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[296] John Kirkpatrick, W. O. Smith, McCloud, and others, to whom we feel very thankful.

Very respectfully, etc.,

John A. Lair, Acting Assistant-Surgeon Seventh Kentucky Cavalry.


A soldier's report.

The Pleasant Ridge, and the Cherry Grove Home Guards, of Bracken County, Ky., having received orders from Gen. Fennel, at five P. M. on Tuesday, forty-two men immediately started for Falmouth, under command of Capt. W. A. Pepper, and there received a despatch to report to Lieut.-Col. Landrum, Cynthiana, where we arrived at nine A. M., Wednesday. At four P. M., Thursday, July seventeenth, our pickets were driven in by Morgan's advance-guard. Orders to form were given, and instantly obeyed, and positions assigned to each company; our company, under Capt. Pepper, occupying the extreme right. The enemy soon hove in sight in front of the town, and on the opposite side of the river planted his cannon at about eight hundred yards distant, add commenced shelling the town. Capt. Glass immediately returned the compliment, evidently with good effect, his bronze twelve-pounder showing its mark at every shot.

The Union forces fought bravely, but in less than twenty minutes the town was entirely surrounded, and after having done all that skill and bravery could do, were borne down by numbers, and compelled to surrender. Some few succeeded in cutting their way through the rebel lines and escaped. The balance were killed, wounded or captured. Captain Pepper's company of Bracken Home Guards lost three killed, and two wounded very severely. The killed: Second Lieut. Henry Myer, Fourth Sergeant George Walker, and private P. B. Boughner. Wounded: C. Ledrer and William Hill.

We suffered severely from shots by the citizens from their windows.

Capt. Pepper was calm during the action, encouraging his men by word and example. The entire Union loss, eighteen killed and about forty wounded.

The prisoners were paroled, and after being kept twenty-four hours without food, were sent home.

The Bracken boys are anxious to dance at the next party the renegade Morgan gives.

The action lasted two and a half hours. Rebel loss, seventy killed and many badly wounded.

Capt. Pepper awards to every man under his command that praise due to veteran warriors, for the gallantry displayed, and the promptness with which they discharged their various duties.

soldier.

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