On the morning of June 16, 1863, Everett's men left the Mt. Carmel area and were once again on the move. As they were passing through Fleming by way of Hillsboro, they discovered that the Federals were in their rear in heavy force. The 10th Kentucky Cavalry, under Major Foley, had reached Flemingsburg sometime during the night or early morning. Finding that Everett was long gone, Foley pushed on to overtake them. The distance separating the two forces may have been less than 10 miles. It was just a matter of time before 10th Kentucky Cavalry would catch up with the rebels.
From Hillsboro, Everett continued on to Poplar Plains and then turned eastward toward Plummers Mill on Fox Creek. The eastern part of Fleming County, which included the communities of Muses Mills, Plummers Landing and Plummers Mill, was predominantly Union. Alarmed at Everett's approach, the people on Fox Creek sent a messenger to Lewis County Home Guard Captain William Curtis, who lived near Crum on Kinniconick Creek, stating that a raid of horse thieves were committing depredations in their vicinity. Captain Curtis with what few men he could hastily collect, started at once for Plummers Mill. However, they did not expect to meet a numerous well armed foe but a few marauders who were said to infest that neighborhood.
When Captain Curtis arrived, he met Major Thomas H. Hamrick and his company. Hamrick was a seasoned veteran who had previously served as Captain and then as Major in the 23rd Kentucky Infantry but had to resign because of health reasons. Sufficiently recovered, he was actively recruiting a new company for the regular volunteer Service of the United States and carrying a commission as Lieutenant in the 45th Kentucky Mounted Infantry for that purpose in his pocket. Captain Curtis, Major Hamrick and his men were walking up Fox Creek when they heard shots being fired about a mile distant.
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| Plummers Mill |
A party of Captain James B. Evan's Home Guards had launched an attack on Everett's force near Evan's home. The Home Guards fell upon their flank and fired into their column as it passed the defiles leading to the gaps in the mountains toward which the Rebels were retreating. Testimony by Captain Charles Nute as well as Chaplain James P. Hendrick, both 10th Kentucky Cavalry, suggests the attack was meant to delay Everett in order to assist the 10th Kentucky Cavalry in capturing the rebels. Curtis, Hamrick and their men soon arrived at the scene of the fight and joined in.
In their attempt to check and annoy the rebels, Evans, Hamrick, Curtis and a home guard named William Gardner were separated from their comrades. They were pursued by a squad of rebel cavalry and overtaken. All four of them drew off to one side of the road to let the rebels pass, but their advance guard rode up to Hamrick, and, according to Confederate reports, Hamrick was "killed in a hand to hand rencontre with Capt. Jackson." Chaplain Hendrick stated that Hamrick, "notwithstanding his repeated declaration that he surrendered, they murdered him and his companions." All four men were shot and killed on the spot. Curtis' obituary noted that "they were suddenly overtaken by a relentless foe and fell in discharge of their duties."
The Home Guards finally abandoned the field which they could not hold against such superior numbers. Some of them took to the bushes and tried to escape, including two of Evans' sons. Frank Evans’ horse was injured and he fell or jumped from it and rolled into Stockton’s Creek and made his escape. Frank’s brother Nelson and Eddie Young broke from the main group of Home Guards and also made their escape riding toward Belle Grove. In the fight, several on each side were wounded, including Lieutenant William. L. "Lin" Flood, 2nd Battalion, Kentucky Mounted Rifles, who received a gunshot wound through the neck. Everett's men then burned the store of James Wayman Lansdown near by before leaving the area for good. They crossed into Rowan County and moved in direction of Morehead.
Meanwhile, DeCourcy's forces had left Mt. Sterling at daylight in search of Everett. The column, led by Colonel De Courcy in person, consisted of the 8th and 9th Michigan Cavalry, Company C of the 14th Kentucky Cavalry under command of Captain Seldon F. Bowman, plus the two sections of artillery from Battery "L" 1st Michigan Light Artillery and 1st Independent East Tennessee Battery. The men moved through through Olympian Springs, "traveling as rapidly as wearied horses and intense heat would permit."
