, 1862-01-24
Stornling Of zollicotfer's Den.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF THE FIGHT.
Gallant Bayonet Charges---Utter
Rout of the Rebels.
The Morale Of the Battle and the
Effects to Follow.

victory.
We have already given the leading topo-
graphical features Of the position chosen and
fortified By Gen. Zollicoder. It was twenty
two miles southeast Of Somerset, where in the
mountainous banks on each side tho Cuuaber-
land, there nayiguble stream, he had fortified
the principal hills commanding all approaches
by the river from both directions, as well as
through the valleys of White Oak Creek, on
the north side, and Meadow Creek on the
south. South Of the river the unimpo post
town OF Mill Spring is located, which has
given its name to this battle, not because tic
hattie was there principally fought, but be-
cause General Thomas pushed his advantage |
and driving his enemy beyond the
river, paused At NIL Spring to dictate
his dispatch announcin. the victory.
Zollicoffer appeared on the south bank Of the
Cumberland, with three Tennessee and one
Mississippi regiments, and battery Of artil-
lery, after leaving two regiments behind for
tic defense Of Cumberland Gap, and was af
tcrwards reinforced by brigade Of three regi |
mcnts Of infantry from Bowling Green, go |
that his strength was near eight thousand. |
lie issued, on the l4th inst, five days before |
the fight, granliloYuent proclamation st 70 |
The people Of Southeastern Kentucky" calling |
upon them to
Strike with lis for independence and tle prescr-
vation OF your property, and those Northern inya-
lsrs Of your soil will soon be driven across the
Ohio
It is still fresh in the minds Of the people
how terribly he was beaten at Crab Orchard,
two months since, and what horrors attended !
the retreat Of his shattered forces. Recover
ins, he had advanced anew into the State, by
better route. It was his faYoritc idea to win
ter in the Blue Grass region, but lie chose his
t<den,'' rs it was called, as point to be main
tanned at all hazards and against all odds HI
once pushed across the river in the movement
before which Col. Hoskins, of the 12th Ken
t1lcky, retired eight miles, where the lattcrmet
rcin1orccmcnts hurried forward by General
Shoepf, when Zo1licoder, not liking the pros
pect he had before him Of another Wildcat
affair, concluded TO return to tic other shore
again. great stampede Of the citizens from
Somerset was caused by the fear Of battle
taking place near the town. Gen. Shocp1's
pickcts had had skirnish on the 10th with
the advance Of Gen Zolicoffcr, and had been
driven in with q loss Of ten men.
Since tlat time the rebel General Had been
held in cheek by Shoepff's force, originally
consisting Of lie Eth Kentucky, 18th Ohio,
: cc5th Ohio, and 3Sth Ohio, and recently strong
J, ly reinforced. III some respects Zollicoffcr
!: had great advantages for field fighting. Our
: soldiers ut Somerset complained that they had
not single company of cavalry to resist the
onslaught Of Zollicofer's 1, 500 cavalry.
Tc1 a. F.x1,4
coed 5000.
Gen. Shoeptf was unable to bring his COM
mand up to bear any part in the fight, on ac-
: count OF the bad condition Of the roads and
: the precautions taken by Zollicoffer to guard
all the avenues TO his camp by abattis or ir-
irregular distractions Of 1clied trees and rocks.
But for this he would hare caught the rchels
in their rear, prevented their retreat to their
intrcnchmcnts, and compelled the surrender
Of the whole force.
; The rebel retreat was 50 complete panic
tlat they did not attempt to destroy anything,
for they were fearful Of burning their stores
lest the blaze Of confagration should Light the
Federal artillery, and invite storm of the iron
hail they had so newly learned to dread.
To the credit Of Gen. Thonaas's troops it
should be added, that some Of the regiments
most gallant and during in the fight, advanced
in forced march of twenty-five miles over
horrible roads, to reach Gen. Thonlas's camp,
which, until ten days since, had ;bcen at Co.
lumbia, Adair county, about forty miles from
the Tennessee line, and almost directly east Of
Bowling Green, Zollicot1cr being thus placed
almost directly between Columbia aud Lon
GS1, M 1,,,fJ, rf @,1,1 E,,I,
were stationed. From this camp Gen. Thom-
us had moved forward by TIC jamestown road,
with the apparent intention Of getting iuto
the rear Of Zollicoi!rr, cutting OIL bis retreat
and 1:@yipg his force ZullcotIer, ascertain
i,lsg the natnre Of the movement, aud seeing
that he must abandon his position or he sur
rounded, boldly determined to attack his enc
mics i'll detail, and suddenly marched to meet
Thomas. The rebel mounted force was repre-
scented as very we'll armed and equipped. The
Eel'el infantry was armed with Enfield rifles
and sc7ylcc1blc smooth bore United States
lnuskets, but some Irregular bodies were armed
with shot-guns and such other weapons Us
they could pick up.
For some time past the trap has been pre-
pairing for Zollicof1cr. Il was arranged that
Gen. Thomas should leave jamestown and
Gen. Slocpr advance from near Somerset,
thus he1n1ning Zollicotfcr in from the west
and north Some secession spy c..r7::.d The
intelligence OF Thonas's movements TO the
rebei camp, and Zollicotfcr, making i freed
march on Saturday afternoon, reached Thun-
ass cnc:mpu1cnt and attacked ii early on Sum
day morning. at seven o'clock Sunday morn
ing, the enemy drove in the plckcts Of the
10Th Indiana, Col. Manson, stationed ut the
forks Of the road, eight miles from Somerset,
The 10th we're drawn up in line of battle, and
moved into the road, where they were met by
the enemy, six thousand strong, who Instantly
opened upon them.
Gen. Thomas Immediately ordered up the
9Th Ohio, Col. Robt. 3IcCook; ed Minnesota,
Col. Van C1eve, and 4th Kentucky, Col Fry,
to the support Of the 10th Indiana, the latter
with cool bravery holding the enemy in check
nearly half an hour before being reinforced.
The LIST and I'd Tennessee regiments were or
dered up OH the right wing, for the purpose Of
outaanking the enemy, Standards and Whct-
{ morc's OHIO batteries in the meantime she'll
ing the enemy in the woods.
After being engaged nearly two hours, the
oli4 SAAot Ia a11anSsbtA, aAu 7tu hcUluEky,
made 4 magnificent aud desperate bayonet
charge upon the enemy, and drove them from
the woods, completely routing and pursuing
. them to their eutrenclunents.
At the heat Of the engagement Captain Kin
ney ordered ono section of his Ohio battery to
within sixty yards Of the ene1ny's line and
= opened deadly canister fire upon them at
: short range with terrific effect, which added
!, greatly to the success OF the day.
!, -onr advance pushed rapidly forward and ar.
rlved within sight OF the enemy's ent1cncn'
= / ments one hour before dark and opened upon
> them with shot and shell.
4 Night closing In put a stop to further de,
: monstrations. At daylight next morning .
: steamboat WAS observed transporting troops
f across the Cumberland, when Wetmorc,s
: splendid battery Of Parrott guns was brought
to bear on tue boat which in a few minutes Ut
!, forwards was in flames.
. Tic 10th Kentucky, Col Harlan, and 14tl
a Ohio, Colstcedman, wcrc ordered By Genera
Thomas 10 advance On the cnemy's breast
4 works Moving up in perfect and steady lin
), Of battle and scaling the entertainments, the.
= found tile camp entirely deserted and every
5 thing standing as when occupied By the enc
:. my Horses, tents, mules, wagons, baggage