SOMERSET (Ky.), Engagement at In March 1863, Gen. john Pegram, with 1,550 cavalry and three guns, started from East Tennessee on an expedition into eastern Ken tucky to seize beef cattle for the Confederate army. On 22 March he crossed to the north bank of the Cumberland River, by Stigall's Ferry, and making a forced march reached and attacked Danville, on the 24th, driving out Wolford's Union cavalry and pursuing them nearly to the Kentucky River. He then began to collect his cattle in the counties of Lincoln, Boyle and Garrard. On the 26th General Burnside ordered Generals Gillmore and Man son, who were north of the Kentucky River, to concentrate their forces and attack Pegram, then in the vicinity of Danville. Gillmore crossed the Kentucky River at Hickman's bridge on the 28th and drove Pegram across Dick's River, Pegram burning the bridges to check pursuit. On the same day Manson occu pied Danville and moved to co-operate with Gill more, who was following Pegram toward the Cumberland. Pegram had called in and concen trated his command, and falling back skirmish ing, made a stand in a strong position on Dut ton's Hill, three miles north of Somerset, in order to check the Union pursuit until he could get all his captured cattle across the river, six miles in his rear. Gillmore, with 1,250 mounted
men and six guns, advanced on Pegram's posi tion at daybreak of the 30th and drove his rear guard back upon his main line, which he found strongly posted and resisting firmly. An effort by Pegram to turn Gillmore's right failed and Gillmore, dismounting his men and forming in line, the action began at noon by artillery firing on both sides, which was continued two hours, when Gillmore's men charged to within 30 yards of the Confederate line and it gave way from right to left and could not be rallied until near the town, when order was restored and another position taken and slight works thrown up, about three miles south of Somerset. As night was setting in, no attack was made on this position, Gillmore contenting himself with throwing a few shells and advancing his skirmishers. During the night Pegram re crossed the Cumberland at Stigall's Ferry with 537 of the 750 cattle he had collected. The Union loss in the engagement was about 30 killed and wounded. Pegram reports a loss during his raid of over 200 men. Consult 'Official Records> (Vol. XXIII).