The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-22
KILLED zOLLlGOFFER.
n Eyewitness .. the aa,r Describe. It.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: 'Comrade
Jesse Burke, Co. b. 14th Ohio. writes
'Zollicoffer was not killed by Col. Fry.
Jasper y. AGREES account of Mill Spring
battle is all right, but Fry's bullet lit too
high to do the job. A soldiers mimic ball
passed diagonaily up through the center
of the heart, which was what fixed him.
The above clipping from your issue of
Aug. % will disclose the object of this
communication. l was in the battle of
Mill Springs, where and when Zollicoffer
was killed: was not to exceed ID fee, from
him when he fell from his horse. At the
time l was Second Lieutenant. Co. l., 18th
KY commanding the company. At the
time Zollicoffer's forces attacked us we
were at the crossroads, eight miles from
their intrenched camp at Mill Springs.
The 10th Ind.-COl. Manson-was the first
to receive the shock of battle. They were
speedily reinforced by the 4th NY. with
one or two troops of the LIST Ky. Cav.
and East Tenn. Col. Carter. command
18th Ohio and 10th Ky. had been de
tached. tie day before. to attack small
force of the enemy - or - miles. away,
on our right somewhere. AT any rate, the
battle was raging with the forces | have
mentioned, in line. OH the Federal side.
In the heat of the engagement my COM
pany was ordered to reinforce the right
enemy was driven hack. In our endeavor
TO regain our position in the regimental
formation we had just crossed the Mill
Springs road when the enemy attacked us
with great vigor. Col. Fry. being just ut
our right rear. sitting upon his horse. in
1.-The road, ordered Gs to halt and engage
the enemy. At the moment we were en-
tangled in the top of huge fallen cak
tree. which, l must admit was quite pro
lection from the shower Of bullets that
was then coming from the enemy. The
| right of my company rested on the road
at which point | was, when Il man., ac-
companied by several others. rode from,
| the direction of the enemy, wearing white
rubber overcoat. Knowing that our Lieu
| tenant-Colonel was wearing a similar coat,
naturally thought it was he; especially
when he pointed with his left hand down
to our right in the woods, and cried out
to Col. Fry: Don't fire down there!
Those are our men, During this remark
one of my men. Ben Taylor. raised his
gun to fire at him. when / caught the
piece and said Gle is one of our officers ="
IDENTIFY discovering the mistake fired with
a pistol at Col. Fry. hitting his horse.
Immediately Col. Frv drew a holster pistol
and fired. when Zollicoffer threw up his
left arm and fell to the ground in the
middle of the road. In few minutes
the heat OF battle at this point had mo-
mentarily ceased. and Capt. Robt. NJ.
Kelly. of Co. X, of the 4th KY. and my
self. went to the PROSTATE man TO see who
he was. Kelly picked up his feldglasses
and found written uDon the bottom of the
case: Maj. - Helveta." l knew the
Major we'll: he was Of the 1st Ky. Cav.
and had been captured. and l remarked ::
1T is not Helveta." ! unbuckled the
sword from the body of the dead man. and
rs | did SO Col. Carter. of the 1st East
Tenn. rode up. and without getting off
Of his horse exclaimed: "Great God, that
is Zollicoffer." which was the first init
nation we had who the dead man was.
1t was soon known throughout the troops.
and they commenced to cut off his buttons.
etc. as mementoes. The 9th Ohio and
I'd MINI then came. taking positions on
our rieht nnd aiding to drive the enemy
from the field. KNOWING that Zolliroffar
bod heen hit by two bullets. ! questioned
TAYLOR whether he fired when I had told
him not to. and he said II did. knowing
that Won we've mistaken J" Then. either
the Colonel Of the 4th XIV. or benjamin
TAYLOR Of Go. r Of the same regiment. or
both killed Zoll;cofrer
The body of Zolli"offar. dressed in new
emit Of officers clothes furnished BY Seret-
Mai. p. BURGESS Hunt. of the 4th XIV.
with his sword. was returned TO bis fami-
" at Nashvile-N. L. TURNER, Captain.
% r. 4fh XIV