Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-01-30
The Battle of Mill Spring.

STORMING ZOIIICOFFRS FORT, OR DEN"
The position chosen and fortified by
Gen. Zollicoffcr was twenty-five miles
southeast of Somerset. The Cnmber-
land river at that place is naviga-
bic stream. South Of the river is the
unimportaut post town of Mill Spring
which has given its name to the bat
tie so gallantly fought between the
rebel General Zollicoffer and the Fcdc-
raj General Thomas, and in which the
fofvBer lost his life. Zollicoffer's fore
es numbered over 5000, while the I'm
ion forces in the fight did not exceed
5000. On the 14th inst, five days
before the battle, he issued grandil-
oqucnt proclamation "To the people
Of southeastern Kentuck, )" calling upon
them to " strike for independence and
the preservation of your property and
those northern invaders Of your soil
will soon be driven across the Ohio"
1t 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. Recovering, he
had advanced anew into the State by
better route.
For some time past trap had been
preparing for Zollicoffer. 1t was ar
ranged that Gen. Thomas should leave
jamestown and Gen. Shoepff advance
from near Somerset, thus hcmming
Zollicofler in from the west and north.
Some secession spy carried the intel
ligcnce of Thomas movements to the
rebel camp, and Zollicofcr, making a
forced march on Saturday afternoon,
reached Thomas encampmcnt and at
tackled him early on Sunday morning.
The rebels drove in the pickcts of the
10th Indiana, Col. Manson, stationed
at the forks of the road a few miles
from Somerset. The 10th moved into
the road, when the whole rebel force
opened fire upon them. Gen. Thomas
promptly ordered up the 9th Ohio, Col.
Robert McCook I'd Minnesota, Col.
Van Clevc, and 4th Kentucky Col. Fry,
to the support Of the 10th Indiana, the
latter holding the enemy in check for
half an hour, before being reinforced.
The LIST and I'd Tennessee regiments
we're ordered up on the right wing,
Standards and Wetmore's Ohio bat
tcries in the meantime Smelling the
enemy in the woods.
After being engaged two hours the
9th Ohio, I'd Minnesota and 4th Ken
lucky made a magnificent and dcspc-
.ate bayonet charge upon the enemy,
and drove them from the woods, CON-
pletcly routing them. and pursuing
them to their Entertainments.
Our advance pushed rapidly for
ward and arrived within sight of the
enemy's entertainments one hour be-
fore dark and opened upon them with
shot and shell. Night closing in put
stop to further demonstrations.
At daylight next morning . steam.
boat was observed Transporting troops
across the Cumberland, when Wet
more's splendid battery Of Parrot guns
was brought to bear on the boat which
in few minutes afterwards was in
flames. Two regiments scaled the
rebel breastworks and found the camp
entirely deserted and every thing
standing as when occupied by the en-
emy. Horses, tents, mules, wagons,
baggage, cannon, ammunition and fire
arms were found in their usual camp
order, precisely as left by the fleeing
rebels.
Previous to the engagement Zolli-
Golfer felt certain of the defeat Of Gen.
Thomas, and nothing but courage and
celebrity of the latter saved him. The
rebel force was well-appointed and
three to our one.
Gen. Thomas, in his official report,
says:
"The property captured is Of great
value. amounting to eight 6-pounders,
and two Parrot guns, with caissons
filled with ammunition 500 four.horse
wagons 1900 horses and mules
boxes Of arms never opened T; and
from five hundred to thousand mus
kets; subsistence stores for the en-
tire army, and large amount Of hos
pital stores. Our loss was 80 killed
and l27 wounded. The loss of the
rebels was LA killed and buried, lie
wounded, and As prisoners not wound
ed, of whom are surgeons, and 1t.
Col. Carter Of Tennessee regiment"