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Cynthiana Print E-mail
Other Name: Kellar’s Bridge
State: Kentucky
Location: Harrison County
Campaign: Morgan’s Raid into Kentucky (1864)
Dates: June 11-12, 1864
Principal Commanders: union  Union States: Brig. Gen. Stephen Gano Burbridge
confederate  Confederate States: Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan
Forces Engaged: union  Union States: 168th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 171st Ohio National Guard, and the Kentucky Harrison County Home Guards
confederate  Confederate States: Morgan’s Division
Estimated Casualties: union  Union States: 1,092
confederate  Confederate States: 1,000
Total: 2,092 total
Results: Result(s): Union victory
Description:

Brig. Gen. Morgan approached Cynthiana with 1,200 men, on June 11, 1864, at dawn. Col. Conrad Garis, with the 168th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and some home guard troops, about 300 men altogether, constituted the Union forces at Cynthiana. Morgan divided his men into three columns, surrounded the town and launched an attack at the covered bridge, driving the Union forces back towards the depot and north along the railroad. The Rebels set fire to the town, destroying many buildings and some of the Union troops. As the fighting flared in Cynthiana, another Union force, about 750 men of the 171st Ohio National Guard under the command of Brig. Gen. Edward Hobson, arrived by train about a mile north of the Cynthiana at Kellar’s Bridge. Morgan trapped this new Union force in a meander of the Licking River. After some fighting, Morgan forced Hobson to surrender. Altogether, Morgan had about 1,300 Union prisoners of war camping with him overnight in line of battle. Brig. Gen. Stephen Gano Burbridge with 2,400 men, a combined force of Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan mounted infantry and cavalry, attacked Morgan at dawn on June 12. The Union forces drove the Rebels back, causing them to flee into town where many were captured or killed. Morgan escaped. Cynthiana demonstrated that Union numbers and mobility were starting to take their toll; Confederate cavalry and partisans could no longer raid with impunity.

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