The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-01-30
The Battle of Somerset.


A correspondent Of the Cincinnati Ga.
zette writes as follows under date Of Jan
nary 2Ist.. from camp near Somerset, re
specting the recent battle:
The 10th Indiana occupied wooded
hill on the right of the road. On the left
was field, stretching down the hill for
several hundred yards. In front of the
woods was another field of about twenty
acres.
The enemy. formed in those two fields.
attacking the Indiana troops both in front
and upon their lef! flank. A section Of
Capt. Strandart's battery had been brought
up and was stationed in the road. Tie
attack here was made about 7 o'clock in
the morning. Col. Mason coming up to
the position just after the attack began.
and seeing that his men mus. be over
powered before the other regiments could
come up. ordered his men to fall Lack,
which they did in good order. fighting as
they went. Capt. Strandar; reluctantly
gave up the privilege of giving the enemy
one good blizzard from that point, and
retired too.
Immediately to the rear Of the woods
where the 10Th was stationed is another
field, with steep decent 20 a ravine, and
then comes another Sc forest. On the
left of the road the clearings continue to
the ravine. the sides Of which at that
point are covered with growth of scrub
oaks and other timber
After crossing the river another field
lies on the left Of the road The 10th re-
tired through the field on the right of the
road, and through the woods Gor about
hundred and fifty yards to he rear of
the ravine At this point, Colonel Fry's
4th Kentucky came up and formed along
the fence, which separates the road from
the field on the left. There is no fence
on the right of the road at this point. The
two regiments here formed in the shape ot
a " its point toward the enemy al.
vancing from the ravine, behind which
they hal reformed after their temporary
success in the first attack. For nearly an
hour they tried to break tina, " but fail
ed.
What rebel regiments came through the
woods TO attack the 10Th al this place, [
have not learned. Those that attacked
Colonel Fry were Battles Tennessee and
the 18th Mississippi. the 'Wighll Rifles.
and the Mississippi Tigers as they
loved to call themselves The we're the
crack regiments Of the enemy. and they
sustained their reputation. Again and
again they charged across the field, bu.
were always met by the terrible fire Of the
Kentucky 4th and driven back
There Zollicolfer fell but the death of
their General does not seem tc have great.
ly disheartened the enemy. They con-
!uued their attacks with as much vehe.
mence as ever. TIE % Minnesota regi.
ment came up and formed along the fence,
on the left of the 4th Kentucky. The rebels
still extended their line 10 flank us on that
side. The 18th Mississippi charged up to
the fence, and the men in the two regi-
ments fought hand to hand. catching hold
of each others guns. and trying to drag
them through and over the fenco, but it
was all in vain.
McCook's gallant Dutchman came up
to support the 10Th, forming on their
right, and with them driving the enemy
out of the woods. over the ravine. up the
hill. across the field To the right OF the
road The l4th Ohio, which. with the
9th. had marched all night to get TO the
battle, together with two East Tennessee
and the 18th Kentucky regiments. were
coming up. The enemy themselves were
in danger of being ouflanked and cut of
from their retreat. Slrandart's battery
was in full play, with deadly effect. on
their center. Kmney's and Whitmore' S
were advancing.
There was no hel Up for it; the day was
lost to the rebels. and they must retreat.
They were pushed back. flying as they
wen! across the fields. Our deadly MIME
balls told learfully on them, yet the loss
was not all theirs. Many of our brave
fellows dropped. Col. Woolford's horse
was shot under him, as he charged upon
and his horse shot under him.
i | rode over the battlefield ia the even
lug. Our men were burying the dead,