The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-05
THE BATTLE OF FISHING CREEK.

The Nashville Patriot publishes the following
account of the battle of Fishing Creek, derived
from Private Morris, of Colonel McNairy's Cav
airy Battalion: ..aHa - .s4a
1t seems that Gems Crittenden and Zollicofer
learned Saturday last, that the enemy had
thrown a force of three thousand men across
Fishing Greek leaving the remainder of his forces
on the opposite side. The creek was much
swollen by the recent heavy rains and was diff
cult to cross. Gen. Crittenden, who was in COM
mand determined to attack and cut off the encmy's
advance if possible, before they were reinforced.
He accordingly ordered Gen Xollicofer forward
with his brigade Saturday night, following him.
self with the remainder of the army At
O'Clock Sunday morning, Gen. Zollicoffcrg dis
covered the enemy in large force, estimated at
twenty thousand, the whole having succeeded in
crossing the creek, and Immediately in his front.
The engagement was shortly commenced, and, in
short time became general. Ii lasted for sew
eral hours terminating in the defeat of our forces,
who were driven back to their entertainments,
from which they were forced to retire at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon After this the army fell back
across The Cumberland. under the lead of Gen.
Carroll Gen Zollcofer was killed early in the
action. rss. .f.. .Ea r. . --.afa.saa
Our Infprwant says thai Gen Zoicoffer mistook
a Kentucky or Ohio regiment which had opened
fle upon our forces for one Of our regiments
firing upon others through mistake, and tgallobed
forward, with his staff, to order them to desist,
not discovering his error till he was 10 their
midst. He Immediately drew his sword and dis
patckad the Colonel to whom nc was nbout to give
orders, when he fred upon and fell pierced
with many balls rf ss r w1E .s T. 8EEss rgs
d. Morris does not believe that Gen lCrtten.
den was wounded, stated By Capt. Nonsarrat
as he was with hini after the fight saw wound,
and heard him make no complaint. s.sFsf sasT b. c
Col. Battles Twentieth Tennessee and Col.
Statlam's Fifteenth Mississippi bore the brunt of
the fight and suffered severely, our chief loss
being in these noble regiments ,tf frsl
Rutledge's battery Of artillery was lost, together
With the horses, :ents, provisoes, camp equipage,
wagons, &c The loss Of these things was Of very
serious disadvantage to the army. as the country
v hich they must fall back upon is almost entirely
destitute The loss Of the enemy in killed and
wounded is SAID to be only Sc. Is e.sas.
The Nashville Gazette says: af's Eaa br3ss51a
General Zollicofer advanced to within a short
distance of an Ohio regiment, which had taken
position at a point unknown to him, and which
he supposed to be one of his own regiments The
first intmatinn lie had of his dangerous position
was received when il was too late here's old
ZolIicof<r" cried out several Of the YanLes regf-
nrcnt in front Of him ."KilI hirng' and in an
instant their pieces were Ievelled at hissperson
At that moment Henry NJ. Foge, Aid 10 Gen.
Zollicoffer drew his revolver and fred killing the
person who first recognized Gen. z. With the
most perfect GOODNESS Gen. q. approached to the
enemy and drawing his sabre, cut the head Of
the Lincoln Colonel from bis shoulders. As soon
as this was done, twenty bullets pierced the body
of our gallant leader and Gen. ZolIicofer fell from
his horse mangled corpse. 4. s...