The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-14
A Leaf from ZOl licOffer's Camp.
REBEL CoLoNEps ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.

Among the spoils of Zollicofer's camp,
was the following unfinished letter from Col.
Wood, late commandant at Knoxville. He
led his regiment, the 10th Alabama, into
battle, at Logan's Cross Roads, and com
menced to write an account of it to his wife,
which is worth printing, as it is probably a
correct account of what he saw. We are
only sorry that he was compelled to bite off
the thread of his discourse so suddenly:
A REBEL C0LoNEL's ACCOUNT OF THE FIGHT.
BUCK GROVE, KY, Jan. 10. 1862.
My DEAR Wife, wrote to you last
night, and dated my letter " the night be-
fore the battle"-this, q" 9Th night after the
battle" most terrific and tirece battle OF
over three hours, which resulted in our de-.
feat and the terrible slaughter of our troops.
For two hours the bullets fell all around
me, and sometimes passed within few
inches of my head, if may judge from the
whistling noise they made; but the protec
ting providence of God sheltered me from
harm, and 1 came off the field without a
scratch. Our regiment lost ten or fifteen
men, and there are others missing who may
be yet wandering in the woods, seeking an
opportunity to get in.
The cause of our defeat is not definitely
ascertained. Some attribute it to over
whelming numbers, they being two to our
one. Others to the fall of General Zolli-
Golfer, who was killed early in the action.
Both probably were the combined causes.
At first, and for nearly two hours, the tide
of battle was in our favor but at this
time no one seemed to have command, and
three regiments, viz: Murrays, Powell's
and mine, all OF which had been ordered up
to the place where the battle was raging,
remained in position ready to enter the
woods where the enemy were under cover
firing upon US; but no order came, at least
to me, and presume none to the other
Colonies, as both of them being in advance
of US remained in their position for nearly
one and half hours without advancing.
We were in an open space, with nothing to
shelter US except an occasional stump or
fallen tree. The Generals aid passed US
shortly after we had arrived at our position,
and told me that charge had been ordered,
that the Mississippi regiment would charge
the right wing and the Tennesseans the
left, at the same time either Cummings or
Battles would attack the center The
charge was made, and for halt an hour the
conflict was terrific. | then saw the troops
come out of the wood, in disorder and at a
run. Colonel Powell moved his regiment
off to my right and rear My men were
about to follow, when ordered them to
fhasr {ho
drive him back, or die in their tracks. At
this time fire was opened on my left flank,
and my men returned it. The fight was
becoming general, when some one told me
we were firing On our own regiments. l
ordered my men to cease firing, and ran
down to see where the enemy opened upou
US. Finding we were fanked and the enc
my within about sixty yards, l ordered our
men to ploy and take cover behind fence
about thirty yards to our right, which they
did in good order, and the fight continued
6ercely Tor fifteen or twenty minutes. l
then discovered that all the other regiments
had left the field bat mine. l had only 25O
men, and we were being pressed in front
an: on the left flank by thousands. then
ordered the men to take cover behind the
point of the hiil which we did, but finding
the other troops retreating, my men started
to follow. rallied about half of them and
turned the point of the hill, passing through
field, and Was marching up on The battle
ground, when the fight"
--" became fight" it is evident the Col.
onel was going TO say, but fled himself. The
man who can write such letter as that
under such circumstance, must be cool and
brave.