ColumbusJune 12^th 1861
Govr B. Mcagoffin
D^r sir

Today at twelve oclock the city of Aulton with from five hundred to one thousand Cairotroops aboard, passed down the river, no armed men or cannon being perceptable she passed our town & landed about one half mile below the town on the Ky side, & while there boat was below the town, the troops on board were put in battle array & the Cannon exposed, The boat then passed up the river along the Ky shore, until she reached the center of town where there was a secession flag flying, when the boat was stoped, The officer then in command, demand to know by what authority the flag was flying, To which a citizen replied that it was by authority of the Citizens of South West Kentucky, The officer then in a peremptatory tone of voice demand that the flag should be taken down, which not being done, The officer then threatened to shoot it down & a citizen replied shoot and be damned, The officer then asked if there was one man in town who wished it taken down, & being answered not one, They then held a parly on the boat for some

ten or fifteen minuits, when the officer ordered some men to land and cut down the flag which they did, carrying the same on the boat threw the same down on the boat danced on it, & spit upon it, & then cheered Lincoln "Scott Gen Prentiss, Crittendon & the Union, & then left,

While they city of Aulton was lying at our wharf there was lying above our town some two miles, one or two other boats with armed men, ready to render assistance if needed,

The officers abord of the boat remarked that Ky was still in the Union, & in [a] few days Kentuckians would be made to feel it,

The officer was not known to our Citizens but Capt Countz was recognized as one of the c[...]party on board of boat,

Yours respectfully
W, R, Bradley

I am not acquainted with you, but for my standing refer you to John R. Rodman, of your city,,

W, R, B,

Bradley — Columbus affair