Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-01-24
THE BATTLE AT SOMERsET-HOW
IT WAS FOUGHT.

CINcINNATI, Jan. 23.-The Somerset cor
respondent of the Times says, at o'clock on
Sunday morning, the enemy drove in the
pickets of the tenth Indiana regiment, stationed
at the forks of the road, eight miles from Som
erset. The tenth were drawn up in line and
moved into the woods, where they were met
by the enemy, 5000 strong, who instantly
opened fire upon them Gen. Thomas imme-
diately ordered up the ninth Ohio, second
Minnesota, and fourth Kentucky, to support
the tenth Indiana, the latter holding the enc
my in check nearly half an hour before being
reinforced. The first and second Tennessee
regiments were ordered up on the right wing,
for the purpose of outfianking the enemy
Standards and Whitmores artillery in the
mean time were Smelling the enemy in the
woods
After being engaged nearly two hours, the
ninth Ohio, second Minnesota, and fourth
Kentucky made desperate bayonet charge
upon the enemy, drove them from the woods,
completely routing them, and pursuing them
to their entertainments. At the heart of the
engagement, Capt. Kinney ordered one sec.
ton of his battery within sixty yards of the
enemy's line, and opened deadly fire upon
them, which added greatly to the success of
the day. Our advance arrived within sight of
the enemy's entertainments one hour before
dark, and opened upon them with shot and
she'll. Night closing in, put stop to further
demonstrations.
AT daylight next morning, steamboat was
observed transporting troops across the Cum.
berland. Whitmores battery of Parrott guns
was brought to bear on the boat, which in a
few minutes afterwards was in flames The
tenth kentucky and fourteenth Ohio regiments
were ordered forward by Gen. Thomas to adj
vance on the enemy's breastworks. Moving
up in line of battle, and scaling the entrench.
ments, they found the camp entirely deserted,
and everything standing as when occupied by
the enemy Houses, tents, horses, mules,
wagons, baggage, cannon, ammunition, and
firearms, were found in perfect preservation.
The enemy's forces, in the attack, were led
by Crittenden and Zollicoffer, and were 5000
strong. The federal forces in the fight did not
exceed 5000.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Judge McCook
has received dispatch, informing him that his
son, Gen. Robert L. McCook, was painfully
but not dangerously wounded in the battle at
Mill Springs.
Quartermaster Houk, in dispatch to SEN
atoi Juhnson, from Somerset, says :-"Gen.
Zocoffer is killed. l know it, for have seen
his dead body. We have achieved one of the
most glorious victories on record. The rebels
Heu, leaving everything Deuluu. we nave
taken about 400 horses and 80 wagons"
CINCINNATI, Jan. 23.-Yesterday's Louis
vile journal says the instructions of General
Buell. show that he is fully master of the
situation. 1t was arranged that Gen. Thomas
should leave jamestown, and Gen. Schoepf
advance from Somerset, thus hemming Gen.
ZOllicoffer in from the west and north. Some
secession spy carried the intelligence OF Gen.
Thomas movements to the rebel camp, and
Gen. Zollicoffer, making forced march, on
Saturday afternoon reached Gen. Schoepff's
encampment early Sunday morning.
A privat' letter from Somerset says that
citizens and soldiers are Struggling in, loaded
with trophies of the battle. Our bullets were
sent with unerring aim, and the rebels were
shot in the forehead breast, and stomach.
The Union people here fioclled to the battle
field in droves, and are jubilant at the result.
1t is thought there that Gen. Crittenden is
taken, disguised as a surgeon.