The rebels arrived near Tripletts Bridge in the early afternoon. Up until now, Everett was able to escape the grasp of Union authorities. One of his men noted, "Well, it required generalship to elude them, but Capt. Pete Everett was equal to the occasion." Why Everett decided to halt his forces here for four hours is anyone's guess. If he would have pushed on, after allowing his men some rest, chances are that he would have easily escaped. Instead, he decided to bring on an engagement with his pursuers and ambush them. It appears that he misjudged his opponents and expected them to be Home Guards who he had no trouble defeating on previous occasions.
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Site of the covered Triplett's Bridge burned by Everett in 1863
This truss bridge, built in 1921, is closed to traffic now
Image from Bridgehunter.com |
While Everett was resting his men, DeCourcy's column reached Licking River near Salt Lick. The men were feeding their horses and eating their lunch when scouts arrived and reported that Everett was moving in the direction of Tripletts Bridge. Major Gallagher commanding 1st battalion, 9th Michigan Cavalry, asked permission to move up the river with a small force to cut off their retreat. This was granted, but the force was immediately recalled. Soon after the 9th were ordered to report to an officer near the river for orders, which was promptly done, and after near an hour's waiting, were ordered up the river. Moving at once Gallagher's men arrived at the junction of the two roads, where the rebels had moved through earlier. "Had Major G. been allowed to proceed with the force we had, or had we not been delayed waiting for orders at the river, the rebels would have been completely surrounded and their escape rendered impossible," noted one of the 9th Michigan men. DeCourcy's main force was on the move as well. "The bugles sounded 'Boots and Saddles,' and in a few moments our command was mounted and moving forward at a charge, which we continued for about four miles before we came in sight of the enemy."
Meanwhile, near Tripletts Bridge, the dust covered column of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry was nearing the hill where Everett had two companies posted on the hill-side in the bushes, "intending when they came up to bushwhack the 10th Kentucky Cavalry to pieces." One of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry men noted, "But they were mistaken in their game. The two companies in front, companies E and F, on being fired upon, charged right and left, clearing the hill at one sweep, capturing all their horses and some eight or ten prisoners." It took all of ten minutes to drive the rebels from their lurking-places. "The rest fell back on the bridge, the Tenth following close on them." A firing across the creek was kept up for fifteen minutes more and the Rebels were beaten back. When Company C, 10th Kentucky Cavalry, charged Everett at the bridge with drawn sabers, he suddenly found his way in front intercepted when DeCourcy's column appeared. Completely taken by surprise, and seeing he was about to be trapped, Everett's men piled much of their stolen goods in the covered bridge and then set it on fire in order to effect their retreat.
Everett then quickly formed his men in line of battle in the road at the base of a large hill that was covered with timber. Unfortunately, DeCourcy's men mistook the rebels, who were concealed from view by the side of the mountain, for Home Guards, and the 10th Kentucky Cavalry, who were still across the creek, for the enemy. One of the Michigan soldiers stated that, "a Kentucky officer who, after a close observation, pronounced the 10th a rebel force. They had no flag, and covered with the dust of a long march, and being in the position the rebels were supposed to occupy, were easily mistaken for a rebel force." Another story claimed that Everett himself dashed up to a party of Federal soldier, posing as a home guard, "and told them that Everett was close behind. Not suspecting the trick, they opened with cannon on the Federal cavalry pursuing Everett, and while this royal fight was taking place between these loyal men, Everett slipped off."
