, 1862-02-04
THE DEFEAT 0F::ZoLIiC0FFER
.---- -
The Battle Of MIL Spring.
OFFICIAL REPORTS OF COM.
MANDERS.

however, will be read with interest:
REPORT 0F, THE, THIRD BRIGADE.
HEAnqrARrEns 3D. BR1aApE, tsT Division, +
DErAH1HEfT OF TIE ONO, - s. +
:; SOMERSET, January u, l8sa-- |
Bfigadier General G.: II: 1ApsHas,7 C0an.a1ds4q 1
!. Fiet Dtraeion = :: = =. =. II
SIR R:-T hive the honor to respectfully sub !
NIT the following report of the part which my !
brigade took IN the battle Of the Cumberland
on the 18th inst
Shortly before. Z 4. NJ, Colonel Munspn in i
formed me that the enemy had driven in his |
pfckets and were approaching in force. That |
portion Of my brigade with me- the 9th Ohio !
and the I'd Minnesota regiments, formed /
Mill Spring and Columbia road and Immediate
y In rear Of Wetmore's battery. The 9th Ohio
On the hight and the I'd Minnesota on the left |
Of the Mil Spring road.
From this point ordered a company Of the
9th Ohio to skirmish the woods to prevent
any funk movement Of the enemy.
Shortly after this Col. Munson, commanding
the Cd Brigade in person, informed me that
the enemy was in force and In position on the
top Of the next hill beyond the woods, and
that they forced him to retire. ), =.
woods II line of battle, sEirting tie
Mil Spring road. The march Of the
Ed minnesota regiment was soon OBJ
structed By the 10Th Indiana, which was
scattered through the woods waiting for am
Null1LlDu. Ill llu0L VI t44EIu l. 6AN Llt Eli
Kentucky, engaging the enemy, but evidently
retiring. At tlis moment the enemy, with
shouts, advanced on them about one hundred
yards and took position within the field, on
the hill top, near the second fence from the
woods. ordered the % Minnesota regiment
to move by the flank until 1t had passed the
10th Indiana and 9TH Kentucky, and then de-
ploy to the left Of the 1oad. ordered the 9th
Ohio regiment to move through the first corn
field on the right Of the road, and ta}ze posi-
tion at the further fence, selecting the best
cover possible,
The position Of the Minnesota regiment
covered the ground formerly occupied by the
10th Indiana and the 4th Kentucky, which
brought their right flank within about ten feet
Of the enemy, when be had h;s advanced on the
checked an attempt on the part Of the enemy
to flank the position taken by the I'd Mime
sofa, and consequently brought the left wing
almost against the. enemy, where he was
stationed behind straw stacks and piles Of
fence Tails. Another regiment was 'sta. a:s
| Ohio, well covered By fence and
come woods, a small field not more than
| eighty yards wide intervening between the po-
eitions- The enemy also Lad possession Of q
| small. log house, stable and corn-crib about
50yards in front Of the 9th Ohio. Along the
cnemy's front, a hot and deadly fire was
opened.
On the right wing of the I'd Minnesota rcssi-
| ment the contest was at first almost hand to
| poking their guns through the same fence at
HI However, ] before the fight continued long
in this way, that portion Of the enemy con
| tending with the Second Minnesota regi.
ment retired in good order to some rail
which they had advanced upon the 4th Ken
tucky. This portion Of tile enemy obstinatelJ
maintaining its position, ,andthe balance remain
| ing as before described, a desperate fire waE
ingly doubtful result. The importance q
possessing the log house, stable and corn crit
being apparent, companies A, B, G and D o
the 9Th Ohio were ordered to flank the enemy
on the extreme left, and obtain possession o
the: house. This done, still the enem,,
During this time the artillery Of the enc
| my constantly oyershot my brigade
/ Seeing the superior number Of the cnem,
and their bravery, concluded the best mod
Of settling the contest was to order the 9tl
Ohio regiment to charge the cnemy's position
The order was givcu to the regiment to cmpt
their guns and fix bayonets. This done,
was ordered to charge. Every man sprang t
) it with alacrity and Vociferous cheering. I'll
enemy seemingly prepared to resist it, bu
. menced to give way; but tew Of them 6too
possibly ten or twelve.
