for several days was actively engaged in scouring the country and
endeavoring to ascertain the position and strength of the rebel forces.
He found that Colonel Poindexter was recruiting in various places in the
county, and that he was encamped with his principal force, of from five
to seven hundred men, on Silver Creek, and had other camps to reinforce
him when ready to move, to the number of from twelve to fifteen hundred
men.
They further reported that he had pledged himself to his men that he
would _clean out_ the Federals in the county of Howard in a very few
days. Night after night was selected to surprise the Union camp with his
whole force, but through some mishap they never appeared. On the morning
of January 8th, all was in motion in the Federal camp, under orders from
Major Torrence to hold themselves in readiness to move with all their
able-bodied men at an early hour. They took up their line of march for
Roanoke, and, after moving a few miles, were joined by Major Hubbard’s
command. The forces now comprised a portion of Merrill’s horse, under
Major Hunt, one company of the Fourth Ohio, under Captain Foster, a part
of the Missouri First, under Major Hubbard, and four companies of the
First Iowa, under Major Torrence. After passing the town of Roanoke, the
whole column moved rapidly about five miles, and halted to have position
and duties assigned to the several commands. Learning that the enemy
were in a strong position on the Creek, where it probably would be
impossible to charge them with mounted men, it was determined to
dismount and fight as infantry.
Captain Foster was assigned the advance, followed by Merrill’s Horse and
the Missouri First, all armed with carbines. The First Iowa were to make
a descent upon the camp with drawn sabers, and if impossible to make a
charge mounted, they were to dismount and move on foot. Lieutenant
Dustin, of the First Iowa, with ten men, formed the advance guard. All
being in readiness, they moved forward very rapidly, and followed the
tortuous windings of a road leading through narrow lanes and thick
timber, till the sharp crack of a rifle warned them that they were upon
the rebel pickets. This was the signal to rush forward, which was done.
On, on they pushed, through underbrush and defiles, till the advanced
guard rushed to the entrance of their camp, and found the enemy drawn up
in line of battle. It was now found that the thick timber and underbrush
forbade a charge upon the camp. The order to dismount passed along the
lines, and a column of armed infantry emerged from the lines on the
roadside, ready for the onset. The battle now commenced in earnest, and
volley after volley of musketry told that the work of death had begun.
The enemy rushed from their line of battle, after their second volley,
into the intrenchment formed by the creek, and behind trees, logs, etc.,
opened fire upon the Union lines, which was promptly answered by their
forces, armed with carbines, by a continued fire. Major Torrence now
ordered his men forward with revolver and sabre, to make a charge on the
camp; and with a yell running wildly along their lines they advanced, in
the face of the enemy’s fire, and rushed into their camp. So great was
the eagerness to move forward, that three companies claimed the honor of
being first in camp.
The enemy now gave way tumultuously, and ran from their camp, leaving
guns, horses, camp equipage, powder, and a large quantity of new
clothing for men in Price’s army. It was a complete rout, as the
appearance of the camp fully attested. It was now nearly dark, with a
heavy fog, and fearing that the enemy had only retired as a ruse to
rally and come to the attack again, the order was given to destroy the
whole camp and equipage. The work of destruction was soon
complete—wagons, saddles, tents, blankets, clothing, etc., were gathered
up, flung on the fires, and soon became one heap of burning ruins. The
Federals now looked up their dead and wounded, and cared for them. The
enemy’s dead lay in all portions of the camp, and the groans of their
dying mingled with the exultant shouts of the victors. It was a fearful
struggle, as the soldiers all knew that they never could retreat, and it
was victory or death to them. The cool courage and gallant bearing of
the officers in command, were worthy of Americans.
The loss of the enemy was 12 killed, 22 wounded and 15 prisoners. That
of the Federals 3 killed and 10 wounded.
[Illustration: ]
BATTLE OF MILL SPRING, AT LOGAN’S CROSS-ROADS, KY.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 1862.
This battle was the first of the series of splendid triumphs that
occurred early in the year 1862, which resulted in severe losses to the
rebel armies of the West, both in men and material. It was the first
breach in their well-planned line of defence, by which the right wing of
the Confederate army of the West was broken, and their great stronghold
at Bowling Green, the centre of their operations, laid open to the
advancing army of the Union.
