Battle of Mill Battle of Mill owing to the almost impassable condition of | dered his right wing comthe roads, it was three o'clock Sunday morn- | panies to fall back upon ing before the rebel advance (Zollicoffer's his left. At that moment brigade, composed of four regiments and a the Fourth Kentucky sprung into the field utbattery of four guns) arrived within one mile tering a shout which made the woods echo of the Federal pickets. There they halted, with one wild huzza. This regiment was com, awaiting, in a deluge of rain, the coming up posed of new troops, but hearts of fire burned of the rest of their force under General Car- beneath every gray coat, and they fought with roll. It was nearly seven o'clock before the unflinching fury. Their Colonel passed along Federal pickets (Wolford's cavalry) were the lines inspiriting all by his example. driven in. The cavalry fell back to their These two regiments sustained the unequal lines, and reenforced to a battalion, again conflict alone for a half hour after the Kenrode forward to engage what was supposed tuckians came into the field on the Indianito be a foraging party. They advanced down ans' left wing; when Colonel Manson, comthe Mill Spring road to discover the enemy's manding the brigade, was forced to fall slowheavy columns coming on over the hills. ly back to escape being outflanked. Colonel The alarm was quickly given, and a half McCook's forces-the Ninth Ohio and Second hour sufficed to dispose the Minnesota-were then thrown into the conentire seven Federal regi- flict, the Minnesotians occupying the ground ments in position to re- just vacated by the retiring troops; while ceive their not unwelcome assailants. The the Ninth Ohio, passing to the left, checked Tenth Indiana, under command of Lieuten- the enemy's attempted flank movement, ant-Colonel W. C. Kise, moved forward to This regiment "McCook's own" was the support of its two companies stationed composed almost wholly of Germans, and as pickets one mile in advance on the direct like all Teutonic regiments, knew better road to the Cumberland.* It arrived on the how to advance than to retreat. The Gerground to find the pickets hotly engaged. mans soon found themselves face to face with Colonel Kise quickly threw his force into the their foe—a small field about eighty yards wide woods, five companies to the right of the intervening, while the rebels held a corn crib, road and five to the left. The battle then a log house and stable in the field, only fifty opened in earnest. The Indianians held yards away. In the woods beyond and their ground firmly and kept the infuriated along the fence bounding the field, the eneenemy at bay, but suffered severely. Four my found excellent cover, and used it with rebel regiments were held by their fire for spirit. The Minnesota men, holding what half an hour, when Colonel Kise observed then was the Federal right wing, fought with cavalry flanking him on the right. He or- astonishing intrepidity, not only holding in check the three regiments on their front, but pressing back their lines to their first position. McCook, in his report, said: * This statement varies from General Thomas' official report. He said: "Upon my arrival on the field, I found the Tenth Indiana formed in front of their encampment, apparently awaiting orders, when I ordered them forward to the support of the Fourth Kentucky, which was the only regiment then engaged." Our statement, we believe, however, to be correct. The account of every correspondent on the field gives to the Indianians the honor of being first in the field. Colonel Kise, in his report, explicitly narrates the movements to the field, to the support of his pickets, and he also explicitly states that he fought until his right wing was forced to retire (about half an hour) before the Kentuckians came to his help. Thomas' report evidently was grounded upon partial information. Along the lines of each of the regiments, and from the enemy's front a hot and deadly fire was opened. On the right wing of the Minnesota regiment the contest was, at first, almost hand to hand --the enemy and the Minnesota men poking their guns through the same fence at each other. How ever, before the fight continued long in this way, that portion of the enemy contending with the Second Minnesota retired in good order to some rail piles hastily thrown together-the point from which they had first advanced upon the Fourth Kentucky. This portion of the enemy obstinately maintaining its position, and the balance remaining as before described, (in front of the Ninth Ohio.) A desper Battle of Mill Spring. BATTLE OF MILL SPRING. ate fire was continued for about thirty minutes with seemingly doubtful result. The importance of possessing the log house, stable and corn crib becoming apparent, companies A, B, C and D of the Ninth Ohio were ordered to flank the enemy's extreme left and obtain possession of the house. This done, still the enemy stood firm to his position and cover." 427 "Immediately after the regiments had gained their positions, the enemy opened a most determined and galling fire, which was returned by our troops in the same spirit, and for nearly half-an-hour the contest was maintained, on both sides, in the most obstinate manner. At this time, the Twelfth Kentucky (Colonel W. A. Haskins) and the Tennes see brigade (Carter's) reached the field to the left of the Second Minnesota, and opened their fire on the right flank of the enemy, who then began to fall back. The Second Minnesota kept up a most galling fire in front, and the Ninth Ohio charged the enemy on the right, with fixed bayonets, turned their flank and drove them from the field--their whole line giving way and retreating in the utmost confusion." That charge of the Germans settled the The Fourth Kentucky and Tenth Indiana kept the field to the last. McCook's two regiments were about in the position first held by the brigade of