Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-01-21

THE VICTORY IN KENTUCKY.

THE VICTORY IN KENTUCKY
The Commander-in- Chief last night received
the following dispatch, through Mr.. Fuller, the
chief telegrapher OF General Buell's staff who
was in PERSON at Somerset at the time Of the
battle. Viz:
"Our victory is complete. Zollicoffer Is killed
The Stars and Stripes float over his forti ica-
tions. We have captured all his property and a
large number of prisoners. His loss is heavy ~
From another source IL is reported by telegraph
to the headquarters here, that275 rebels including
Gen Zollicofer himself and Gen. Bailey Peyton,
IT,, We're left by the enemy dead on the field The
10th Indians lost rs killed and wounded.
Nothing further concerning our loss had reached
the Government here up to IL a m to-day.
Mote (by the Editor Of the Star) 1t is Judged
at Headquarters here, to-day, that the battle OF
Somerset was Tough! principally by portions of
the I'd and Sd brigades under Gen. Geo Thomas
in person, (COl. Thomas, of Second u s. Cav
airy, for some time next in command to Gen.
Patterson.) He commands the advance division
OF Gen. Buell's great army, consisting of the
First Kentucky Cavalry, First Ohio Artillery bat
tslioni first infantry brigade-I7th, 3Sth and 3Ist
Ohio, and l2tn Kentucky, under Gen. Shoepf:
second brigade-4th and 10th Kentucky. 14tb and
10th Indiana. under Col. Manson, Of Kentucky:
and third brigade-0th and 35th Ohio, 18th u. 8
(regular) infantry, and I'd Minnesota, under Gen.
nj Cook.
Cpto Saturday last General shoepf was boIdIny
ZoiEccfsr immediately in his front, the position
OF his Is 81 force having been Somerset for some
time past. lie was thus giving his immediate
commander, General Thomas, an opportunity TO
maneuver from his base, at Lebanon, (where all
the rest OF his division were, so as to get into
ZolliSDher's rear. The fact that he succeeded in
SO doing forced Zolicoer either to attack shoepf,
strongly intrenched In his front, or the main
body Of the division, encamped under Thomas in
his rear. At most, the force of Thomas at that
point could not have been over S 500 men. while
that Of Shoepf was probably not more than 2. 500
IL so many, though the intrenc hments OF the latter
made an attack upon them appear more hazardous
than the fatal attack las 1t turned out to bel on
Thomas.
The force Of Zollicofer fit for duty was known
here yesterday morning before the receipt of the
news of the battle) to be between nine and ten
thousand strong.
NAVY YARD
The Stepping Stones came up Yesterday, and
went down again last night. She reports affairs
unchanged in the lower Potomac.
The Jacob Bell is still on the ways, being re-.
paired.
THE SCENE OF THE VICTORY
The scene Of the late victory IL Somerset. the
capital OF Pulaski county, Kentucky, and is stu
ated six miles north Of the Cumberland river and
ninety miles east Of Frankfort, the capital Of the
State.
Editor Star: Amongst the many thing, unde,
cons deration for retrenchment is the abolisbino
OF regtmental bands. The persons who have tbus
lar written upon the subject present the dark side
and try to convince the people that by retaining
them an enormous expense Is incurred and a Oresf
detriment 10 the service. Article 81 of the Re-
vised Army Regulations reads thus ga The mn
sicians Of the band will, for the time being he
dropped from company muster roll but they will
be Instructed as soldiers, and Liable to ser lice in
the ranks on any occasion They will be mustered
In separate squad, under the chief musician
with the non-commissiOned staff, an d be included
In the agg regate in ali ,egimental returns Thev
on all marches, are detailed as attendants TO The
ambulances, and perform the part by no means
nimPortant, Of gathering the dying, the wound
ed, and carrying them 10 places Of protection,
where necessary aid can be given. MANY lives
doubtless thus are preserved and thus the horrors
OF dying unattended are mitigated. On such oc-
casi0ns persons TO do that duty are absolutely
needful. Take away these musicians and that
branch Of the service must be performed by men
who are needed in the ranks. An army without
such "corps" does no credit to a civilized
country.
Music has been cultivated in all ages It's birth
IL with man, although the Grecian nation has the
honor Of the invention and use OF notes and scales
Is not only confined TO the wealthy but Il 10 the
desirable companion or all classes you are
scarcely able TO find family who has not a
musical instrument Of some kind, from the piano
with harp down to the simple accordean The
member OF family Possessing musical talent IA
surely one Of the most valuable, for 1t soohes the
troubled conscience, rendering many pleasant
hours to the lofty and humble Are we not pos
sessed OF the same attribute, or do we cast AWAY
every refining Trait when our entrance Is maze
into the army? II not, the bands should be con-
inued to Us, which gives many happy moments
to the soldier Martial music should not be under
rated, but who dares 70 compare IL to the poorest
regimental band! Ask the soldier what q dress
parade the more pleasing to himself, the one
which 10 attended merely by martial music or
that by the martial and regimental band! Are
not the streets OF Washington city often thronged
by persons who STe DESTROYS to hear the strains Of
q serenading band! would ask of those who
are opposed to the continuance OF this branch of
the service to have some feelings for their fellow
soldiers, and not think them devoid Of that valu-
able quality. MILES.