Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1862-02-07
Account of the Battle at Fish
ing Creek. n

OOIIttpOHuonCo VI tuo Shtoo "he fRf'tff~'%-s
81 4 GArssBoRoA Jan 81, 1862.
Messrs Editors .---You may be pleased e, have
some information concerning the late battle at
Fishing Creek, in Kentucky, in which Brig. Gen.
ZoIlicoffer was killed. II is well too to correct
some false reports which have gone forth with re-
gard to IL and beg Of you to insert this state
ment from one who knows what is stated, for this
last purpose most particularly, t otg,N
On the 18th Of January our army was In its en-
treuched camp on the North bank Of the Oumber-
land river aud In front were several large bodies
of Federal troops concentrating to attack US. Maj.
Gen. Crittenden proposed that without awaiting
this attack from the combined force we should
move ont and give them battle in detail. To this
Gen Zollicofer cordially assented, and that eve
ming a council Of war was held at General Crit
teuden's quarters, in which Generals Zollicoffer
and Carroll, and Lieut. Colonel Walthan, COM
mendng the hffeenth Mississippi Regiment, and
Colonels Battle, Cummings, Stanton, Powell and
Murray, commanding Tennessee Regiments, and
Col. Wood commanding the l8th Alabama Regi-
ment and 1t. Coils. Brahner and Mcclellan COM
nandng Battalion of cavalry, and Capts. Rut-
ledge and McClung commanding artillery, all con-
CURED in and assented to the plan proposed viz 10
go out and make the fight which was made on the
morning Of the 18th at Fishing Greek.
In the hattie, Gen. ZollicoHfer lead the advance
and commanded, the advance Brigade. He was
kllitu WINE commanding Tue luCc vi tuc CHtlnyi
Gen. Cfittenden was constantly under heavy fire
and from an exposed position directed throdgout
with perfect GOODNESS, the details Of the battle.
The battle lasted over three hours. We drove
fie enemy back for some time but could not dis
lodge him from his main position, Then we retired
to our camp with loss of less than four hundred
in kiied, wounded and missing. The loss of the
enemy was eight hundred or thousand in killed
and wounded They had vastly superior MUM
bnrc "A hat dar;o
attack was repulsed. The wonder is that we es-
capped thcm after defeat
On the afternoon after the return to camp, and
when the enemy had invested the place and opened
their batteries upon it. General Crittenden submit
ted to General Carroll and Colonel Cummings COM
manding the Brigade Of General Zolieofer, and
two artillery and engineer officers whether the
trenchments should be given up, and all agreed that
after the morning rephlse and with nothing to eat
III was necessary to recross the Cumberland and
retire into Tennessee. In the face Of victorious
enemy this reerossing, thought impossible by the
enemy was accomplished ia a bold, niasterly and
successful manner. a'a tsi
These movements--tica attack and the passage Of
the river--are open to public criticism, and with
regard to their opinion may possibly be divided
But this is the fact, that the commanding officer
who acted in them, when called in consultation,
agreed that they were necessary and proper, and
| fully sustained Gen. Crittenten In them.
| Fugdyes from the scene of action may have
poisoned the public mind with their marvellous
tales but it is believed that time and the truth will
fally vindicate the conduct of Gen, Crirenden in
these pressing emergencies By which be was sur
rounded. The position in which he found the ar
| my had become untenable, and he has saved IL ID
the country from an overwhelming force of the
enemy.with but small loss in number. Some great
military chfeiaiu has remarked that it takes great
general to conduct a successful retreat. In this
ease at least the enemy was outgeneraled-fo af-
ter winning the battle and investing In snch force
they ought to have made the crossing the scene oi
havoc and disaster. tt.A = y a>Nt
A MRMBrR OF THE Amy.