THE BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS.
We remained quietly at Somerset until December 8th. In the meantime, were
reinforced by the arrival of the Thirty-first and Thirty-fifth Ohio
Infantry, and also Hewitt's Kentucky Battery. In addition to the above,
was a small detachment of Woolford's Cavalry.
On Sunday noon, one of the cavalrymen came riding into camp in hot haste,
and nearly out of breath. He stated that the enemy were advancing, and
that they had made an attack on our picket guard, killing and wounding
several, and had taken the rest prisoners.
At first, his story was doubted. It, however, proved true in many
respects. One of the guard was killed, one wounded, and fifteen or twenty
taken prisoners, all of them belonging to the Thirty-fifth Ohio.
Immediately, bustle and confusion pervaded the camp. The long roll was
beaten in the Infantry, and all were soon in line for action. Our horses
were harnessed, tents struck, when we at once proceeded towards Somerset,
which we had only left a few hours previous; and, at double quick, soon
went rushing into the town.
We at once took up position on a high hill just north of the town, which
gave us a fine command of the country. The Seventeenth Ohio were stationed
with us. The remainder of the force were stationed at different points,
and all quietly awaited an attack; but at dark, no enemy had appeared. The
horses were kept harnessed, and every one remained near his post of duty
all night.
During the night, we were reinforced by the arrival from London of the
First and Second Tennessee Infantry. The next morning nothing was seen or
heard of the enemy, and it was supposed that they had become alarmed
during the night, and had fallen back to their intrenchments at Mill
Springs. Small reconnoitering parties were sent out daily, but with the
exception of a few slight skirmishes, and occasionally a little firing
between the picket guards, nothing of importance occurred for a number of
days. During these skirmishes, a few prisoners were taken on both sides,
so that neither derived but little advantage. The weather for about two
weeks, continued fine; but neither force seemed inclined to make good use
of it.
On the 17th December, Gen. Schoepf ordered the whole brigade to be in
readiness to make a reconnoisance the next day. That night, one day's
provisions were cooked, and all prepared for an early start. At daylight,
December 18th, the entire brigade, with the exception of a sufficient
number of men to guard the camp, were on the move. The forces were divided
into two divisions. The Ohio and Kentucky Regiments, with two sections of
our battery, under General Schoepf, went up Fishing Creek. The two
Tennessee Regiments, with the right section of our battery, under
Lieutenant Bennett, General Carter commanding, went down the Creek. The
division of General Schoepf did not effect anything, being unable to fall
in with the enemy. General Carter's command, however, was more successful.
They came upon a party of the Rebel Cavalry, who were on the opposite side
of the Creek, and being out of rifle distance, they were inclined to be
quite bold and defiant. But Lieutenant Bennett got his guns in position,
and sent over several shells, which caused them to "skedaddle" in all
directions. It was supposed that his shot killed and wounded several, as
they were seen carrying off a number. They left considerable plunder which
fell into the hands of the Tennessee men.
Seeing no further prospect of drawing out the enemy, the expedition
returned to Somerset, arriving at dark.
Nothing of further importance occurred for some time, with the exception
of an attempt on the part of Colonel Hoskins, with his regiment, and a
part of the Thirty-eighth Ohio, to capture a forage train of the enemy,
but which proved unsuccessful. The weather had now become cold and rainy,
making the roads almost impassable; and, it was thought that nothing would
be done before Spring, as neither party seemed inclined to throw down the
gauntlet. But things were quietly working, and which the following will
show was to some purpose.
On Friday morning, January 17th, 1862, in accordance with orders of the
previous evening, the entire available force then at Somerset, set out, as
was then supposed, for another reconnoisance, towards the enemy's lines.
Subsequent events showed that it resulted far different from what most of
the men anticipated. All camp equipage was left behind, in charge of a
sufficient guard. At an early hour a start was effected; but, owing to the
bad condition of the roads, slow progress was made. The late rains had
swollen Fishing Creek, so that it was almost impassable; and it was at a
late hour of the night ere the Battery succeeded in crossing the stream.
It now commenced raining quite hard, but the men bravely pushed forward,
and, near midnight, arrived at the camp of General Thomas, who had a large
force under his command. They had come over the Columbia road. This was
quite a surprise to all, except such officers as were in the secret.
It now became evident that an exciting time was at hand, and that a
battle was soon to be fought. But little did we soldiers dream that it
would result so gloriously to our cause as the sequel will show. The rain
kept pouring down, and all were wet to the skin, having no tents to
protect us. At day-light next morning, it was still raining. A
consultation was held between Generals Thomas and Schoepf, the result of
which was known only to themselves. A part of Schoepf's Brigade was
ordered back to Somerset, to act as a reserve. Our Battery, with the two
Tennessee regiments, remaining. Teams were sent to Somerset for
provisions, with which they were loaded, and sent forward. The rain, which
had fallen heavily during the entire day, had swollen the creek to such a
hight that they were not able to recross until the following morning.
