The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-18

accouut OF tEe Dattie OF FiShtng OTeeh, eoulflDu
ted TO that paper by Mississippian who was il
the fight The narrative is well written and i.
warmly endorsed by the Courier.
- The same journal contains the Northern of6cia
account in which the loss of the enemy is given a
80 killed and l27 wounded, and our loss at liz
killed. l16 wounded and is prisoners No grea
difference, our enemies being the witnesses:
Is@sf~44 LIVINGSTON, Tenn, Jan. 25, 1862.
/ AS everything concerning the contest in Ken
tucky is of peculiar interest to you and to the
readers of your paper, propose giving you some
account of the battle of Fishing Greek, fought in
Wayne county, or the Upper Cumberland, on
Sunday, the 10Th day of this month H
1t will be remembered that some two months
ago, Brigadier General Zollicofer moved with a
portion of his command TO Mill Springs, on the
Southern bank of the Cumberland river. aud soon
after advanced across to Camp Beech Grove, on
the opposite bank, fortifyng the camp with earth
works. At Beech Grove he placed FIVE regimen is
of infantry, ten twelve pieces of artillery aud
several hundred cavalry; and at Mill Springs he
had two regiments of infantry and several hundred
cavalry. About the lst of January Maj. Gen.
Crttenden arrived and took the command. The
enemy in front occupied Somerset with Several
regiments and Columbia with an equal force.
About the second week OF this month two more
regiments arrived from Knoxville, an artillery
company with four guns, aud Brig Gen. w. Ii.
Carroll. . .. -.--
Somerset is north east of Beech Grove, and
Columbia northwest A road connects Somerset
and Columbia. From Beech Grove the road runs
north-easterly towards Somerset for five miles,
when it forks-the lower fork crossing Fishing
Greek, at what is known as the lower crossing
which is distant seven miles from Beech Grove,
H.,
running five miles into the road from Columbia to
Somerset, and from that point along with it two
miles, to the upper crossing of Fishing Creek,
which is distant six miles from Somerset. Run
ming from north to south between Somerset and
Beech Grove is Fishing Greek, with high precipi-
tous banks, and emptying into the Cumberland
river above Beech Grove. ..- ---
On the 18th Of January it Was ascertained that
large Federal force moving on the road from
Columbia to Somerset, and on the evening OF that
day camped at the point where the Beech
Grove road runs into the Columbia and Somerset
road distant from Beech Grove ten miles 1t
was also ascertained on the day that
the Federal forces from Somerset had mnved to
the lower crossing and were camped on the Somer-
set side of Fishing Greek. 1t also ascertain
ed that other renforcements were moving from
the direction of Columbia, and that the junction
Of all was intended for attack on Camp Beech
Grove. On the 18th and 18th it rained so much
that Fishing Greek could not be crossed and SO
the Somerset force Of several thousand could not
Join the force from Columbia before the 10th.
From the face of the country in front of Camp
Beech Grove there very bad range for artillery
and it could not be of very material benefit against
an attacking infantry force; and from the extent
of the front line aud the number of works to be
defended, there within the camp an insufficient
force At the time, for several weeks, bare
existence In the camp was very precarious, from
walt of provisions and forage. Regiments fire.
uuenty subsisted on one third ratons, and this
very frequently of bread alone Wayne county.
which was alone productive in this region of Ken
lucky had been exhausted, and the neghboring
counties of Tennessee could furnish nothing to
the support Of the army The condition Of the
roads and the poverty of the intervening section
rendered it impossible to transport from Knoxville,
distance of 1870 miles. The enemy from Col lum-
bia commanded the Cumberland river, and only
one boat was enabled to come up with supplies
from Nashville. With the channel of communi
cation closed the position became untenable with-
out attack. Only corn could be obtained for the
horses aud mules and this in such small quantities
that often cavalry companies were sent out on un-
shod horses which had eaten nothing for two days.
The roads in every direction were extremely bad,
and from the landing up either bank to the camp
difficult to employ wagons aud in addition to THIS
the crossing Of the river was bad in the small
ferry boats used for that purpose. Description
would fail in portraying the difficulties of this
position to one who has not seen and suffered.
BY extraordinary exertions for several days,
provisions enough had been gathered to ration the
army with bread meat, coffee and sugar for two
days-the 10Th and Goth
On the afternoon of the 18th, two cavalry COM
ranes which bad been sent out by Gen. Crltten-
den returned, reporting the position Of the enemy
unchanged and Fishing Greek 81 full that it could
not be passed q the 10Th. In view of this state
Of things il seems Gen. Crittenden determined to
march out and attack the force at the junction Of
the roads before the Somerset brigade could unite
with it. and if possible before it could be joined
by the reserve from Columbia On the afternoon
of the 18th Gen. Zollicofer remarked to the
writer that me enemy ough 10 he oHochtd, and
on that evening Gen. Crittenden called councl!
at his quarters with Gems. Zollicofer and Carroll
and the Colonels OF regiments and Captains of
artillery and Lit. Colonels of cavalry battalions,
and it aeas there unanimously agreed to make the
attack!
In perfect silence at midnight the march began
In front moved the brigade of Gen. Zollicuffer,
Consisting of the 18th Mississippi regiment, COM
manded By 1t. Col Walthall, in advance, and the
Tennessee regiments of Coionels Cummings, Battle
and Stanton, with four guns commanded by Capt.
Rutledee Then moved the brigade OF Gen.
Carroll, consisting of the Tennessee regiments of
Colonies Newman, Murray and Powell, with two
guns commanded by Capt McClung. Then
moved the 10th Alabama regiment, Col. Wood, as