After the discomfiture of Zollicoffer in his attack on the camp of
General Schoepf, at Camp Wildcat, on the 21st of October, he left two
regiments to defend the post at Cumberland Gap, and occupied a position
on the Cumberland river, opposite Mill Spring, at the mouth of White Oak
Creek. Here he was engaged in fortifying this most advantageous natural
position, and in recruiting and organizing an army, which was now
formidable in numbers, and whose frequent forays had rendered his name a
terror to the loyal inhabitants of that region.
The rebel stronghold was familiarly known among the inhabitants as
“Zollicoffer’s Den.” It was situated on the north bank of the
Cumberland, where it is intersected by White Oak Creek. The country for
two miles from the river is entirely clear, and broken into hills of
imposing altitude. Six of these hills, forming a picturesque range,
commanded each other and the entire approach to the camp for miles
around. On these hills Zollicoffer had raised breastworks and redoubts.
The south side of the river, commanding the entire camp, was also well
fortified.
On the 6th of January the rebel Major-General George B. Crittenden,
commanding the division to which Zollicoffer’s brigade was attached,
arrived at Mill Spring, and established his headquarters. He brought to
his position three Tennessee and one Mississippi regiment, and was
afterwards reinforced by three regiments from Bowling Green, and still
more recently by some fifteen hundred Virginia troops from Knoxville.
This gave him, all told, over ten thousand men. A very effective portion
of his force was a body of cavalry, from two thousand to three thousand
strong, in which he was superior to General Thomas, but which was of no
service to him in the engagement.
General Buell, the Federal commander in Kentucky, having now at his
disposal a competent army to commence offensive operations, ordered
General Thomas to advance with his division against General Crittenden’s
position at Mill Spring. With two brigades under his command General
Thomas broke up camp near Lebanon and marched, by way of Columbia,
toward the rebel stronghold. On Thursday, the 16th of January, the Ninth
Ohio (German), Colonel McCook, brother of the General in command at
Mumfordsville, the Second Minnesota, Colonel Van Clear; Tenth Indiana,
Colonel Manson; Fourth Kentucky, Colonel (formerly Judge) Fry of
Danville, and Colonel Wolford’s Kentucky Cavalry, and one battery, with
General Thomas and staff, arrived after a most fatiguing march of many
days. They came in incessant rain, over horrid roads, via Jamestown, at
a point about eight miles south-west of Somerset, on the road leading to
Hart’s Ford, and the rebel intrenchments, and pitched their tents near a
fork of country roads, upon what is known all through that section as
“Logan’s place,” a very extensive plantation of several thousand acres.
On Friday, the Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Stedman, and the Tenth Kentucky,
Colonel Harlan, three detached companies of the First regiment of
Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and an Ohio battery, reached within
eight miles north-west of the position of General Thomas. After
undergoing indescribable hardships in making their way on a direct line,
through the wild, rugged, heavily-timbered, and almost untravelled
country intervening between that point and Columbia—(they had to
construct a road as they went)—they encamped there.
General Schoepf’s command was stationed at the time the above seven and
a half regiments arrived at a short distance south-west of Somerset. It
comprised the Seventeenth, Thirty-first, Thirty-fifth and Thirty-eighth
Ohio, the Twelfth Kentucky, Colonel Haskins, the First and Second
Tennessee regiments, some companies of cavalry, and two batteries. On
Saturday morning, in accordance with orders received the previous
evening, that part of General Schoepf’s command constituting General
Carter’s brigade, consisting of the Twelfth Kentucky, the First and
Second Tennessee, and Captain W. E. Standart’s battery, left their
camps, with twenty-four hours’ rations, and proceeded five miles on the
Columbia road to Fishing Creek, where they halted, awaiting further
orders. At five o’clock they were ordered to join General Thomas’ main
body at Logan’s Place. In crossing the swollen creek the water reached
to the waists of the men. Owing to the wretched condition of the road,
they did not reach their point of destination until midnight.