All of Saturday the men remained in camp, on account of the rain. The
various regiments were scattered over a large extent of ground. On Sunday,
January 19th, at an early hour, a part of Woolford's Cavalry, who were on
picket guard, were driven in by the advance of the enemy, and soon
thereafter the attack was commenced on the Tenth Indiana Infantry, who
were camped in an advanced position. The Tenth stood their ground manfully
for a long time, although they were opposed by four times their number. At
length the Fourth Kentucky came to their relief.
The engagement had now become general. For a time our guns could not be
brought to bear upon the enemy, owing to the nature of the ground, and the
position of our troops, without endangering our own men. After
considerable maneuvering, a portion of the guns were got into a favorable
position, and soon begun to pour in a deadly fire upon the enemy. Shot and
shell flew thick and fast. Each discharge wrought fearful execution, and
the Rebel ranks were rapidly thinned.
The fighting had now become terrific, the advantage changing alternately
from one side to the other; and at times it was difficult to tell how the
battle was going. Our troops fought bravely, not once flinching. Although
their comrades were falling around them, still they pressed bravely
forward. General Zollicoffer fell in the early part of the engagement,
having been shot through the heart by Colonel Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky.
The enemy had now begun to waver, and gradually gave ground, when the
gallant Ninth Ohio made a grand bayonet charge, which scattered them in
all directions. The retreat then became general. Our forces followed them
up, firing volley after volley into their disordered ranks. In the
meantime, the guns of our Battery were doing fearful execution among the
fleeing Rebels. Many of the shells exploded in their very midst. We still
kept up the pursuit, the rain all the time falling heavily, which rendered
the roads almost impassable; but on we went, through woods, over logs and
stumps, through brush and mud. At times it was all our horses could do to
pull through, and our progress was consequently slow. The roads and woods
were scattered with the dead and wounded of both armies. The track of the
fleeing Rebels was strewn with muskets, swords, knapsacks, overcoats, &c.,
which they had thrown away to facilitate their flight.
At about five o'clock we had succeeded in driving the enemy behind their
intrenchments at Mill Springs, being a distance of eight miles from where
the battle commenced. Reinforcements had now come up, and though the men
were nearly exhausted, having eaten nothing since early morning, and were
saturated with the rain, the guns were soon got in position, and opened
with shell on the enemy's works. The Rebels replied with a few ineffectual
shot, their shell falling far short of their destination. Kinney's and
Wetmore's Batteries were also engaging the enemy from different positions.
About eight in the evening the enemy's guns were silenced, and in a short
time the firing ceased altogether. An hour later quiet reigned in the
camp.
Our weary men now stretched themselves on the cold, damp ground, to obtain
a little repose from the toils of the day. All slept near their post of
duty, and were ready to spring into action at sound of the bugle. At early
dawn they were at their stations, to renew the battle; but no sound came
from the enemy's camp.
It was now determined to make a grand charge, and storm the Rebel works.
All the forces were drawn up in line of battle, and, at the same time, our
guns were got in readiness to open on the enemy. At last the word to
charge was given, and with a loud yell, the brave troops rushed forward,
and were soon scaling the entrenchments. But what was their surprise, when
reaching the top of the breastworks, to find the place evacuated. The
birds had flown; or to use their own favorite phrase, "skedaddled." They
had succeeded in crossing the river in a small steamer. A shell from our
battery struck the boat just as it had crossed for the last time. The
shell exploded, setting the boat on fire, and it was soon burned to the
water's edge.
Having no means of crossing our forces, we were unable to follow them up.
They had attempted to get part of their guns over the river, but our near
approach prevented them from doing so. They left several sticking fast in
the mud. A large number of the Rebels could yet be seen climbing the hill
on the opposite side of the river, when a few shell thrown among them
caused them to scatter in wild confusion. So great was their fright, and
in such a hurry were they to get away, that they left everything behind,
even to their half-cooked rations. They saved nothing, except what they
had on their backs.
The result of this glorious victory to the Union cause, is summed up as
follows: From three hundred to four hundred of the enemy killed and
wounded, and two hundred taken prisoners. About fifteen hundred horses and
mules, five hundred wagons and harness, fourteen guns, with caissons and
equipments complete, five thousand muskets, together with a large quantity
of provisions, clothing and ammunition, fell into our hands. But the best
of all, by this victory we succeeded in freeing this part of Kentucky of
the secesh army, much to the gratification of the good Union people.
This was the first, of a series of brilliant victories that soon followed.
The enemy's force in this engagement, was about ten thousand; while our
force, actually engaged, did not exceed three thousand five hundred--they
having about three to our one. Our men got a large quantity of trophies,
in the shape of guns, revolvers, watches and clothing.
The following list comprises our force engaged in the battle: Tenth
Indiana, Fourth Kentucky, Ninth Ohio, Second Minnesota, part of the First
Tennessee, all Infantry, and a portion of Woolford's Cavalry, together
with our own and Kinney's and Wetmore's Batteries, First Ohio Artillery.
This battle has been given several names; such as, battle near Somerset,
battle of Fishing Creek, Logan's X Roads, Old Fields, and Mill Springs. It
is better known by the last mentioned.
It was not until Wednesday evening, the 22d of January, that our battery
arrived in Camp at Somerset, having been absent six days. Although the men
were well nigh worn out, yet all were in high spirits over their late
victory, and for a long time it was the only thing talked of.