Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1862-02-15
The Kentucky victory scenes on the Bat.
tIc- ETNId.

tlo-F1eId.
The following extrscln from letter writ
ten by Brigade Surgeon in the army Of
General Schoepff give graphic description
of that part Of battle which comes under a
surgeons notice.
SOMERSET, January 81, 1862.
| snatch one moment this evening 20 write
you, as well as can amid the multiplicity of
my duties.
have Just passed through scenes beyond
enemy in fair fight.
As told you in my last, we were expect
ing It every day. We have now Opened the
balp to perfsCtion-setting an example
which, l hope, will be followed by our
whole army and make short work Of this
rebellion,
You will remember General Thomas was
approaching US with reinforcements. Gen.
eTal Schospf and staff went out under the
protection of a cavalry escort to meet him
and make arrangements for battle. We
stayed that night, and returned next morn
ing, Saturday. Sunday morning we had
dispatches from General Thomas-''the en-.
emy were preparing to attack"
General SchoepH ordered me to be in read.
iness to go on with him. Regimental Sur
ReoD5, Rmbulances, instruments, &c &C..
were soon in order We all started together.
We looked we'll and felt well. dressed iust
as you have seen me when going for days
fishing or guDning-my only badge my
green sash. The other surgeons were in full
dress, and we're much surprised at my Aan-
mel coat, cosrse heavy boots (outside my
pants) and old soft hat. Soon after start.
ipg we heard cannonading The General
said | might 90 on in advance, as my sery.
ices might be needed. l took three or four
surgeons, pushed on and reached the battle.
which was raging turiously; and oh, how
we'll my beautiful horse behaved! he seem
ipgly knew as well as | what was goinr on
The excitement of the scene uleiled ali
fear. Our men deliberately threw off their
overcosts, formed IN line OF battle, marched
right up to work ss if on dress parade. Il
was magnificent As soon as the men be-
gan TO fail the surgeons were at work, and
they all did well.
For three hours the firing was incsys,nt
on both sides-bals flying like hailstones
cutting off limbs and branches of trees
the roar of cannon and whistlng of shells
was awful.
When our Teinforcements reached the field
the enemy began to fall back. We followed
them up closely and drove them into their
inlTencbments before sundown.
As they retreated we were attending TO
their wounded as well ss our own.
| ordered them removed to the buildings
within mile of the ground Barns. houses,
shops, hute. tents, were all thus occupied.
We remained with the wounded and
dying all that night, and followed the re-
tiripg line of battle the next day to their
intrenChments--a few more shots from our
artillery drove what remained OF the brave
Zollicotier's army across the Cumberland
They fought well, and were sure OF beat.
irg us, but are now completely disheart-
ened and dsbsnded. So precipitous
was their fight that most Of their arms, ali
their trsnspor trains Zone thousand
horses or more) sli their cannon, ammuui-
ticn, ccmms;ary end lospit.l stores-every
thing pertaining to an army-fell into our
hands.
In going over the field 1 found General
Zollicoher, a fac, noble looking man.
stretched cut in death.
We took large number of prisoners,
among them five -surgsous-one a brigade
surgeon on ZpllicOtfer's ste1, and geatle.
manly fellow he is TOO They were ali set at
work assisting our own surgeons
l performed the first smputation in a
blscksmith's shop The gratitude expressed
by these poor wounded and dying meu has
done me more good Than all have ever ex-
perienced before
Wv PNOA oOlulCE lEOLu MlSSl
had an arm taken off, and one of the Ala.
bsma men leg. They said had they known
they were fighting such men as they found
US (the surgeons) 10 be- they would never
have taken gun in hand. And when our
men were ordered to give them something to
eat, and brandy to those who were faint and
exhausted, tears of gratitude filed their eyes.
Some inquired what we thought of their
wounds, and when told they were mortal
and they could live but few hours, asked
for chaplain, who was Immediately sent
to them. Such scenes would soften the hard
est heart.
have been two nights with scarcely any
sleep, and that on wet blanket on the
ground. You can not conceive of such rain
and mud. My good horse has had to fare
with his master. could find nothing for
him to eat; he was hitched up all night to
tree in the rain. To-day he sank so deep in
the mud my feet touched the ground l
eat from last night till four clock this P. NJ.
only small Bit OF dry biscuit sad tin cup
of black tea.
The official report contains one hundred
wounded and thirty eight killed on our side.
The Confederates seventy. four wounded
" hom we have attended TO with our OWN
and a hun dred and ninety, probably over
two hundred, killed, for they are scattered
all over the country.
This is one Of the most successful engage
meBts since the war began, and will tell
more than epy other on the South.
All the wounded on both sides are to be
brought here. Two loads are to come this
evening. They will be coming in all night.
A good story is told of Barney Williams,
who at one time $50 report goes) lived by the
fish be caught iu the Lakes Of Killarney"