Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-02-06

to law with the head of the proper bureau. 1t
is seldom that any necessity can prevent a con-
tract from being reduced to writing, and even
when made by telegraph its terms can speedily
be written and signed, and every claim forwar-
ded upon any pretended contract, of which no.
tice and copy is not filed within the period
mentioned, shall be deemed and held prima
facie fraudulent and void, and no claim there
on be allowed or paid by this Department. I'M
less upon full and satisfactory proof of its val
idity.
Moro About the Mil Spring Fight
From the official reports Of the late battle at
Mill Spring, Kentucky, and letters from the
camp, we collect some further interesting par
ticuars of a victory which does not grow less
the more we learn of it. A fugitive from the
rebel army declares their less to have been from
1000 to 1900 men, and says that hundreds were
drowned in the Cumberland in the rush to get
across and escape.
Col McCook's description of the bavonet
charge by which the field was won is as fol-
lows:-"Along the lines OF each Of Entertainments
and from the encmy's front hot and deadly
fire was opened. On the right wing of the
Minnesota regiment the contest at first was al
most hand to hand, the enemy and the Cd Min
nesota poking their guns through the same
fence at each other However, before the fight
continued long in this way, that portion of the
enemy contendng with the ID Minnesota re-
tired in good order to some rail piles, hastily
thrown together, the point from which they had
advanced upon the 4th Kentucky. This por-
ton of the enemy obstinatcy maintained its
position, and desperate fire was continued for
about thirty minutes, with seemingly doubtful
result. The importance of possessing the log
house, stable and coln-crib becoming apparent,
companies \, b. c and ID OF the 9th Chic were
ordered to flank the enemy upon the extreme
lett and obtain possession the house. This
done, still the enemy stood firm to his position
and cover. Dming this time the artillery of
the enemy constantly overshot my brigade.
Seeing the superior number of the enemy and
their bravery, | concluded the best mode of
settling the contest was to order the 9th Ohio
to charge the encmys position with the bayo-
net and turn his left flank. The order was
given the regiment to empty their guns and fix
bayonets This done, it was ordered to charge.
Every man sprang to it with alacrity and VOC
ferrous cheering. The enemy seemingly pre-
pared to resist it, but before the regiment
reached him the lines commenced to give way
but few of them stood, perhaps ten or twelve.
This broke the enemy's flank, and the whole
line gave way in great confusion, and the whole
turned into perfect rout" letter speaks
OF this charge as follows 1.-THE bayonet charge
OF the 9th Ohio WAS the most striking incident
OF the battle, and the plucky Germans continue
TO receive encomiums from all that witnessed
IT, The captured sccessansts themselves ac-
knowledge their superiority to any regiment
on their side. DR. Cliff, one of the confederate
surgeons, says that the oh swept everything
before it like mighty, resisteSs wave. About
dozen Mississippions suffered death at their
steel, probably the first rebels killed by bayo-
nets in this war. Gen Thomas highly compli.
mented the Germans for having decided the
battle by their yalor."
Col Kise of the Indiana 10th, saws in his re-
port: "Our regimental colors, which were those
presented by the ladies Of Lafayette, and horne
in triumph at the battle of Rich Mountain,
were completely torn into shreds by the bull
lets OF the enemy, | have had its scattered
fragments gathered, and intend preserving
them. Three stand of rebel colors were capt
ured by my regiment
When the rebels reached the bank Of the
river after their precipitate fight from the bat
tlefied, they rushed in crowds upon the fiat
boat that, with steamboat, formed their means
of crossing. So great was the rush upon the
former that many were pushed overheard
Others hung themselves in such numbers in the
water, holding on to the sides of the boat, that
they threatened to upset the boat, and compel
led those upon it to loosen their hold by force.
A large number rushed headlong into the river
after the boats had .lood off the bank. and tried
TO swim acrcse. Over 100 are thus supposed
to have found watory grave. The rebel cav
airy dismouuted on the bank and tried to swim
their horses over, while crossing on the boats.
The animals, however all swan back. -Four
additional pieces Of artillery have been discov-
cred, making the total number captured ~.
Nearly 200 prisoners, who had scattered through
the woods, were taken. Some scouting parties
sent out from the entertainments found the bush
on the left bank full of horses, and brought In
over POO Of them On Saturday last two COM
ponies OF the 10Th Indiana pfosSed the river
and pushed as far south as Monticello. They,
also, all came back ounted on rebel horses.
Toeyreporled thattheh flying rebels came through