The National tribune., 1892-09-08
MILL SPRINGS.
What Troops Did the Fighting in That Well
Conducted Battle.

Conducted Battle.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: see in your
issue of June 80 that Comrade Beyland of
the 9th Ohio, in correcting the statements OF
Capt. Webster, of tho 10th KY, concerning the
participants i'm the battle of Mill Springs, in
his zeal TO justice to all parties has overdone
the thing a little in regard to two regiments,
and unintentonaly, think. neglected to do
full justice 10 three other regiments who took
part in the battle. l believe myself fully quail
fed to set Comrade Beylaud right, as / was
there on that Sunday morning, aud, in addition
to my memory OF the affair, have before me
Volume VII of the Official Records Of the War
of the Rebellion, containing the official reports
of the commanding Generals of both the Union
and Con federats forces and also their subordl-
mates reports.
The regiments that were in the hottest part
of the battle and bore the fierce onslaughts Of
the enemy, named i'll the order of their en-
trance into the contest. were: One battalion of
Woford's cavalry list Ky.) 10th Ind, 4th KY.
9th Ohio, and I'd Mimi. Kenneys, STANDARDS,
and Wetmore's batteries also took part III the
fight Gen. S. p. Carriers Brigade, belonging to
Sch9pf's command at Somerset, had crossed
Fishing Creek late in the evening of Jan. IL,
1862. aud joined us. This brigade was composed
OF three regiments--1st East Tenn, Col. r. K.
Byrd; Cd East Tenn, Col. Carter, and 18th KY,
Col. w. A. Hoskins. At the first alarm on the
morning of the 18th of January, 1862, these
regiments formed with alacrity, and were eager
to pitch into the contest; but Gen. Thomas
ordered them into line on the left of the main
position to guard the Somerset road and a pos
sible attack from that direction.
The enemy not appearing on that road, Gen.
Carter received information that the enemy
were advancing through the woods, and, liable
to turn the left flank OF the troops engaged, adj
vanced his force to meet them. The brigade
.i,,I,t
them, and they began to fall back. All three of
these regiments captured prisoners. The bat
TALON of the Michigan Mechanics and Engi-
neers and a company of the 3Sth Ohio guarded
the camp.
As eager as the 10th KY. and 18th Ohio were
to show their mettle, they were not in the
fight, though it was no fault of theirs. While
camped eight miles from the battlefield on the
night OF the 18th they had been ordered some
distance on the jamestown road to attack two
rebel regiments reported to be there, but, not
finding them, they returned to their camp on
the night of the 18th AS soon as they were
notified of the fight the next morning they
started on the double quick to the scene OF
action, but the fight was over, and they fol-
lowed on, reaching the other forces, which were
before the enemys works late in the evening.
They marched Is miles through mud and slop
in six hours.
We all remember with admiration the gal
liant bayonet charge Of the 9th OHIO and
It's valuable results, and how it hurried
the enemy's movements. My own recol-
lection always has been that it was the I'd
Mimi. that charged with them, but the
records do not show it, Col. Van Cleye the
commander of the regiment, does not mention
the bayonet charge in his report. Col. Mahlon
ID. Manson, in his report, claims that when
Col McCook ordered his 9th Ohio to charge
bayonets that Licut.-Col. Kise commanding
the 10th Iud repeated the command to his
own men, and it was splendidy executed by
both regiments.
The lst Ky. Cav. (Wolrord's) and the 10th
Ind. brought on the difficulty that morning
They were both camped in front, the 10th to
the left of the Mill Springs road and the LIST to
the right and little retired owing to the
shape Of the land. Wolfords pickets were the
first to encounter the advance of the enemy.
They had few shots fred at them the morn
ing before, which raised an alarm. On the
morning of the 10Th, when the advance of the
enemy appeared, supposing it to be only a small
squad like the one of the morning before, they
fought until they were nearly surrounded be-
fore giving back.
Our pickets were select spirits on that oc-
casion. / remember ono Of them was big
Horse" Logan, q worthy descendant of the
Indian fighting Logans who lived in the days
of Boone. He was fighting on his own family's
soil, as the battle took place in Logan's fields.
Only four companies Of Wolford's cavalry
were engaged, A, b, and III the rest were
detached, two at Somerset and six ON the Big
Sandy. Wolford commanded in person. In
order to enhance his personal appearance on
that day. his face had been undefed by water
or razor for some time and he wore a homespun
brown jeans coat, an old slouched hat and rode
an old roam horse. Little did he care for the
appreciation censure of plebeian or patrician.
In closing would remark that the 10th Ind.
and Wolfords men held the enemy in check
for about an hour before the other regiments,
which were camped at different distances in
the rear, reinforced them.-E. TARRANT Ser
geant, Co. A, 1st Ky. Cav. Liberty, Ky.