Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-02-04

More of the Fight near Somerset, Kentucky.
In reference to this engagement the LHnor

More of the Fight near Somerset, Kentucky.
In reference to this engagement, the Knor
uslte Whsg of Tuesday last, says:
We have conversed with gentleman who left
Gen. Ofittenden's for5es last Friday morning,
who gives tie following .etas OF the battle and
falling back CT our forces. His statements may
be relied Oh, as he had every opportunity Of
knowing the facts: saa1.s
The attack made upon the Federals at Fish,
! ing Greek was determined upon in council oil
war, at which all the rtgimental commanders
were present, and was approved by all.
AT one time during the fight, we had every
rassoc to believe that the day wa ours, and our
subsequent defeat may be attributed to the lnis-s
taking regiment of the enemy tor the 10Th
Mississippi, and consequent order from Gen1
Zoicofer to cease firing. Ger. Zollic, fer RI
ding forward towards the enemy, was shot and
| tell nortally wounded, throwing the regiments
mne,' lately around him into some confusion,
which, as Is always the case with iHlperfectly
drilled troops, was difficult to suppress The
gallant Zollicofer in the very hour OF death, did
not forget his duty to his command, aid he was
heard to utter as he fell from his horse, Il was
mistaken, they are the enemy, charge them y
had this command been head by his msn and
they had charged, We probably would have had
q victory instead of defeat to chronicle. Our
men continued from this time to fall back. The
enemy Who wtre In superior force pressing their
advantage lntl further attempt to rally were
useless, and our brave little army was ordered to
make their way back to the camp, keeping in
the woods as much as possible to prevent the ar
tilery from damaging ns. The fight ragged near
iy three hours without any cessation, continual
vosley having been kept up by both armies.
Gen. Orittenden and staff were during the
greater part of the fight ipned. .ately in the
OF the attacking force ante iii front of hG reserve
and depo: ted himself as brave and gallant sol
f dier. He it was in person who conveyed TO
Col. Cummings, of the 10th Tennessee regiment
in the beat of the fight t.,e news oi Gen. Zo-
Golfers fall, ana tLat rs senior Colonel, the COM
) ,nand of the brigade fell upon him.
Our loss in the battle is about 100 killed, and
800 wounded and taken prisoners. Drs. Gift,
Nor on, aud Dulaney voEn eered to remain in
} the hospital with the wounded.
4 The enemy appearing in grea er force in front
of our works On the afternoon, a couDcil vi war
was again assembled, and il was determined to
abasdon a position it were madness to attempt
to defend.
The forces having all crossed during the night,
we took up our line. Of march for Monticello,
where the army was halted until Tuesday morn
ing when o.der was in measure again restored,
and the march continued on in the direction OF
Cartilage, on the Cumberland river. -s@
Il is but just to say that all the different field
and 81 att officers conducted themselves with great
bravery, and cheerfully suffered all the priva-
tions their commands wera called upon to en-
dure. To mention either individual cases or
part. ularize regiments who entitled to
praise, were wrong; for all did what they be-
lleved to be their d.ty. The greatest loss fell
upon the 18th Mississippi and the left wing OF
h.,
ing IN more exposed position than some OF the
other regiments.
!. The loss OF property is great but does not reach
the exaggerated reports first brought in, and in
few weeks the army will again be ready tor the
field. -a' g.
Federal Report of the Fight near Somerset,
in Kentucky.
The following is the report OF the Federal Cen
eral in command in the fight near Somerser, in
Ken:uoky. It will be seen that our loss is not
as great es reported 10 the Southern accounts
LOUISVILLE, Jan. %, 1862.
, To Major General Mcclellan, Commandinq
J, United States Army:
The rout Of the enemy was complete. After
succeeding iu getting two pieces OF artillery a.
cross the river and upwards IF fifty wagons, they
were abandoned with ell the ammunition in the
depot IN Nil! Spring. They then threw away
: their arms and dispersed tn ough the inountain
byways in the direction Of Morticello, but are
3 so completely deinoraiized that do rot believe
they will make stand short of Tennessee e
I he property captured on this side OF The rv-
er is of great value, amounting to eight six poun
ders and two Parrott guns, with oaissiohs filled
t with ammunition; about one hundred tour horse
e wagons, and upwards of 200 horses and mules,
several boxes of arms which had never oeeu
opened, and from 500 to 1000 muskets, II ostly
with filrt locks but in good order; subsistence
stoi IS enou to serve the ertire command tor
. three days; also, large amount of hospital
stores
AS soon ss l receive tie report of the brigade
commanders will furnish detailed rel ort of
3 the battle.
, Our loss was thirty nine killed and one hun
dred AMI twenty seven wounded. Amorg the
wounded were Colonel McCook, O: the Ninth
Ohio, commanding brigade, aud his aid, Lieut..
Burt, OF the Eighth Un ted States Iutantry.
The loss OF the rebels was Zocoffer and ia
others killed and buried, 116 wounded, and 45
prisoners not wounded, five OF whom are Sur
geons, and Lieutenant Colonel Carter, Of the
Seventeenth Tennessee regiment.
GENERAL THOMAS.
d. @. BUELL. Brgadier General Commanding.