The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1862-01-30
The Mill Springs Battle.
A Full Description by an eyewitness

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camp announcing that Zolllcoffsr
was advancing in force. In a>mo.
ment the entire camp was in mo,
ton, forming into line to give him
a warm reception.
The enemy advanced onthel
Mill Spring Road, on which the
camp of Wolferts Cavalry wAs1
furthest advanced. At the junction
of the Mil Spring and Somerset
Roads were the Camps of the 10th
Indiana and 4th Kentucky that
of our brigade was three-fourths
of mile off, on the Somerset Road,
toward Columbia.
Our brigade had scarcely formed
when the battle opened. This was
at seven A. M. We were then or
dered forward, to prevent any flank
movement hat the enemy might
undertake, and took position i'm
mediately in real of Colonel VOL
fert's camp. .'.Hm1 oa. i.lr
We pushed forward in line of
battle through a thick wood, OBJ
structed by dense underground, for
about a quarter of q mile, when
we came out into a corn-feId about
two hundred yards wide. Scarcely
had our men left the cover of the
woods when the enemy, who were
lying in ambush on the opposite
side of the field in another piece
of woods, opened out, pouring on
our men a shower Ct bullets. Our
commander, undaunted, formed the
two regiments, the Ninth Ohio and
Second Minnesota, in line ofbattle,
the Ninth Ohio on the right, and
the Second Minnesota on the left
of the road. ..
The enemy, concealed behind a
rail-fence, and protected by the
woods, poured in volley after vol
ley. Conspicuous at the head Of
our men was Colonel McCook, is.
suing orders and getting every
thing in complete order.
With the remark, hat the
Mississippi Tigers were making il
hot, but that we should make il
still hotter for than. he ordered
them to fire, Fl aaia'
Then we opened, and fearfully
our bullets told. Again and agall
we poured into them deadly hail
The enemy, however, were moi
idle, but returned volley tor volley
the most of which were aimed toe
high. One, low enough, wounded
: our gallant commander.
| During this time the right wing
4 of the Ninth Ohio and the left o
the Second Minnesota executed
flank movement, and by a well
: directed fire created a panic in tn,
ranks of the enemy. Then cam,
S the command, Charge bayonets-
doublc.quick, march, The Nintl
Ohio, with a loud hurrah, and TIL
Second Minnesota with an Indian
n yell, rushed forward under tn
/, heavy fire, determined to rout til
4 enemy or die in the attempt.
! The battle lasted two hours an,
a quarter, and at II o'clock the Ai
vision started in pursuit. In lin
+ of battle we marched forwar
through fields, woods and marshc,
All along our route we found evi
. dences of a precipitate retreat
I About 5 o'clock we came in sigh
# of the enemy's Notifications. Gu
IS artillery opened fire on them, whic
was only returned at intervals
:, Night put an end to hostilltie
and then for the first time tn;
c day we thought of something t
? eat.
u All night we lay on our arm
prepared to take the fertilization
u at the break of day, nut duripgt til
e night the enemy abandoned the
strong intrenchments and crosse
# the river. 1000 horses, 400 mule
j. 16 pieces of cannon, $50 wagon
y and other property, valued
u 100000, fell into our hands.
lie The enemy's loss, as far as asce
s, tanned, is: Killed 30, among whic
! are General Zollicoffer, and Lie
y tenant Bailie Peyton; wounded Is
III and prisoners l5O, among whom
lie Colonel Carter. Our loss is: Killt
Al, wounded 49,