Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-02-05
CLEARFIELD, FEB. s, 1862.

BATTLE OF MILL SPRING.-A correspondent
of the Cincinnati Commercial, in giving de-
scription of the battle of Mill Spring, makes
use of the following language, which will
serve to show how gallantly the Union forces
fought on that occasion ssThe Tenth Indiana
went into the woods about quarter of mile
IN advance of their tents, to the support of
their pickets, and bravely did they support
them, too, for over half an hour, against the
whole force led against them and never te-
treated step, nor give an inch of ground,
until nearly surrounded by overwhelming
numbers; then, to save themselves from be-
ing entirely surrounded, they unwillingly gave
way. Hero was a crisis; and yell on yell went
up from the lantern -jawed Secsssionists they
thought the day was their own. But, happily,
any disastrous consequences was prevented by
tho arrival of the Fourth Kentucky and Ninth
Ohio, to the support Of the gallant Tenth.
Again our men made a stand now there was
fighting in good earnest, and the Second Min
nesota Joined in with the Tenth and Fourth
and the Ninth Ohio. Volly after volly ratified
in quick succession, and sometimes it seemed
as though there was only one continuous vol
ley, interrupted now and then by the growing
OF the eyellow pups,'' which had been brought
to bear on the enemy and when they once
commenced, they distributed their favors free
Iy in all directions, in the shape of shot and
she'll; and, gentlemen, excuse me from being
the recipient of any such favors."
The same writer also gives the following, as
the reasons, for tho battle occurring at tho
present time: "Now, to account for the battle
taking place as it did. There were eleven
rebel regiments here, two being unarmed
and Zollicoffer, who was the presiding devil,
although Crittenden had taken the command,
thought the Tenth Indiana and Kinney's Bat
terry were just two regiments by themselves,
and did not know that they were supported by
the balance of the division, which was out of
sight behind on account of the timber and
he conceived the happy idea of rushing upon
and capturing these two regiments to get their
arms to supply his own unarmed men. So he
took all the available force he had-some
5000 or 5000 men-and made the attack
with what result has already been shown. Now
this only goes to prove that, in order to put
this rebellion down, we must do something.
In this fight four of our regiments whipped
and completely routed the great army that was
under Zollicoffer, killed the old devil himself,
and may be Crittenden too, for he has not
been heard of since the battle. What lucky
thing that Zollicoffer was bold enough to at
tack our force had he not done So no baltic
would have been fought here for long time.
And this victory cannot be credited to the
skill of Brigadier General. The battle was
entirely accidentally the position was entirely
chance position, and the men themselves,
led by their Colonels, fought the ba title and
won it. The Tenth Indiana got into the fight
supporting their pickets, the Fourth Kentucky
and Ninth Ohio rushed in, without orders, to
support tho Tenth. Whether the Second Min
nesota had orders to go in or not, l do not
know. And these four regiments did all the
Sighting that was done; and that was enough
to whip the eight regiments Zollicoffer had in
the engagement. II these Brigsdier Generals
must be paid big wages by the Government,
why just pay it to them and let them stay at
home, for they arc no earthly use among us.
Let the men 60 ahead and wind up this war,
it can be done in two months, Secret-do
something"