla movements in the state were at the end of August renewed in a successful attack upon an Indiana regiment stationed at Bowling Green, simultaneously with a formidable advance of a division of the rebel army under General E. Kirby Smith, from his headquarters at Knoxville in east Tennessee. After a difficult march, General Smith entered the fertile, blue-grass grazing region of Kentucky, and on the 29th of August appeared before Richmond, the capital of Madison county, forty-eight miles southeast of Frankfort, where Brigadier-General Manson was in command of an ill-provided, undisciplined force, chiefly of newly raised Indiana and Ohio regiments, of about 6,500 men. The confederate veteran force, as reported by General Manson, consisted of about 12,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry and fifteen pieces of artillery. On the approach of the enemy, General Manson went forward with several Indiana regiments, artillery, and a party of cavalry, to meet them, and choosing an advantageous position, repulsed their cavalry advance. The next day, the 30th, the conflict was resumed, a line of battle was formed in the vicinity of Rogersville, a few miles south of Richmond, where General Manson with his Indiana regiments, and General Cruft with his brigade of Ohio and Kentucky troops, were attacked, outflanked, and driven back by the enemy to a new position, from which they were again compelled to retreat in confusion. It was now afternoon, and Major-General Nelson, the division commander, hearing of the engagement, had arrived on the field from Lexington. A third effort was now made to withstand the enemy at the cemetery in the vicinity of Richmond, with no better fortune than the others. Thoroughly routed, the demoralized Union troops pursued their way toward Lexington to be again defeated

601

by the enemy, who had cut off their retreat. General Manson, who was taken prisoner, in his report estimates his losses approximately at two hundred killed, seven hundred wounded, and two thousand prisoners. Nine pieces of artillery' fell to the enemy. General Nelson, who with the rough energy of his nature, attempted to stem the tide of the unequal conflict, was wounded in the engagement, but made good his escape. In a dispatch to Adjutant-General Cooper, at the Confederate capital, General Smith thus announced his victory :-"It is my great pleasure to announce to you that God has thrice blessed our arms to-day. After a forced march, almost day and night, for three days, over a mountain wilderness, destitute alike of food and water, I found the enemy drawn up in force to oppose us, at a point eight miles from this place. With less than half my force I attacked and carried a very strong position at Mount Zion Church, after a very hard fight of two hours; again, a still better position at White's Farm, in half an hour; and, finally, in this town, just before sunset, our indomitable troops deliberately walked (they were too tired to run) up to a magnificent position manned by ten thousand of the enemy, many of them perfectly fresh, and carried it in fifteen minutes. It is impossible for me now to give you the exact results of these glorious battles. Our loss is comparatively small; that of the enemy, many hundred killed and wounded, and several thousand prisoners. We have captured artillery, small arms and wagons. Indeed, every thing indicates the almost entire annihilation of this force of the enemy. In the first two battles they were commanded by General Manson; the last by General Nelson."

This success of the enemy compelled the legislature at Frankfort to seek safety in flight. On the receipt of news of the disaster, on Sunday the 31st, the day after the engagement, a session was

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