Whatever the unfortunate circumstances, the 1st Independent East Tennessee Battery opened with two mountain howitzers on the 10th Kentucky Cavalry. This was followed by several volleys from the Eighth and Ninth Michigan cavalry. One of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry men described the firing as "terrific" which was kept up for 10 minutes A 9th Michigan Cavalry soldier disputed the account and noted, "The unfortunate firing (a few volleys from our Spencer rifles) upon the 10th Kentucky, which your correspondent describes as terrific, was from one, or at most, two squadrons, of the 8th Michigan cavalry, only, fortunately doing no execution, except to horses." The 10th Kentucky Cavalry made signs to inform them and stop the firing, "but they 'couldn't see it' and the Tenth were compelled to fall back behind the hill." The men remained under friendly fire until "the 10th hoisted their Chaplain's vest as a flag of truce, and the mistake was discovered." Fortunately, nobody was hurt and only two horses were killed.
As soon as the firing on the 10th Kentucky Cavalry stopped, Decourcy's men discovered that a portion of Everett's command had been cut off by the burning of the bridge. "The 8th Michigan Cavalry being in nearest proximity to the bridge, Company B was dismounted and sent across the creek about one mile below. They came upon a company of Rebs and captured a captain with most of his men." The 8th Michigan captured Everett's rear guard, Captain James White, of Company F, 1st Battalion Kentucky Mounted Rifles, plus a number of his men.
Company I, 8th Michigan Cavalry, "under command of First Lieutenant W. Lowrie, also made a mounted charge on the enemy, and then our entire line moved forward." However, at that point, most of the rebels had escaped, "leaving almost all their horses, all their plunder, all their arms strewn over the country in every direction." Everett had taken full advantage of the initial confusion. The sudden appearance of the column in their rear compelled him to give up at once all idea of defending themselves. In his report Everett noted, that "seeing that it was impossible to overcome the superiority of their numbers, and exposed to the fire of artillery, which was so posted as to command the position which I held, I drew off my forces." He later stated that, "He always felt it to be one of the most painful incidents in his life, that he could not stay and witness this pounding between loyal men." His men took refuge in the dense woods which lay on their right, giving them an opportunity to escape under the cover of the mountain. Filing off under the bluff, they escaped up a ravine. Years later, one of Everett's men recalled that, "Several hundred of the enemies' cavalry closed in on our rear and front. What did we do? We followed Pete Everett across a steep mountain, with the loss of very few men and horses, and returned to Virginia." By taking a difficult route across a neighboring mountain, he escaped the forces that were closing in upon him.
A lot of Everett's plunder was still strewn about. One of the soldiers noted, "About two thousand dollars' worth of property of every description was picked up on the field by our boys." All the stolen horses were captured and taken to Mt. Sterling. "The citizens of Mason and Fleming counties who had lost horses were notified to come forward and prove property and it would be returned to them. For several days it was a busy scene at the corral in Mt. Sterling."
Casualties
Union
Casualties on the Federal side were comparatively light. All were members of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry. "We lost, singular to say, but one man killed — William West, company C — and two wounded — Joseph Blair and James Hicks — all of the same company. West was shot in the forehead by a Minie ball, and fell fighting bravely."
Confederate
According to The Maysville Eagle, the following 36 prisoners were captured at Triplett's Bridge: Jas. White, Capt. 1st Bat. Ky. Mtd. Rifles; J. S. Pittman, 1st Lieut.; W. F. McCormick, Sergt.; Wm. F. Everett, Sergt.; J. N. Shrout, Corporal; G. W. Ellington; H. D. Talbat; Pascal Mason; J. T. Meadows; G. N. Lyons; Z. R. Alexander; Jas. Clarke; C. A. Barnett; S. S. Moore; Nicholas Hadden, Jr.; L. N. Kinney; E. Pergram; J. E. Bellville; E. Munson; Jas. A. Conner; Thos. Campbell; Francis Summitt; Eli Robinson; Ed. Clifton; J. F. Taylor; Merrill S. Goodpasture; Warren Clayton; Jarrett Montjoy; Ed. Thompson; Wm. C. Hedges; Jarvis Smith; M. Myers;
Wounded - George W. Rogers; Albert West and Wm. L. Flood, 1st Lieutenant."
Killed - Robt. R. Larkins (shot and dead)
Reportedly, those killed and wounded by the howitzers were left to the care of the citizens.
