Cynthiana in Harrison County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Civil War in Cynthiana, Kentucky

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 4, 2023

1. Civil War in Cynthiana, Kentucky Marker

Inscription.

Civil War in Cynthiana, Kentucky. . Rebel Raider John Hunt Morgan's two famous Kentucky raids in 1862 and 1864 included signiﬁcant engagements with Union forces at Cynthiana. Morgan's mission was to destroy railroad facilities, disrupt communications, acquire supplies, recruit, and threaten Cincinnati., First Battle of Cynthiana - July 17, 1862 , Col. Morgan's cavalry of 875 men, with two cannons, defeated 345 men under Lt. Col. John Landram, including Home Guards and one 12-pounder cannon at the courthouse. Simultaneous CSA attacks at the covered bridge, N. Main/Episcopal church area and from New Lair Rd. on Magee Hill (Webster Ave./Hwy. 982 intersection), forced Landram’s men to withdraw from those locations toward the depot where most were captured. CSA: 8 killed, 29 wounded; USA: 17 killed, 35 wounded, 250 (est.) captured., Second Battle of Cynthiana – June 11-12, 1864 , This battle was three stages: (I) June 11th at dawn, Morgan, with 1,200 men, captured Col. Conrad Garis’ 300 Union soldiers of the 168th Ohio after attacks at the covered bridge and Magee Hill. (II) Later that morning at Keller's bridge, Morgan captured Gen. Edward Hobson with 600 men of the 171st Ohio after they arrived by train too late to reinforce Garis; and (III) at dawn June 12, Gen. Stephen Burbridge’s 2,400 men, pursuing Morgan from Mt. Sterling, attacked on the Millersburg Pike, overpowering him and Col. D.H. Smith, who was about one-half mile south at Magee Hill. Morgan escaped but was driven from the state. CSA: (est.) 70 killed, 100 wounded, 300 captured; USA: 48 killed, 171 wounded, 980 captured., Civil War in Cynthiana - Sites , 1. Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce – information , 2. Covered bridge site , 3. Site of Civil War-era depot , 4. Rankin Hotel , 5. Courthouse , 6. Keller's Bridge Battlefield , 7. Confederate Monument - Battle Grove Cemetery , 8. Poplar Hill , 9. Magee Hill , 10. Confederate retreat - river crossing site , 11. Camp Frazer, Union Army campsite , 12. Old Cemetery , 13. Episcopal church , 14. Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum, [Captions] , (Sketch) Morgan's attack at the Cynthiana covered bridge July 17, 1862 Leslie's Illustrated, Aug. 16, 1862 , (Right side, top-bottom Morgan . Hobson . Burbridge

Rebel Raider John Hunt Morgan's two famous Kentucky raids in 1862 and 1864 included signiﬁcant engagements with Union forces at Cynthiana. Morgan's mission was to destroy railroad facilities, disrupt communications, acquire supplies, recruit, and threaten Cincinnati.

First Battle of Cynthiana - July 17, 1862
Col. Morgan's cavalry of 875 men, with two cannons, defeated 345 men under Lt. Col. John Landram, including Home Guards and one 12-pounder cannon at the courthouse. Simultaneous CSA attacks at the covered bridge, N. Main/Episcopal church area and from New Lair Rd. on Magee Hill (Webster Ave./Hwy. 982 intersection), forced Landram’s men to withdraw from those locations toward the depot where most were captured. CSA: 8 killed, 29 wounded; USA: 17 killed, 35 wounded, 250 (est.) captured.

Second Battle of Cynthiana – June 11-12, 1864
This battle was three stages: (I) June 11th at dawn, Morgan, with 1,200 men, captured Col. Conrad Garis’ 300 Union soldiers of the 168th Ohio after attacks at the covered bridge and Magee Hill. (II) Later that morning at Keller's bridge, Morgan captured Gen. Edward Hobson with 600 men of the 171st Ohio after they arrived by train too late to reinforce Garis; and (III) at dawn June 12, Gen. Stephen Burbridge’s 2,400 men, pursuing Morgan

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from Mt. Sterling, attacked on the Millersburg Pike, overpowering him and Col. D.H. Smith, who was about one-half mile south at Magee Hill. Morgan escaped but was driven from the state. CSA: (est.) 70 killed, 100 wounded, 300 captured; USA: 48 killed, 171 wounded, 980 captured.

Civil War in Cynthiana - Sites
1. Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce – information
2. Covered bridge site
3. Site of Civil War-era depot
4. Rankin Hotel
5. Courthouse
6. Keller's Bridge Battlefield
7. Confederate Monument - Battle Grove Cemetery
8. Poplar Hill
9. Magee Hill
10. Confederate retreat - river crossing site
11. Camp Frazer, Union Army campsite
12. Old Cemetery
13. Episcopal church
14. Cynthiana-Harrison County Museum

[Captions]
(Sketch) Morgan's attack at the Cynthiana covered bridge July 17, 1862 Leslie's Illustrated, Aug. 16, 1862
(Right side, top-bottom Morgan • Hobson • Burbridge

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is July 17, 1862.

Location. 38° 23.364′ N, 84° 17.865′ W. Marker has been damaged. Marker is in Cynthiana, Kentucky, in Harrison County. Marker is on South Main Street (U.S. 27), on the right when traveling south.

Civil War in Cynthiana, Kentucky Marker detail (original) image. Click for full size.

Frank Leslie's Illustrated via Internet Archive (Public Domain), August 16, 1862

2. Civil War in Cynthiana, Kentucky Marker detail (original)

This artist sketch depicts the first Battle of Cynthiana on July 17, 1862.

Marker is in front of the Harrison County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 S Main St, Cynthiana KY 41031, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. North / South (here, next to this marker); Harrison County Courthouse (here, next to this marker); Harrison County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); Harrison County World War I Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Korean War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Destroyers-USS Cassin (within shouting distance of this marker); Harrison County World War II/Korean War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial to the September 11, 2001 Attack on America (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cynthiana.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 4, 2023

3. Civil War in Cynthiana, Kentucky Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 193 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 13, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.