2nd Battle of Cynthiana

Collins' History of Kentucky

Second Battle of Cynthiana.On Saturday, June 11, 1864, Gen. Morgan
marched a second time upon Cynthiana, defeated and captured the forces under the
command of Gen. E.H. Hobson. The first of this series of engagements took place
early in the morning, between the 168th Ohio infantry and Morgans whole command,
about 1,200 strong. The Federals were soon overpowered, and fell back to the
depot buildings, (where Col. Berry fell, mortally wounded,)and thence to
Rankins unfinished hotel; others retreated to the court house.
The Confederates, following closely, charged into these several places, causing the utmost
consternation among the inhabitants. While the battle was raging, a stable opposite
the Rankin hotel caught or was set on fire, and the terror of the flames added greatly to the alarm.

Across the river, west of the town, another battle began between
Gen. Hobson, commanding the 171st Ohio, and a detachment of Confederates.
This is known as the battle at Kellers Bridge, one mile west of Cynthiana,
which had been destroyed by the Confederates on the Thursday previous, to prevent
the sending of troops along the railroad. The trains which had conveyed the 171st Ohio
to this point were backed down the road two miles for safety, but were there thrown
from the track by the Confederates and burned. Upon being disembarked, the men were
supplied with ammunition, and proceeded 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 168th Ohio and the Confederates. A volley of musketry
was poured in upon them, by a squad of Confederates massed behind the fence of a
clover-field. Gen. Hobson was now completely surrounded.

The Confederates displayed great activity in firing, and considerable
skill in keeping under cover from the fire of the Federal troops. The fight continued
about five hours, the loss on both sides unusually heavy. Gen. Morgan, who was in
Cynthiana when the fight at the Bridge commenced, arrived on the field at 9 A.M. with
reinforcements, and with these the line was drawn still closer; and Gen. Hobson was
finally compelled to accept the flag of truce and Morgans conditions of surrenderthat
the private property of the troops should be respected, and the officers retain their
side-arms. The Federal forces were drawn up along the pike, their arms stacked and burned,
and they were marched through Cynthiana, a mile east, to a grovewhere they found the
other Federal forces who had been in the fight at Cynthiana, prisoners like themselves.
After resting an hour, the prisoners were marched 3 miles north, on the Oddville pike,
where they passed Saturday night.

Early on Sunday morning, with the first announcement of the approach of
Burbridge, came an order from Morgan to the guard over the Federal prisoners to start
them north; which was done, and that, too, on the double quickMorgans main force,
pursued by Burbridge, following at a distance of a few miles. This forced march brought
them to Claysville, 12 miles N.E. of Cynthiana, where they were halted, drawn up in line,
paroled, and allowed to depart.

While the battles were in progress on Saturday, the fire continued
to rage, notwithstanding vigorous efforts to stop it by the citizens. By twelve oclock
all the business portion of the town was consumed, with most of the contents. The fire,
commencing at Rankins stable, swept on to the West House, burning all the buildings;
thence across to Broadwells corner, and down to Isaac T. Martins store; thence across
to Dr. Broadwells buildings, to the jail, including that and the adjoining buildings27
in all, the most valuable in the place.

On Sunday morning, the 12th of June, the day after the two battles above
described, Gen. Burbridge, with a strong force, fell upon Morgans men at Cynthiana,
while they were at breakfast. Fatigued as they were by the previous days operationswhich
resulted in the defeat and capture of two distinct Federal forcesthe Confederates were
not in condition to withstand the shock of a fresh body of troops.

Burbridge, with his cavalry, was enabled to flank them, and thus turn
their lines; while his infantry, in the center, advanced steadily, forcing them back on
the town. The fighting commenced on the Millersburg pike, about one mile east of Cynthiana
(site of Cynthianas Battle Grove Cemetery). But the Confederatesunable to hold out
against the rapid and determined advance of superior numbers of fresh troops supported
by artillerysoon gave way, and, by the time they reached Cynthiana, were in full retreat,
and the retreat a rout. One by one, they fell back through the town, crossed the river,
and followed the Raven Creek pike. Thus ended the last battle that was fought at Cynthiana
in the war for Southern independence.

Source: Collins, Lewis, History of Kentucky, Covington, Kentucky: