Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-01
THE BATTLE OF SOMERSET.
Correspondence of the Cincinna Commercial
ZoLLIcoFFER's LATE) ENCAMPMENr, |

Correspondence of the Cncinna Commercial
ZoLLIcoFFER's (LATEl ENCAMPMENT,
January 20, 1862
Here | sit in cedar log cabin, inside the
Entertainments of the wonderful position of
old "Zoy," to write you a letter. just at
daybreak on Sunday morning, the 18th of
january, sharp firing commenced with the
pickets in the same spot where the firing was
last Friday night the long roll beat in the
Indiana tenth, and they formed instantly and
marched TO the support of these pickets. The
tenth and Kinneys battery were close to
gether, and half a mile in advance of every
thing, The battery got ready for action on
the instant, aud awaited orders.
By the way, Standards battery and Wet
mores four gun battery were both in park,
one on each side of Kinney's battery. The
first Tennessee was about quarter Of mile
in the rear OF these batteries, in the woods.
The fourth Kentucky, Colonel Fry, was the
next regiment on the road, half mile in the
rear of the batteries it was forming as | ran
past, getting to my own regiment flor slept
in Kinney's batteryl; the second Tennessee
another quarter of mile ip the rear of the
fourth Kentucky. By this time the cavalry
were running their horses all over the country
in every direction, except toward the firing,
which still continued at intervals. The second
was Just getting breakfast, and supposing 1t to
be only picket fight, kept on cooking and
eating, though very few had eaten anything
when the column of ourt0rce appeared coming
OIL in our rear. Lieutenant Colonel Trewhit
promptly got us in line, and double'quicked
us into the road ahead OF the advancing col
umn the fourth Kentucky had gone when
we reached their encampment. The firing
still continued, and very briskly we kept on
at double quick, all hoping and believing that
Lao Ohio IN
der But when opposite the encampment OF
the tenth Indiana, up rode the colonel, and
halted lis for further orders we all thought
if we didn't say it--"D-n further orders !"
The tenth Indiana went into the woods
about quarter of mile in advance OF their
tents, to the support of their lickets; and
bravely did they support them, too, for over
halt an hour against the whole force led
against them, and never retreated step, nor
gave an inch of ground, until nearly sur
rounded by overwhelming numbers then, to
save themselves from being entirely surround
ed, they unwillingly gave way. Here was
crisis, and yell on yell went up from the Ian
tern-jawed seCessionis!s; they thought the
day was all their own. But, happily, any
disastrous consequence was prevented by the
arrival of the fourth Kentucky and ninth
Ohio to the support of the gallant tenth.
Again our men made stand now there was
fighting in good earnest, and the second Min
nesota joined in with the tenth and the fourth
and the ninth Ohio. Volley after volley rat
tied in quick succession, and sometimes it
seemed as though there was only one continu-
Gus volley, interrupted now and then by the
growing OF the "yeIlow pups" which had
been brought to bear upon the enemy and
when they once commenced, they distributed
their favors freely in all directions, in the
shape OF shot and shell and, gentlemen, ex
cuse me from being the recipient OF any such
favOrs.
There were only two or three shots from
cannon fired by the enemy, and they were eli.
Their badly aimed or the pieces were out Of
range, for the shot did not disturb anybody
Once they threw a shell into the air, which
burst when some four or five hundred feet
high. No damage was done by it, and their
artillery seemed to be OF no use to them what
ever, while on the contrary, ours seemed to
be OF immense value to us and 1t was most
ably and effectively handled. After little
more than two hours OF hard fighting a most
tremendous volley OF musketry, followed by
a ringing shout from our side, seemed to have
decided the battle in our favor, for from that