A daring Exploit.
Somerset, Ky., May 11, 1863.
One of the most daring and successful exploits of this war was performed by four men on Saturday night, May first, on Rock Creek, in Wayne County.
Benjamin Burke, a citizen, Hudson Burke, a discharged soldier, James Burke, of Wolford's cavalry, and another citizen, named James Davis, having received intimation of a band of twenty-eight men, under command of Captain Evans, of the famous band of rebel robbers that infest Wayne and Clinton counties, of this State, known as Champ Fergurson's men, having stopped at the house of Jonathan Burke, to spend the night, determined to attempt their capture.
Four men against twenty-eight fiends, who had revelled in the blood of innocent neighbors for a year — think of it!
It seemed like madness, yet the attempt was made.
Coming to a sentinel, who stood watch over their thirty-one horses, Davis ordered him to surrender his gun, which the coward did, and received in return a blow from it which knocked his brains out. The way was now clear to the house, where the remainder of the party were asleep.
Surrounding the dwelling, they at once raised a hideous yell, crying, “Wolford, Wolford!”
at the top of their voices.
The rebels, awakened by their noise, supposed at once that Wolford's cavalry, whom they dread as they do death, was upon them, sprang from their beds, leaving their clothes and guns behind, and rushed for the doors.
Out they rushed, without any thing on but shirts and drawers; some without the latter, even, rushed out to take leg-bail.
Hudson Burke met Capt. Evans at the door; both fired at the same time.
Burke was slightly wounded in the head, but the infamous Evans was instantly killed.
Four others were slain, the remainder of the party escaping; but they abandoned every thing — all their horses, personal property, guns, and several thousand dollars in greenbacks, in addition to a considerable amount of confederate money.
Nothing remained for the victorious few to do but gather up the fruits of their victory, which they divided with William Mulligan, a prisoner whom they had released from the clutches of the marauders.