Additional names of Everett's men who participated in the Tripletts Bridge engagement were provided on a muster roll of Everett's company that was later captured in Salyersville. However, several men who were listed as captured or missing in action at Tripletts Bridge were actually arrested at a later date.
Edmond Roberts - captured June 25, 1863, Kentucky
S. B. Smith - captured July 3, 1863, Bath Co. KY
John E. Young - captured July 3, 1863, Bath Co. KY
William T. Payne - captured July 3, 1863, Bath Co. KY
Wallace Kemper - captured July 18, 1863, Mt. Sterling, KY
W. C. Smith, 2nd Corporal - captured Farmington, TN, Oct. 7, 1863
Thomas Moss, blacksmith - not captured, no further information
Henderson Cornett, blacksmith - not captured, no further information
Night coming on, "the only means left was to send a regiment around to one of the gaps to cut them off." The next morning, instead of pursuing Everett in force, Colonel DeCourcy decided to return with his men to Mt. Sterling. He left a detachment of the 9th Michigan Cavalry behind, consisting of companies A and F, to scour the mountains and ravines for fugitive rebels (in some reports it is stated that it was the 8th Michigan Cavalry who was assigned this task).
Before DeCourcy's departure, Dr. John P. Talbot, Asst. Surgeon of the 1st Kentucky Mounted Battalion, came into his line under a flag of truce. His intention was to "attend to the Rebel Wounded." One of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry soldiers stated that "The rebel surgeon came in with their wounded and gave himself up." Talbot also reported, "that Pete Everett, the commander, was killed in the charge by company C." However, it was generally "thought improbable, as other accounts represent him as being among the first to run, leaving behind his bottle of whisky and his Bible, in which was a ribbon, upon which was embroidered the words 'Thou shalt not steal;' probably by one of Peter's relatives who was acquainted with his ruling propensity."
In the afternoon of June 17, Sturgis telegraphed Burnside, obviously unaware that DeCourcy was on his way back to Mt. Sterling.:
LEXINGTON, June 17, 1863--4 p.m.
GENERAL: Colonel De Courcy fell in with Everett's command at sundown yesterday, at Triplett's Bridge, Rowan County; had a brisk engagement, and the rebels dispersed to the bushes. He is in hot pursuit. De Courcy reports rebel loss 12 prisoners and 30 horses. Courier reports 8 rebels killed, 20 taken prisoners, and 100 horses captured. We had 2 wounded.
S. D. STURGIS,
Brigadier-General.
General AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE.
DeCourcy's main force arrived at Mt. Sterling the same evening. The following morning, June 18, 1863, at daylight, the 9th Michigan detachment returned from their search for Everett. "Some 20 prisoners, with a much larger number of horses, rifles, saddles, &c., were brought in by them as a result of their tour. They arrived ... a weary but jolly band, ready for another mountain scout whenever it pleases the "higher powers" to call them out."
Most of the prisoners captured at Triplett's Bridge were sent to the military prison at Lexington in charge of Captain S. Wells, of Company F, 8th Michigan Cavalry (bef. June 23, 1863). Several men were temporarily retained in Maysville. Two prisoners, James A. Conner and Nicholas Hadden, were kept under guard for the murder of James L. Sudduth in Bath County during the fall of 1862. The Maysville Eagle reported that "Jas. A. Connor ... has been heavily ironed and confined in a separate cell." Brig. General Sturgis wrote the Provost Marshal to retain Connor and Hadden and "that he intended to make them tell all that was engaged in it.."
Connor, along with Wm. F. Everett and Geo. W. Rogers, was also subject of lawsuits filed by Hon. W. H. Wadsworth on behalf of Messrs. Dessar and Culbertson, for damages sustained at their hands during Everett's raid on Maysville. "Everett was recognized by Dessar as one of the leading spirits in robbing his store, and even had on one of the stolen suits when being examined on the subject. Attachments had been issued upon their property to the amount of $8,000."
