History of Augusta, (Bracken County) Kentucky United States of America

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Local History Notes:

Augusta, KY., Sept. 27, 1862. Kentucky Home Guards and Militia. A Confederate force of 400 to 500 of Morgan's raiders, under command of Col. Duke, started to make a demonstration against Cincinnatti, Ohio. About 100 Men Under Col. Bradford were stationed at Augusta and the gunboat Belfast, Capt. Sedam, was an auxiliary to the Federal forces.

Before the attack the gunboats Allen Collyer and Florence Miller anchored in front of the Town. Bradford requested the help of the vessels in case of an attack and then posted his men in the houses along Front street and up Pine street to Second. By the time he had done this the Confederate cavalry, with 2 small cannon, took position on A Hill overlooking the town. They were greeted by a shell from the Belfast that killed 2 or 3 and caused them to move their canon. They then opened fire, doing little damage, and the Belfast fired twice effectively. Then the 3 gunboats hurried from the town, 2 of them not having fired a shot.

Emboldened by this withdrawal of the vessels, the Confederates rushed down into the town, though many of them fell before the determined defense from the houses. They planted their guns in the street and regardless of women and children bombarded the houses, setting fire to several of them. The beleaguered and desperate Unionists fought for some time after they knew that their valor could avail nothing, when Bradford surrendered and the town was looted, much of it having already been destroyed. The Confederates took horses, buggies, wagons and other available means of carrying off their wounded, leaving some of their dead to be buried by the people of the town. Some of their prisoners were marched from the town; others were paroled. The Federal loss in killed was 12 or 15; Confederate 75 to 100, including Capt. Samuel D. Morgan, A Cousin of Col. John H. Morgan, and William Courtland Prentice, Son of George D. Prentice, editor of the Louisville Courier.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Augusta, KY., Sept. 27, 1862. Kentucky Home Guards and Militia. A Confederate force of 400 to 500 of Morgan's raiders, under command of Col. Duke, started to make a demonstration against Cincinnatti, Ohio. About 100 Men Under Col. Bradford were stationed at Augusta and the gunboat Belfast, Capt. Sedam, was an auxiliary to the Federal forces. Before the attack the gunboats Allen Collyer and Florence Miller anchored in front of the Town. Bradford requested the help of the vessels in case of an attack and then posted his men in the houses along Front street and up Pine street to Second. By the time he had done this the Confederate cavalry, with 2 small cannon, took position on A Hill overlooking the town. They were greeted by a shell from the Belfast that killed 2 or 3 and caused them to move their canon. They then opened fire, doing little damage, and the Belfast fired twice effectively. Then the 3 gunboats hurried from the town, 2 of them not having fired a shot. Emboldened by this withdrawal of the vessels, the Confederates rushed down into the town, though many of them fell before the determined defense from the houses. They planted their guns in the street and regardless of women and children bombarded the houses, setting fire to several of them. The beleaguered and desperate Unionists fought for some time after they knew that their valor could avail nothing, when Bradford surrendered and the town was looted, much of it having already been destroyed. The Confederates took horses, buggies, wagons and other available means of carrying off their wounded, leaving some of their dead to be buried by the people of the town. Some of their prisoners were marched from the town; others were paroled. The Federal loss in killed was 12 or 15; Confederate 75 to 100, including Capt. Samuel D. Morgan, A Cousin of Col. John H. Morgan, and William Courtland Prentice, Son of George D. Prentice, editor of the Louisville Courier.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.