The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1862-01-30
The Battle o. CliT Springs.

The Battle o. Cliff Springs.
We publish this week complete and in
tsrrestiug accounts Of the battle of Gift
Springs. Our victory was even more
complete than at first claimed.
The battle began at daylight on Sun
day the 18th and continued for over lwl
hours, when the enemy were completely
routed and pursued to their enirsnch.
menis, distance of over twelve miles,
leaving their dead and wounded on the
field.
The enemy brought into the engage
ment eleven Regiments and fourteen pieces
of artillery. the whole Of which were me
and yanquished by four Regiments Of oul
troops, the 9Th Ohio. 10th Indiana, God
Minnesota and 4th Kentucky. f.r
Tho Con:ederates were led by Zo)licof.
fer in person, who fell early in the en-.
gagemsni, at the head Of his troops, by
the hand Of Col. Fry, Of the 4,h Ky. The
fall Of their leader seems greatly to have
disheartened the rebels aud to have added
much 70 the rout and panic which shortly
followed.
The enemy's killed. left on tho field
amounted 10 near 800, while their wound
el will perhaps exceed that number; Will
our killed do not exceed 80 and wounde
1874.
Our troops, as before stated, pursue
the rebels to their fortified camp at Mi
Springs, and night coming on, rested, cl
pscting TO renew the attack and storm .h
position a! daylight in tho mornins. Day
light found the camp abandoned. Th
enemy silently but precipita.cly I'D
the night, leaving every thing but the
skins behind, So grca, was the pani
and so eager the flight, that nothing WI
destroyed I'D cannon, not even spiGeI
1000 guns 1900 horses. 800 wagon
trunks, commisssry stores, swords, pi
tolls, everything that would 10 tho lea
burden the body or impede the legs. WEI
left behind and fell into the hunds Of OF
army. The bravery Of our men, the ga
lantry OF our officers. the completeness
tho triumph. the superiority in number
and inieriOriiy in courage and disclplil
Of the enemy, and the great advantage
the cause OF the Union will make the ba
tie Of Cliff Spring memorable in the nj
lions history.
The right wing Of Johnson's BOwlin
Green army is not only defeated but u
!ehy Destroyed, Its reorganization is
impossible as the reconstruction Of b.,
ken vase. The position at Bowling Gree
is turned, and above all the tOoy is open,
Dnl the route practicable into Tennessee, Q
ther by woy Of KnOzviAs or Nashville.
General Thomas may now turn his vi,
torious army upon Nashville. upon Il
AAnk Of johnson. or upon East T,nn
see: II Nashville is seriously menace
Bowling Green and Columbus must
Abandoned for its protection. l Kno.
vile iS reached the great artery that Civ
life TO the rebel army Of the Potomac
severed, and the rebels die for lack
bread. More than this. the brave SO
Of The mountains Of East Tennessee. W
have suffered 90 much 10 their noble a
bsrenoS to the Uuion, vill be relieve
The yoke Of oppression will be slrick
from their nseES, aud rSllyng 10 the sta
dard Of the Union thsy will sweep the o
prsSaor from the "SwitEerland oi Ame
ga" forever.
Thsse are but paris Of The advAn,ag
Of The Victory Of Gift Springs. The CO
6dsnes inspired in our men; tho teri
and LIBERALIZATION carried to the vs.
heart Of the enemy are advantages not
bS calculated. and viii make thsmSsl,
fslsknd Rsnin every future eugagems
The battle Of criE Spring has dsvsl'
ed some most important iaOIS--the snsI
sro badly orsnHissd, badly disciplin
and badly nrnsd. Their light arms VI
smooth bore Amt lock nusksts and d
guns wAilO thsii atsilleys ~as IN
smooth bore of intsriOr pa.tgrp,