The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-14
THE KENTUCKY VICTORY.
Scenes ON the Battle Field.

The following extracts from a private
letter written by gentleman who is Bril-
gade Surgeon in the army of General
Schoepf, gives graphic description of that
part OF battle which comes under a sur.
geon's notice
SOMERSET, Jan. 81, 1921 snatch one
moment this evening to write you, as well
as l can amid the multiplicity OF my duties.
l have just passed through scenes beyond
the power of pen to describe. We met the
enemy in fair fight.
As told you in my last, we were ex-
pecting it every day. We have now
"opened the ball" to perfection-setting an
example which, hope, will be followed by
our whole army and make short work Of
this rebellion.
You will remember General Thomas was
approaching US with reinforcements. Gen.
Schoepf and staff went out under the pro.
lection of cavalry escort to meet him and
make arrangements for battle. We
stayed that night and returned next morn
ing Saturday. Sunday morning we had
dispatches from General Thomas en-
envy were preparing to attack"
General Schoepff ordered me to be in
readiness to 60 on with him. Regimental
surgeons, ambulancss, instruments, &c. &c.
were soon in order. We all started toge-
Their. We looked well and felt well. l
dressed just as you have seen nae when 90.
ing for days fishing or gunning-my only
badge my green sash. The other surgeons
were in full dress, and were much surprised
at my flannel coat, coarse heavy boots tout.
side my pants), and old soft hat. Soon af-
ter starting we heard cannonading. The
General said l might 60 on in advance, as
my services might be needed took three
or four surgeons, pushed on and reached
the battle, which was raging furiousIy; and
oh, how we'll my beautiful horse behaved |!
he seemingly knew as we'll as what was
going on.
The excitement of the scene quelled all
fear. Our men deliberately threw off their
overcoats, formed in line of battle, marched
right up to work as if on dress parade. 1t
was magnificent As soon as the men be-
gan to fall the surgeons were at work, and
they all did well.
For three hours the firing was iDcessant
on both siaes-balls flying like hailstones,
cutting off limbs and branches of trees; the
roaring of cannon and whistling of shells
was awful.
When our reinforcements reached the
field the enemy began to fall back. We
followed them up closely and drove them
into their intrenchments before shutdown.
As they retreated we were attending to
their wounded as well as our own.
l ordered them removed to the buildings
within mile of the ground. Barns, hou-
ses, shops, huts, tents, we're all thus occu-
pied.
We remained with the wounded and dy-
ing all that night, and followed the retiring
line of battle the next day to their intrench-
ments few more shots from our artillery
drove what remained of the brave Zollicof-
fer's army across the Cumberland.
They fought well and were sure of beat
ing US, but are now completely dishearten.
ed and disbanded. So precipitous was their
fight that most of their arms, all their
transportation trains Zone thousand horses
or more), all their cannon, ammunition,
commissary and hospital stores-everything
pertaining to the army-fell into our hands.
In going over the field l found General
Zollicofer, fine, noble looking man,
stretched in death.
We took large number Of prisoners,
among them five surgeons-one a brigade
surgeon on Zollicofer's staff, and gentle
manly fellow be is too. They were all set
at work assisting our own surgeons.
performed the first amputation in. a
blacksmith's shop. The gratitude express.
ed by these poor wounded and dying men
has done me more good than all have ever
experienced before.
One poor ssecesh' soldier from Mississippi
had an arm taken of, and one of the Ala
bama men a leg. They said had they
known they were fighting such men as they
found us 1.-THE surgeons) to be, they would
never have taken gun in hand. And
when our men were ordered to give them
something to eat, and brandy to those who
were faint and exhausted, tears of gratitude
filled their eyes Some inquired what we
thought of their wounds, and when told
they were mortal and they could live but q
few hours, asked for chaplain, who was
Immediately sent to them. Such scenes
would soften the hardest heart.
have been two nights with scarcely any
sleep, and that on q wet blanket on the
ground. You cannot conceive of such
rain and mud. My good horse has had to
fare with his master. could find nothing
for him to eat; he was hitched up all night
to a tree in the rain. To-day be sank 60
deep in the mud my feet touched the ground
l eat from last night till four o'clock thif
r. n. only q small bit Of dry biscuit and a
tin cup Of black toa