This took the enemy's flank, and the whol
line gave way in great confusion, and tn
| whole turned into perfect rout. As 500
as could form the regiments OF my brigade
;; pursued the enemy to the hospital, Whe
i | you Joined the advance. l then moved m
command forward, under orders, in line I
: battle to the foot Of Mouldin's HILL passiu
on the way one abandoned cannon. The ne.
| day We marched into the deserted works Of IL
| enemy, and on the following day returned
, our camp. At the time Of the first advaue
: Of the 9Th Ohio, 4 was shot through the right k
below the knec;three other t>aflspassed throue
:. my horse, and another through my ovcrco3
= got to the hospital Of the enemy. Abont Il
Same time was shot In the leg my Add
camp, Andrew s. Burt, was wounded in Il
J. side.
c Too much praise cannot be awarded to Il
Q company and non-comnissI stoned officers Of u
= been called out before breakfast and had n
n tasted food all day, they conducted thcmsely
IT." throughout like veterans, obeying each col
Q n,and and executing every movements If Ii
s were on parade. Although all the officers
J, the command eyinced the greatest coura,
and deported themselves under fire In pr
;. per so1dlerly manner, were I to fill to speci
| some of them it would be great injustie
Is Lieut.. Andrew s. Burt, Aid-de-canp, Of t
u 18th 0. 8; Infantry; Hunter Brooks, priya1
u / u SkuE +.uA N4uuC60EA1 l4A fOlAAlCC1 -11t-A
camp Minor Gustayus Kaemomeraling, Coz
3 mandipg the 9th Ohio; Capt. Chas. josep
n commanding Co. "A; Captain: Freded
'e Schroeder, Co. D; George e. Harris, Adjuta
b Of the 9th Ohio Regiment; Col. e. 2. Y
u C1eve James George, Lieut.. Col and All
v Regiment, each displayed great galor a
le judgment in the discharge Of their respect
1t duties, so much SO in my judgmcntas to plt
% this country and every. honest friend thcr
D. under obligations to them
e. In conclusion, permit nc, siI, to consra
4 late you On the victory achieved, and allow
ID to express the hope that our future efforts =
r. be crowned with the same success
ut Attached you will find the number Of
~ force sng engaged and also list Of the killed
ae lam respectfully yours,
" ROBERT McCOOE,
i'd Col. Commanding
I'd :. MARTIN Brown, Act'g Asst Att Gen..
&c REPORT oF SECOND MINNESOTA REGIMEN
~ CM. Robert McooE, 9tt OHIO, Commanding "a
- Brigade, First Dirasion, Department cfthe Oh
~ SIR: 1haye the honor to submit my rep
~ ment IN the action Of the Cumberland on
19,h inst: About o'clock on the morn
| of that dag, and before breakfast, WIS
: formed by Col. Munson Of the 10Th India
in- commanding the I'd Brigade Of our Divisi
ck | that the enemy were advancing in force
IS TINT he was holding them in check, and tia
it was the order of Gen Thomas that I sho
To- ! form my regiment and march mmediatel!
N. | the scene Of action.
Cor Within ten minutes we left our camp
re-, were marching towards the enemy. Arrly
nd at Logan's field, by your order VIC halted
on line OF battle, supporting Standards batt
Ike | which was returning the fire Of the cnen
lis guns, whose balls and shells were falling
g ue.
) As soon as the 9th Ohio came sup and
he taken its position on our right, We contin
ere | to march, and after proceeding about La
I'M mile we came upon the enemy, who y
md | posted behind fence along road, hey
ice which was IN open field broken BY rayf
ON The enemy opened upon us a calling
He fought desperately, and'a hand to hand t
aw- en51cd which lasted about thirty minutes.
ON front and afterwards aanked on their lef
ad. the 9th Ohio, and on their right by a por
Oh: of our left, who, by their Vel. directed
lip. drove them from behind: their hiding pla
i'm gave way, leaving a large number Of their
icr, and wounded on the field. We Joined In
pursuit, which continued till near SUI
.. when VIC rested on our arms during the nj
Tho next morning We marched into t
" works which we found deserted. Six hun
/, Of my regiment were In the engagen
~. twelve. Of whom were killed and Il
one wounded.
uty ~ am well satisfied with the conduct oi
ome INC entire command during the long and {
sen ss,en engagement in which they took part. "
tnis | ali behave 80 well have no desire to =
out. indiv;dunl d;stinctIon.
nce Vcrv resnecifn11v your oh,t servant,
Eder r. r, VAN C1EyE
lnee llnee Col Commanding ed MINI. Fo
hall Loss of -so AiS S.shsoiA hho4AhaA'
.t1: COMPANY B-Eil]ed pEiyates H. c. Rcypol