On June 26, 1863, the Frankfort Tri-Weekly Commonwealth reported that a portion of Everett's men, numbering 49, were taken from Paris to Covington on Tuesday, June 23, 1863. They were in charge of a squad of soldiers belonging to the 14th KY Cavalry, under command of Major Williams. On June 24, 1863, 31 of the prisoners were transferred from Lexington. Many of Everett's men ended up at Camp Chase, Johnson's Island and Point Lookout. A number of them died or lingered in prison until 1865.
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| Lists of prisoners from Lexington, including Everett's men |
After the engagement at Tripletts Bridge, Everett and the remainder of his force continued to move through the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and arrived "by easy marches (not being followed at all)" at their camp at the Old Russell Court House on June 22, 1863. The following day, while at Lebanon, Virginia, Edward O. Guerrant found "Pete Everett's 'raiders' just returned from Kentucky, broken down & very much scattered." Everett, still in camp, wrote his report of the raid.
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| Old Russell Court House |
CAMP OLD RUSSELL COURT-HOUSE, VA.,
June 23, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor to state that I arrived at this point on yesterday evening with my command. While in Kentucky I fought the Fourteenth Kentucky Regiment of Cavalry near Mount Sterling, killing 21 men, wounding 0, and capturing 17 prisoners. I proceeded to Flemingsburg, at which point I captured and paroled a captain in U.S. Navy. Thence I went to Maysville, where I captured 50 United States horses, some 330 guns, and 25 pistols. Among the guns were some 150 new Enfield rifles belonging to a company in progress of formation. I also captured at Maysville one piece of artillery (a 12-pounder) belonging formerly to General Zollicoffer, which I spiked and left. The small-arms were broken up, and the Government horses supplied the place of broken-down horses in my command. On returning from Maysville I dispersed an organization of Home Guards, under Col. Charles Marshall, at Mount Carmel. Said organization numbered about 170 men. At Fox Spring engaged a company of Home Guards, under Maj. Pennebaker, of Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, killing Major Pennebaker, Capts. -- Evans and -- Curtis, and 1 private. Some 15 miles from the last-named place I encountered a force variously estimated at from 800 to 1,500 men, under command of Brigadier-General De Courcy. Said force consisted of mounted infantry, cavalry, and one full battery of artillery, and attacked me both in front and rear simultaneously. The fight lasted for a short time, when, seeing that it was impossible to overcome the superiority of their numbers, and exposed to the fire of artillery, which was so posted as to command the position which I held, I drew off my forces and came by easy marches (not being followed at all) to this place. Up to the engagement last mentioned I had never lost a single man killed or captured.
Lieut. [William L.] Flood and Private Wells were slightly wounded in fight with Major Pennebaker. I know of 27 Federals killed, who fell into our hands, exclusive of the last engagement, and Captain Blackburn has near 30 paroles which he will hand you. My own loss was confined entirely to the engagement De Courcy was commanding, and I cannot now state it with accuracy, as stragglers are coming in, and I sent back a detachment, under Lieutenants [Alexander H.] Darnell and [George W.] L'Aile, to gather up those who might reach the mountains and bring them on out; also to take charge of those whose horses had given out. I do not think my loss in killed, wounded, and missing will much exceed 30 men; but this will appear from regular report of the expedition, which I will prepare and forward to you in a few days.
I am now moving my command to Lebanon, where forage and subsistence can be had, and would respectfully suggest the necessity of rest to both horses and men, if the condition of things is such as to permit.
I am, general, yours, most respectfully,
P. M. EVERETT,
Captain, Commanding Detachment.
P. S.--Two infantry regiments at Louisa and two cavalry regiments, numbering about 1,900 men.
List of Federal forces in Kentucky.
At Mount Sterling, Fourteenth Regiment Kentucky Cavalry, 300, and Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry, 400; Lexington, one Massachusetts [regiment] infantry, 600; Paris, one [regiment] Michigan infantry, 400; Big Hill, two regiments cavalry, 400 each. The rest of infantry has left Kentucky by way of Louisville, supposed for Vicksburg.
