Battle of Cynthiana

Battle of Cynthiana Part of the American Civil War Historic marker in Cynthiana Date June 11–12, 1864 Location Cynthiana, Kentucky Coordinates: 38°24′25″N 84°18′20″W / 38.4070°N 84.3056°W / 38.4070; -84.3056 Result Union victory Belligerents United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy) Commanders and leaders Stephen Gano Burbridge John Hunt Morgan Units involved 168th Ohio Infantry 171st Ohio Infantry Kentucky Harrison County Home Guards Morgan's Division Strength 3,450 1,200 Casualties and losses 1,092 1,000

Morgan's Raid into Kentucky Mt. Sterling Cynthiana

The Second Battle of Cynthiana included three separate engagements during the American Civil War that were fought on June 11 and 12, 1864, in Harrison County, Kentucky, in and near the town of Cynthiana. This was part of Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan's 1864 Raid into Kentucky. The battle ultimately resulted in a victory by Union forces over the raiders and ended Morgan's Last Kentucky Raid in defeat. Morgan's Raiders had previously captured the town in the First Battle of Cynthiana, July 17, 1862.

At dawn on June 11, 1864, Brig. Gen. John H. Morgan approached Cynthiana with 1,200 cavalrymen. The town was defended by a small Union force under Col. Conrad Garis, commanding a detachment of the 168th Ohio Infantry and some home guard troops, about 300 men altogether. Morgan divided his troops into three columns, surrounded the town, and launched an attack at the covered bridge, driving Garis' forces back towards the depot and north along the railroad. The Confederates set fire to the town, destroying many buildings and killing some of the Union troops.

As the fighting flared in Cynthiana, another Union force, about 750 men of the 171st Ohio Infantry under the command of Brig. Gen. Edward Hobson, arrived by train about a mile north of the Cynthiana at Keller's Bridge. This regiment fought Morgan's force for about six hours. Eventually Morgan trapped this new Union force in a meander of the Licking River. Altogether, Morgan had about 1,300 Union prisoners of war camping with him overnight in line of battle. The 171st Ohio Infantry was paroled the next day. This engagement, Morgan's last victory, was known as the Battle of Keller's Bridge.

With little ammunition, Morgan recklessly decided to stay and fight an expected larger Union force. Brig. Gen. Stephen G. 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. General Morgan and many of his officers escaped. Combined casualties in the separate Union forces were 1,092 men, while Morgan is estimated to have lost about 1,000 men, although no firm records exist.

Cynthiana demonstrated that Union numbers and mobility were starting to take their toll; Confederate cavalry and partisans could no longer raid with impunity.

See also

• List of battles fought in Kentucky

References

• National Park Service battle description
• CWSAC Report Update - Kentucky
• William A. Penn, Rattling Spurs and Broad-Brimmed Hats: The Civil War in Cynthiana and Harrison County, Kentucky,(1995) 105, 114, 124

Further reading

• Bush, Bryan S. (2008). Butcher Burbridge: Union General Stephen Burbridge and His Reign of Terror Over Kentucky. Morley, Missouri: Acclaim Press. ISBN 0-9798802-5-4. 
• Penn, William A. (1995). Rattling Spurs and Broad-Brimmed Hats: The Civil War in Cynthiana and Harrison County, Kentucky. Midway, Kentucky: Battle Grove Press. ISBN 0-9646989-1-9. 

Kentucky in the American Civil War Pre-War History of slavery in Kentucky Calvin Fairbank 1861 Confederate government of Kentucky Battle of Barbourville Battle of Camp Wildcat Battle of Ivy Mountain Battle of Rowlett's Station Battle of Sacramento 1862 Battle of Middle Creek Battle of Lucas Bend Battle of Mill Springs Battle of Richmond Battle of Munfordville Battle of Perryville Battle of New Haven General Order No. 11 1863 Battle of Somerset Morgan's Raid Battle of Tebbs Bend Battle of Lebanon Battle of Cumberland Gap Camp Nelson 1864 Battle of Paducah Battle of Salyersville Battle of Mount Sterling Battle of Cynthiana American Civil War fortifications in Louisville Post-War Monuments Cave Hill Cemetery Pewee Valley Confederate Cemetery See also Timeline Lexington Louisville

Morgan's Raiders People John Hunt Morgan Basil W. Duke George Ellsworth Thomas Hines Stovepipe Johnson Bennett H. Young Places Ben Johnson House John Hunt Morgan Memorial Ohio Penitentiary Hunt-Morgan House Alice Dean Corydon Historic District Stream Cliff Farm Battle of Tebb's Bend Monument Midway Historic District John H. Morgan Surrender Site Battles/Raids Battle of Buffington Island Battle of Corydon Battle of Cynthiana Battle of Lebanon Battle of Mt. Sterling Battle of Salineville Battle of Tebbs Bend Hines' Raid Morgan's Raid New Haven Battlefield Site