Simultaneously with the above, three regiments and a battery, the
balance of General Schoepf’s command, with the exception of the
Thirty-eighth Ohio, advanced over another road leading out from Somerset
in a south-easterly direction to Fishing Creek, which they found risen
so high as to render it almost impossible to cross. After much exertion,
a rope was finally stretched across, holding on to which the men slowly
managed to get over. At nightfall only one regiment, however, had landed
on the other side, and while the remainder were crossing on the morning
of the battle, orders came from General Thomas that their assistance was
no longer needed, and the brigade retraced their steps to Somerset.
During this time a heavy storm came on, and torrents of rain continued
to pour upon the devoted troops. General Thomas’ immediate command was
tolerably well protected; but General Carter’s brigade had started
without tents, and hence were completely exposed to the drenching rain
and chilling wind. Every man in the brigade was soaked to the skin
before Logan’s Place was reached, and during the remainder of Saturday
night the poor fellows lay on the wet ground sheltered only by the
dripping woods.
On the morning of the fight the regiments posted on Logan’s farm were
distributed as follows: on the right of the road to Hart’s Ford, facing
toward the river, were the Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota; directly
opposite them, on the left, lay General Carter’s brigade; three-quarters
of a mile south-east of it were the Fourth Kentucky, Tenth Indiana, and
two batteries—the Tenth Indiana occupying the most advanced position. In
front of the last mentioned regiment were encamped about one hundred and
twenty of Wolford’s Cavalry, the balance of the regiment being off on
escort duty; about two and a half miles further south was the outmost
Union picket—twenty of Wolford’s cavalry, the Fourteenth Ohio and Tenth
Kentucky being still encamped eight miles to the north-east. It is thus
seen that the Federal force advanced upon by the rebels included no more
than seven infantry regiments, the detached Michigan companies, one
hundred and forty cavalry, and two batteries.
The main characteristics of the battle-ground are steep, bluff-like
hills, and abrupt narrow ravines. The only comparative levels are formed
by the undulating ridges of the former. Logan’s Place extends over one
of the most extensive of these, and, with its large cleared fields,
afforded the best field for a battle that could have been found in many
miles around. The whole country is covered with a thick growth of
timber, except where the husbandman had cleared it away. The roads were
but a succession of rugged little hills, tiring to the footman and
taxing the wagoner’s skill to the utmost in the best weather.
According to the statements of persons subsequently captured,
Zollicoffer’s original force did not exceed six thousand in number,
which had been increased to ten thousand, comprising ten regiments of
infantry, about three thousand cavalry, and fifteen pieces of artillery.
On Saturday morning information was brought to General Crittenden by
secession sympathizers, living near Somerset, of the proposed movement
of General Carter’s brigade. The rebel commander had learned that
General Thomas’ division was on the march to Somerset, but was not aware
that it had already arrived; and supposing that General Carter’s command
was merely setting out for scouting purposes, conceived a plan of
falling upon it with his whole force. The plan being communicated to
Zollicoffer, he strenuously objected to any demonstration outside of
their intrenchments. His superior, however, insisted upon the
project—bold and creditable enough, if not based upon wrong premises—and
hence the whole rebel army moved out of the fortifications shortly after
dark. Owing to the difficulty of working their artillery ahead, it took
them until 3 A. M. to come within one mile of the Union pickets. Here
they halted and rested, in a deluge of rain. At six o’clock they renewed
their march, and their cavalry advance guard came up with Wolford’s men.
Supposing them to be only a foraging party, the Union dragoons attacked
and drove them back. Perceiving, however, masses of infantry down the
road, they sent word to General Thomas, and then retreated to their
camp. The squadron was quickly mounted and rode towards the enemy; but,
discovering his overwhelming strength, fell back, dismounted, and joined
the Tenth Indiana, and afterwards actively participated in the fight.
Companies K and I, of the Tenth Indiana, Captains Shorter and Perkins,
were detailed as pickets in advance of their regiment, and were first
attacked by the advancing rebels at half-past six o’clock, and with the
assistance of Company A, Captain Hamilton, all under Major Miller,
gallantly held the enemy in check, until supported by the remainder of
the regiment.