[INDORSEMENT.]
Knoxville, July 16, 1863.
In transmitting this report, it affords me pleasure to commend to the department the gallantry of Captain Everett. The enterprise was very successful. In addition to the horses captured, the detachment was enabled to capture a sufficient number of fine arms to replace the arms previously in possession of the men.
Respectfully,
S. B. BUCKNER,
Major-General, Commanding.
Southern papers praised Everett as "Mosby Rivaled."
"Capt. P. M. Everett, who, it will be remembered, unaided and alone, treed and captured five live Yankees in the mountains of Kentucky a few months since, returned to this place a day or two ago from another successful dash through the enemy's lines in Kentucky. With a squadron of 200 men, and during an absence of 20 days, he reconnoitered thoroughly the enemy's position, inflicted considerable damage upon the vandals, and- watered his horses in the Ohio at Maysville. His tour being principally one of observation, his stay, of course, was not protracted so long as he might have desired. During the progress of his march he encountered the Yankees at four different points ... It will thus be seen, that while we have had a body of Yankees prowling through our lines, we have also had a detachment manoeuvering in theirs."
Northern papers marked the end of Everett's raid with headlines such as "The Maysville Raiders Brought to Grief - The Whole Party Cut to Pieces and Captured." On June 29, 1863, Brig. Gen. Sturgis issued the following congratulatory order to Col. John F. DeCourcy and his men.
General Orders,}
No. 1 } Hdqrs. 1st Division, 23d Army Corps, Hickman's Bridge, Ky., June 29, 1863.
I. The general commanding tenders his hearty thanks and congratulation to Col. John [F.] De Courcy; and the officers and men under his command, namely, the Eighth and Ninth Regiments Michigan Cavalry, under Colonel Stockton; the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maltby, and a detachment of the Fourteenth Kentucky Cavalry, under Captain Bowman, with sections of the Eighth Michigan and Tenth Kentucky Batteries, for their conduct and bravery in carrying out the instructions received from these headquarters, thus cutting off the retreat of a party of rebels who had made a raid on Maysville, Ky., inflicting upon them a loss of 30 in killed and wounded, and capturing 1 captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 sergeant, and 37 privates, together with 100 horses and a like number of arms and accouterments, with a fair prospect of yet taking the entire remaining force. Colonel De Courcy has shown, in this affair, rare tact, skill, and energy, and in his report mentions with special commendation the long and rapid march made by the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Maltby, who, he says, displayed energy and talent in carrying out his orders. Major Foley, also of the same regiment, is entitled to high praise for his effective co-operation. Captain Bowman, Fourteenth Kentucky Cavalry, likewise gave every satisfaction to his commanding officer. Lieut. and Adj George C. Parker, Twenty-first Massachusetts Infantry, as acting assistant adjutant-general, Capt. John S. Williams, Fourth Kentucky Infantry, and Capt. Isaac W. Adams, as acting aide-de; camp, were of great assistance, and seemed never more satisfied than when sent to points of danger. The general commanding takes special pleasure in placing upon record this tribute of praise, and expresses his entire conviction that all the troops of his command will, in the hour of trial, prove themselves equally true and trustworthy.
By order of Brigadier-General Sturgis:
Wm. S. King
Lieutenant-Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General
A soldier of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry remarked, "To conclude, I think that guerrillaing has very near played out in this section of the country, especially as long as a man remains in the Tenth." However, Everett was not done "playing." Only five months later, Union authorities in Kentucky would have their hands full with Everett once again.
Further Reading
Everett's June 1863 Raid - A Detailed Account - Part 1
Everett's June 1863 Raid - A Detailed Account - Part 2
Freestone Road Bridge Constructed in 1921 at the site of the original covered Triplett's Bridge. This bridge is now defunct and closed to traffic)
Researched, transcribed and written by Marlitta H. Perkins, June 2022. Copyright © 2022, All Rights Reserved.
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