Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-02-08

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up tort government was doubted, and he
fought the battle of Wild Cat sgsinst he
advice Of every colonel in his army, aud
with reckless desire to obtain military
distinction, md prove himself faithful to
the new cause. That attack was uniuc.
ccssful, simply because it was "a hours too
late. Foiled there, he brought his troops
to their late position on the Cumberland,
threatening she heart of Kentucky, keep
ing open the navigation of the Cumberland
and ready to act in concert with the army
at Bowling Green. No position was ever
better chosen, even for its own strength or
its value as connected with other military
movements Of the same line. Gen. Crit
/ tendcn relieved him Of his command on
the LIST day of January, and Gen. Zoli-
Golfer went home for a few days. He left
his home again, to die at the head If his
army, lighting n battle against his own
judgment, and in the moment of dcfeat.
MARCH FROM TIE BATTLEFIELD TO THE
REBEL CAMP.
As we marched over the hill into the
camp, storm was raging. There was n
sulen fall Of rain. The lightning leaped
from the ky upon hills from the other side
of the river, as though it was pursuing the
remains of the rebel army with the wrath
Of heaven. The thunder echoed our ar.
tillery.
Long columns of our men filed along
the circular crest Of hills. But there was
hardly cheer. We had hoped to capture
every man, and though we had taken ov-
cry thing which made them an army, we
felt disappointed. This was the case po-
culiarly with Gen. Sehocpff Brigade, and
most particu arly SO with the 1th aud
3Sth We Lad done more hard work
made more marches under the mo,t trying
circumstances, thrown up more iutrench
ments, and, in short had done more OF cv
!. cry kind OF soldier duty, tuau any Other
regiment, in the State. We wanted tc
have thc soldiers luxury--a fight. W,
had waited for it nearly two mouths, anc
at last, having run the OK to his hole, tC
have him taken from us by others, was tot
, bad.
, FRUITS OF THE VICTORY.
Yet the victory was complete, Thir
$ teen cannon, more than thousand stauC
= Of arms, thousand horses, ammunition
t baggage trains, commissary stores of ever,
y kind, tents, clothing, and, in short, every
G thing which the poor fellows had left to us
4 copy Of the order of retreat was found
| dire citing that the army should move at
, o'clock, silently, and leave everything -
, They did not even spike their guns.
= THEIR FORrIFIcATIoNs AND CAMP.
S No army was ever snitten with such
, panic, even in the open field. That the
e should leave fortifcations Of the cxten
j and strength Of those around their camp
e seemed almost incredible. Those fortili
y cations were evidently constructed undo
t the supervision of sl:ilful englpcar. |
{ would be difficult to construct more formi
= dable earthworks They were defende
G by thirt en- pieces, many Of them riAed
4! The force of the enemy, even af.er thci
r heavy losses in the morning, was full
equal in numbers to our own. Yet a
was abandoned.
70 our men, accustomed to live i'll col
tents, the rebel camp seemed almost par
: adisc. The most of the regiments wer
l.. furnished with log huts, warm, comfortabl
{ and homelike. In the commissary depart
/. ment they were much better supplied tha
n we have been. No crackers, but good cor
e bread and biscuit most inviting. Coffee
c sugar, beef, lat hogs, everything of ii
n best, and plenty of it, The South ma
it be starving but the Southern army is ia
from it, In clothing and arms alone ou
), troops have the advantage over them
Il Their guns were, many OF them, flit-loc
e muskets, shotguns, ard squirrel rifles. =
o But few rifed muskets were found.
THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
!. No signs of the enemy being visible Q
!. the other side Of the river, and our ow
o stock of provisions running short, GeI
.e Schoepf's brigade was ordered back
t, Somerset After travelling about eigl
Il miles on our return, we came to the fel
II OF battle.
. The ground is rolling, the hills not hig
!. nor steep, but irregular, and covered,
m great part, with dense woods. Along Il
4. road there are some cleared fields.
n DETAILS UF THE BAT rLE.
Sc pRELIMINARIEs.