Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-01-31

ed our arms. In killed ard wounded cur
loss is over hundred The rebel loss, in
killed, wounded ard prisoners. will reach
four hundred. We have captured II
pieces OF field ordnance, about geo her
ses aid mules, from3O0 to 400 wagons, the
entire camp equipage Of the whole rebel ar
my, and an almost innunerablc quantity of
small arms Of every description and pat
tern, together with 5000 to 10, 900 blank
cts besides an immense quantity Of person
al property belonging to the officers and
soldiers.
But must here pause to correct an er-
ror which have just committed in over
looking the fact, some three or four eompa-
nies of Col. Wolford's Cavalry hould be
included in the troops, under Gen. Thorn
as: and the most honorable mention should
be made of this small force, which being
on picket duty, was compelled to stand the
first shock Of the rebel advance So well
did they perform their duty at that critical
juncture, that ample time was given Gen.
1hon as to bring forward his troops in the
most perfect order, to meet the attack. =
This was done with GOODNESS worthy of
veterans; but from the Commanding Gen
cral down to the lowest subaltern-even
the privates in the ranks--ail cvinced not
only an entire freedom from fear of trepid
alton, but you could read in every mans
eye hearty good will for the work he was
about entering upon, nor did they wait
long for the moment to arrive when glory
or the grave WAS the goal of their fiery am
bition. When such meet in deadly con-
fict glory always surrounds the brow.
We cannot pause here to point to acts
of individual heroism. Every man who
fought behaved like a Zero. Nor did the
rebels show themselves destitute of cour-
age; for three dreadful hours did they press
forward their hosts upon the invincihle
ranks of the loyal army; but such was the
stubborn. invinciblo. ilnmovable courage of
our mel, that ne force seemed able to pre-
vail against them, and such was the havoc
of our well directed fire made in their
ranks at every onset, that 10 human cour-
age could withstand it. Toward the close
of the battle. General Zollicoffer lost his
life in a most diabol;cal attemp, to murder
Col. Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky. He
dashed up within 4 few PAGES rf the Col.
and calling to him, ordered him not to fire
upon certain troops beyond the hill. as
they were our own forces This was in
| tended but to divert the attention of Col
Fry for an instant, in wAioh he meant to
shoot him. In tie smoke aid din Of the
battle this internal ruse came near succee-
| ding, FOR as the colonel6 attention was
turned but for an ant. his huuan iend
fred his pistol almost in the face of the
brave colonel. The crring lead missed its
aim, and ere Zohy had time to comprehend
his defeat, the coloncl with his own haod
fired Il ball through It's heart
We have thus far emitted to say any
thing Of the artillery under Gen. Thomas,
and VIC now exceedingly regret that VIC
are unable to give the names of the gallant
officers who commanded the batteries =
But what we have sal in praise of all
who participated in the battle, we repeat
of them One shell fred from a, six pound
piece, shortly alter the fall Of Iplicotfer,
sent from six or eight of the rebels to pur-
forters, and like Job the rebels appeared
to take bat little ccmfert from it; but
evinced very wholesome dread of more of
the same sort.
For novice to describe this battle scene
would be impossible. Twas early morn
ing when the attack was made. The
plunging explosions of the artillery, the III
cessant. quick rcll of n.usketry, soon COW
cred the field with deuse cloud Of sui
phurous smoke Add to this. it was
stormy morning; Heavens artillery was
pea!ing suhlinely far in the Heavens above
the eombatants, anu the rain was pouring
down in gentle showers Through all this
obstruction to the vision, the keenest eye
could scarcsely distinguish friend from foe.
Then it was that the opposing battalions
rushed together, emptying their muskets
in deadly vollevs iii each others bosoms-
AS the conflict deepcned. and at the mo-
ment when the angel of destruction seem
ed to be riding in his fiery chariot over
every pant Of tho field. large number of
the rebels were partially screened from our
fire behind fence. from which position
they were calling our troops No sooner
was this observed by a body eff our sol
ders who seemed for the moment to be
without officers to control their movements
than, sufficient in force to accomplish the
work, they resorted to the bayonet, and
never in the history of battles. was there
more defiant or gallant charge made, nor
one which swept an enemy with more tor
rantlike velocity from tie field
About this tim. tie rebels became COM
pletyly routed !r"m tic field. and leaving
thai dead and X, Ii ,ied behind them, not
even looking for the body Of their slain
General, commenced . precipitate re-
treat upon their fortified camp, which was
about seven miles distant on the bluffs of
the Cumberland, between White Oak and
Fishing Creek. The loyal troops pressing
upon the rear and TANKS Ct their retreat,
soon turned it into what the Western Vir-
ginia boys would call "skeedaddle. BY
this means, having thrown away their
arms, side arms, knapsaeks, haversacks,
canteens, and strewn the way with their
corn pone rations they gained their camp.
Their position had been well taken The
field works and Notifications were evident
y planned by sklll:ul engineers The OPP
erntions of the day were here closed after
a brisk bomhardment of their camp, to
which the rebel batteries made but feeble
r,,,l,