In twenty minutes after General Thomas was apprised of the approach of
the enemy, his whole force was under arms, and eagerly awaiting the
onset. The Tenth Indiana, Second Minnesota and the dismounted cavalry
pushed forward a short distance from their encampment in an open field
to a piece of timber, and the Fourth Kentucky took a position in the
woods on the left. The Tenth Indiana having the lead, was within musket
range of the rebels just before eight o’clock, and now the battle fairly
commenced.
At least six regiments formed the rebel right, and pressed first on the
Tenth Indiana; but this brave regiment had learned the fighting metal of
the enemy at Rich Mountain, in Western Virginia, and could not be made
to yield an inch even to such fearful odds. Fortunately protected
somewhat by the trees from the hostile fire, they stood steadily,
pouring volley after volley into the rebels; responding to their yells
with defiant cheers; fighting four times their number for nearly an hour
and a half, and never yielding an inch, in spite of a constant and
fearful hail of lead, until their ammunition became exhausted; when they
were ordered to give way to the Second Minnesota. This they did with
composed and unbroken ranks, bringing off their dead and wounded, whose
number was a mournful proof of the fearful trial they had undergone.
Some thirty minutes after the Tenth Indiana had opened the contest, the
Fourth Kentucky engaged the rebels on the left of the former, and
displayed coolness and firmness most remarkable, in view of the fact
that it had never before been under fire. It also had to contend against
superior numbers, but maintained its formation, and did not allow the
rebels to gain a foot of ground. The men cheered each other, and in
their ardor came within short range of the enemy, to whose irregular
fire they replied with great vigor and effect. Colonel Fry inspired all
under him by his courageous conduct. Up and down the line of his command
he moved, urging his Kentuckians on under a shower of bullets.
Meantime, the Second Minnesota fulfilled the trust left to it by the
Tenth Indiana. The stalwart farmers and lumbermen that composed it
performed the duty allotted to them deliberately and with perfect
success. They loaded and fired with ease and calmness, and seemed to
think no more of the work they were doing than of handling a plow or
plying an axe.
The widely-renowned Ninth Ohio did not join in the bloody strife in its
earliest stages. At about half-past eight, however, its impatience for
the fray was at last gratified, and it appeared upon the stage in solid
line of battle, moving measuredly, and with the confident and determined
air of veterans, through a broad, open field on the right of the road,
to within two hundred yards, and began a fire upon some rebel regiments
that were firing from behind a fence, with regularity and precision. It
held the right alone while the action continued.
The rebels succeeded in bringing a battery of their artillery in
position about nine o’clock, and opened upon the Federal troops shortly
afterward with solid and hollow shot. Their balls and shells all went
high over the Union soldiers, not one of whom owed his death or wound to
the rebel artillery.
Captains Kinney’s, Standart’s, and Whetmore’s Ohio batteries were
brought into position, and rendered effective service whenever an
opportunity offered. In the heat of the engagement Captain Kinney
ordered one section of his battery within sixty yards of the enemy’s
line, and opened a deadly fire upon them, which added greatly to the
success of the day.
The battle was now at its height, and the effect of the artillery,
roaring through the conflict, with the crash of shells and sharp whistle
of bullets, was increased by a storm that had broken out in the morning,
and now poured a deluge of rain on the combatants. For a time, the
lightning of heaven vied in sharpness with the flash of artillery, and
rolling bursts of thunder went booming over the mountains, giving
terrible effect to the whole scene.
[Illustration:
BATTLE OF MILL SPRING.
]
Amid this storm, the opposing lines of battle were several times carried
so close to each other that the fight was urged on with a hand-to-hand
encounter, and the commanders on both sides came in dangerous contiguity
with the foe.
Up to eleven o’clock, the fighting was confined almost entirely to an
exchange of lead and iron. The Union right and left would advance on the
enemy, fire, and fall back. Then the Secession forces would advance,
exchange shots, each side holding its own ground and no more.
