Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1862-01-30


tercs,irg letter by the recipient, accompa-
MED with permission to publish it, if we
thought proper. which we do cheerfully:l
IL ZoLIIcorFER' FoRT,
ASA as. Jsn. DIST. 1862.
DEAR FAruEk:-I presume you will have
heard of our victory before this reaches
you, but will try to give you true ac-
count Of what saw. and heard during the
battle. 3
Gems. Zollicoffe, and Crittendea with a
force of from eight to nine thousand men,
left their fortifcasions (whicS were i'm
pregnable to twenty-five thonsand men.
about one o'clock Sunday morning.
Their advance guard snd osr pickets COM
meneed firing just before daylight. Our
regiment was marched On double quick a.
bout three quarters cf q mile, where we
formed a line of battle in the woods
Col. Woolford's cavalry went in the adj
vance alb out two or three hundred yards.
When they saw the rebel forces they retreat
ed as fast as they could. AS they passed
us they told our Colonel to retreat. or bis
men wouid be cut all to pieces. General
Mansoa replied No." and turning to his
regiment. cried boys. give them HE'LL
By this time the rebels had fired volley
at u.s. Then business commenced in ear
nest. They shot too high at first. and we
did the same. We killed men in the third
regiment from us. The 10th Ind. stood
their groand and kept tie whole rebel
force at bay until reiAforcemeats could
come up. falling back slowly. in the mean
time, but firing as we did SO. killing more
of the enemy during that time. it is be-
lieved, than while we stood still. After
we had fought them one hour and ten min.
utes the 4th Kentucky came to our aid,
and soon after the 9th Ohio came up. The
rebels then commenced giving way. -Four
cannon soon after opened fire on them
which caused them to scatter in every di-
rcction. We pursued them closely. and
kept firing at them. until they ran behind
their entertainments. Our artillery then
was planted hill near them and few
shots fred OF them. They did not stop to
return. the fire. but commenced crossing
the Cumberland river, which runs through
the camp. by means of Of small steamer
and q bsidge made Of coal barges. 1t was
80 dark ty this time that we could not see.
and the lattle was suspended until morn
ing. but we slept on our arms all night
AT daylight next morning we could see the
enemy crossing the river A few shells
were thrown into their beat and it was
soon 10 flames. The rebels then began to
swim across on their horses. In doing
this they lost any amount Of horses and
men. We then marched into their camp
We took two or three hundred wagons
about 5000 stand of arms. 1900 horse!
and mules and 800 prisoners. Our loss il
81 killed and 100 wounded.
We guarded the prisoners while theJ
buried $50 Of their dead yesterday. ant
they buried 90 or 80 more to-day. w,
have about 100 Of their wounded, and ,hei
surgeons are now dressing their wounds.
They had thousands of bushels Of whes
and corn, and about so head of cattle
which they took from the farmers abou
here They left every thing. even thei
trunks. which contained the officers appa
REL All their commissary stores likewis
fell into our hands, and we are now feast
ing on sweet cakes which we make out o
their -four and sugar.
A Lieut.. Col. whom we took prisoner
says this is an offset to the Manassas bat
tie. He says they thought we only ha
two regiments or they wonld not have q.
tackled us. He remarked, also. that the
laQ Deeu WaIueu tBat the 1Vtu 1uuiou
would be hard to whip, but he did nc
think it would fight as it did.
Col. Fry o. the 4th KY, has the homo
of shooting Gen. Zollicofer. Gen. z
cried ont to Col. Fry. as he suddenly stcr
ped out of the brush near the latter, "Yo
are killing your own men," Col. F. n
cognized him. notwithstanding he had o
. rubber over cont. and drew his revolve
and sent ball through his heart. KILN
him almost inst sntly.
. AS it is late and all is excitement 1 wi
s close for the present. was not wounded
though q ball passed SO near my arm thu
1 could not use it for little while. o.
company suffered more than any other.
: Write soon to your son.
q 81 ~; JOIN NJ MooRE.
h In ZoLLicoFFER's FoRv,
Il go q January %. 1862.