The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-02-01
From the Cincinnati Gazette.

From the Cincinnati Gazette.
The Great Battle in Kentucky.
Full Details and Incidents Desper-
ate Fighting on Both Sides-Ihe
Death of ZoHicofer = Total. Roul
and Decentralization Of the Enemy.
CAxP NEAR SoMERsEr, JAM 81.
The enemy under the immediate
command of Major General Crittenden,
marched, eight regiments strong, from
their camp, last Saturday night. Their
mounted guards were skirmishing
through the greater part of the night
with ours. Col. Wolford's Cavalry
were doing outpost duty that night, and
by their behavior then, and in the bat
tie afterward, completely cleared away
the reproach which some unworthy of.
fcers have brought upon them. The
Tenth Indiana occupied wooded bill
on the right of the road. On the left
was field, stretching down the hill fol
several hundred yards. In front of the
woods was another field about twenty
acres.
The enemy formed in those two
fields, attacking the Indiana troops
both in front and upon their left flank.
A section of Captain Standards bat
terry had been brought up, and was
stationed on the road. The attack
here was made about seven O'CLOCK in
the morning. Col. Manson coming up
to the position, just after the attack
began, seeing that his men must be
overpowered before the otherregiments
could come up, ordered his men to fall
back, which they did in good order,
! fighting as they went. Capt. STANDARD
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 Tenth was stationed is an.
other field, with a steep descent to 9
ravine, and then comes another dense
forest. On the left of the road the
clearings continue to the ravine, the
sides Of which at that point are covered
with a growth of scrub oaks and Other
timber.
! After crossing the river another field
lies on the left of the road. The Tenth
retired through the field on the right o
the road, and through the woods fol
about hundred and fifty yards to The
rear of the ravine At this point Col
Fry's Fourth Kentucky came up ant
formed along the fence, which sepa
rates the road from the field on the left
There is no fence on the right of th'
road at that point. The two regiment
here formed in the shape of "V," it
point toward the enemy advancing
from the ravine, behind which they hat
formed after their temporary success il
the first attack. For nearly an hou
they tried to break that "V," but failed
What rebel regiments came through
the woods to attack the Tenth at thi
place, | have not learned. Thos
which attacked Col. Fry were Battle
Tennessee and the Fifteenth Missis
sippi, the Wigfall Rifles" and tn
Mississippi Tigers" as they loved t
call themselves. These were the crac
, regiments of the enemy, and they sus
tanned their reputation. Again an
again they charged across the field, bu
were always met by the terrible fire @
the Kentucky Fourth and driven back
Az the point Of the "V" died Gen
Zollicoffer. He fell nearer our cam
than any other man Of his army. II
was with Battles regiment, his ow
homo friends, born and brought u
around him at Nashville. A short dis
lance from him, to the right party G
: his men had been broken from thei
: comrades and were hcrding togethe
like frightened deer Col. Fry's me-
were just about to fire on them. Co
Fry himself was at the right of his reg
iment at the point of greatest danger
Gen. u. was on foot and within fey
feet of the Colonel. A gum coat con
cealed his uniform. Seeing the condi
ton of his men, as the Col. rode UP
Gen. Il. said to Col. Fry, )" Colonel, yo
would not fire upon your friends, woul
you ?" Col. f. supposed from tn
Generals manner and remark, that h
was one of our own officers, and a
once replied, Certainly not, sir;
: have no such Intention" He turne,
and rode few steps, when one of tn
Generals Aids fired at him, woundin,
his horse. Believing that he wa
tricked, Col. T. at once wheeled an
5 fired at the General. The latter raise
his hand to his breast and fell dead
Another ball struck him at the sam
moment, believe, in the arm.
Here, too, fell young Baillie Peytor
son of venerable man well known t
the nation. Young Peyton, like hi
, father, struggled long against disunior
He was Kissed and insulted in tn
streets last May for telling his love fo
the old Union.
The death of their General does nc
seem to have greatly disheartened tn
enemy. They continued their attack
with as much vehemence as ever. TIL
Second Minnesota Regiment came u
> and formed along the fence, on the lei
of the Fourth Kentucky. The rebel
still extended their line to flank us o.
that side. The Fifteenth Mississippi
charged up to the fence, and the me-
in the two regiments fought hand t.
hand, catching hold of each other
guns, and trying to drag them through
and over the fence, but it was all il
vain.
McCook's gallant Germans came NJ