The Fourteenth Ohio and Tenth Kentucky, sent for as soon as the alarm
had been given, being reported to General Thomas coming up with their
battery from their encampment on the Columbus road, on a full run, he at
last determined to bring matters to an issue. He directed General Carter
to flank the enemy’s right with his regiments, which had been restive
all the morning under the necessity of remaining idle spectators.
But before this movement could be made, the heroes of the Ninth Ohio had
already decided the battle. Colonel McCook (by the way the only American
in the regiment) had his horse shot under him, and was himself wounded,
but nevertheless continued in command. About eleven the patience of the
regiment became exhausted, and the Colonel gave the order to advance. It
was received with a hurrah. Steadily and compactly the column moved over
the two hundred yards separating it from the enemy. When within thirty
yards of the foe the order was given to “charge bayonets,” and in an
instant the moving human wall bristled with bayonets and pressed forward
in quick step. The rebels looked aghast at a sight they had never
witnessed before. A Tennessee regiment on their extreme left fired a
random volley and broke. A Mississippi regiment—the same that held the
fence already mentioned—hesitated a few moments longer. But the
triumphant shout from the Germans, and the bristling array of pointed
steel was too much for them. In an instant, those of the enemy between
the fence and the Federals, with the exception of a few, who were
bayoneted, had scrambled over and fled in wild disorder.
Colonel S. S. Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky, was in the act of leading his
regiment into a charge upon the Mississippians, when General
Zollicoffer, accompanied by his aid, rode up to him and said, “You are
not going to fight your friends, are you? These men (pointing to the
Mississippians) are all your friends.” In the mean time Zollicoffer’s
aid fired upon Colonel Fry, wounding his horse, from which wound the
animal died. Colonel Fry then turned and fired upon Zollicoffer, with
fatal effect. General Z. evidently labored under the impression that
Colonel Fry was a rebel officer. They had never met before, nor did
Colonel Fry know the position of the officer upon whom he fired, as the
evidences of his rank were covered by a cloak which General Zollicoffer
wore in battle.
From this moment the battle was won. The rebels in front of the Union
left had grown dispirited by the news of Zollicoffer’s fall, and their
fire was slackening. When they saw the breaking of their left wing, they
faltered and commenced retreating. The Tenth Kentucky, Fourteenth
Indiana, and two batteries were immediately pushed after them. But the
speed of the enemy increased, and although the Union troops followed in
quick step, they could only manage to come within range of his rear, to
which they gave from time to time parting salutes with rifle balls and
shells. The pursuit was continued to within a mile of the intrenchments,
when owing to the close approach of night, the victors stopped and made
themselves as comfortable as possible on the northern declivity of a
hill overlooking the fortifications.
Rain was still falling, and although all were greatly fatigued from the
labors of the day, but few sought repose on the soaked ground. The
excitement of the battle kept the majority awake, and the uncomfortable
night was spent in the discussion of the stirring events of the
preceding hours, by the immense camp-fires, which burned brightly in
defiance of the drifting rain.
With daybreak some of the Federal guns were got into a position
commanding the rebel intrenchments, and were soon hurling shells upon
them. Crowds of the enemy were seen hurrying down the hill toward the
landing, and the little ferry-boat was rapidly steaming to and fro,
carrying bodies of men, the last of the Confederates on the right bank
of the river. No response being elicited, the infantry was ordered
forward, the Tenth Kentucky in the advance. With lusty cheers the troops
rushed down the road and up the hills crowned by fortifications, and
climbing over the barricades of logs, obstructing the approaches on all
sides, the Kentuckians were in a few minutes on the parapet, shouting,
jumping, and waving their hats and muskets. Hardly five minutes more
elapsed when the rebel camp teemed with thousands of soldiers, frantic
with excitement.
The rebels literally saved nothing but what they wore on their persons.
Eight of their guns, including two Parrot 20-pounders, with caissons and
ammunition, were left behind, together with nearly a thousand stand of
arms, and hundreds of boxes of cartridges, 1,700 horses and mules, a
drove of cattle, 100 wagons, with harness, vast quantities of commissary
and quartermasters’ stores, some twenty bales of blankets and quilts,
and the personal effects of officers and men.