Colonel Manson, and from which it had been temporarily driven. But, it was only for a moment. The Kentuckians walked into the fight along with McCook's men, taking position on their left. The Tenth Indiana men were still divided, one half on each wing of the Kentuckians. The enemy appearing on the Kentucky left, General Thomas (who was on the field order-strife. McCook gave the order to empty ing the entire battle) directed the regiment (Tenth Indiana) to consolidate and move to that part of the field threatened. It passed promptly to the line of battle and again became obstinately engaged. After a half hour's struggle, the rebels were forced from their rail fence defense back into the woods beyond the Indianians bayonetting some of the most obstinate of the enemy through the fence. This success was followed by the regiments again changing location, this time to the Kentucky right, where the conflict was very stubborn. guns and fix bayonets. Then, moving along in front, he cried: "My invincible Germans, charge!" With a shout, the regiment to a man leaped from cover, and dashed over the field. The enemy stood but a moment. The log house, barn, &c., were abandoned—only about a score of rebels standing to be bayonetted and crushed by the advancing host. This shock caused the whole Confederate line to waver. Then the rest of the Federal line, fairly blazing in its fire, burst from cover and advanced. In a moment the rout of their foe was complete, and the battle of Mill Spring was won.* The pursuit was unwor The Pursuit. This was the moment which decided the fortunes of the day. The roar of arms was answered by the lightning and thunder of Hea-thy of the gallant army. ven's artillery. The showers of balls went hissing and cutting through limbs and undergrowth like the deluge of rain which came down as if to wipe out the blood-stains everywhere marking the soil. The enemy's artillery (four guns) having a good position on a rise of ground beyond the field, played rapidly but harmlessly into the woods-the round shot and canister cutting the tree tops, so badly were the guns served. A section of Kinney's battery, stationed on the Fourth Kentucky's left, during the second stage of the conflict, was worked with precision, and worried the enemy's ranks wherever they appeared en masse, Confessing the enemy to have retreated "in disorder," Thomas yet gave no excuse for the inefficient pursuit made. Wolford's cavalry, dismounting, had fought with efficiency in the ranks of the Tenth Indiana; their horses were, therefore, fresh. The Tennessee brigade (Carter's) was quite fresh, having fought but little and having marched but a short distance. Nor were any of the regiments most engaged too exhausted for a vigorous and dashing assault upon the flying mass. Tho *This battle, like many others of the war, was misnamed. It was not fought within eight miles of Mill Spring. It should be called the Battle of Logan's Farm. The Pursuit. mas stated that, as soon as the regiments could be re-formed and their cartridge boxes refilled" an advance" was ordered; but the movement, executed evidently with great military precision, was not rapid enough to do the disorganized enemy any harm, and he escaped to his White Oak creek entrenchments with no loss from pursuit. The Federal advance, early in the afternoon, came up to the entrenched camp, and, deploying in formal line-of-battle a furious cannonade was kept up until dark, by Standart's, Wetmore's and Kinney's batteries. An instantaneous assault would have secured the entire Confederate force. When Monday morning came the Federal regiments - strengthened by Schopff's command, by the Fourteenth Ohio and the Tenth Kentucky-prepared for the assault. At the word, a simultaneous rush was made along the entire Federal line; the hills were mounted, the trenches passed, the embankments scaled, to find the camp property there but not a man for its defense. Twelve guns with caissons well filled, one battery wagon, two forges, considerable ammunition and a promiscuous quantity of small arms and muskets; one thousand mules and horses, a considerable stock of rough commissary stores; the entire camp and garrison equippage, fell into Federal hands. Their destruction would have announced to the assailants the evacuation going on; hence, all the property and materiel were left comparatively intact. The enemy had escaped over the river by the use of a single steamer, which, having been destroyed after it had answered for the safety of the entire rebel force, left Thomas no means of crossing for further pursuit. The rebel force then retired at leisure. The wounded included thirteen commis sioned officers. Only one commissioned officer (of Wolford's cavalry) was killed. Thomas also reported the rebel loss to be one hundred and ninety killed and left on the field, including General Zollicoffer; sixtytwo wounded, left on the field, and eightynine prisoners not wounded. As many of the killed and wounded were borne off the field by the enemy, the above does not correctly represent the Confederate losses. The real casualties were not made public by the Confederate authorities. The rebel forces which marched out to assail Thomas were ascertained The Rebel Force Engaged. to have been as follows: Under Zollicoffer: the Fifteenth Mississippi, Colonel Walthall; Nineteenth Tennessee, Colonel Cummings; Twentieth Tennessee, Captain Battle; Twenty-fifth Tennessee, Captain Stanton, and a battery of four guns, Captain Rutledge. Under General Carroll: Seventeenth Ten nessee, Colonel Newman; Twenty-eighth Tennessee, Colonel Munger; Twenty-ninth Tennessee, Colonel Powell, with a battery of two guns, Captain McClung. The reserve consisted of the Sixteenth Ala bama, Colonel Wood, and two battalions of cavalry. Two battalions moved in Zollicoffer's advance. Several independent companies of "rangers" and "mountain boys" also held a place in the advance column. All told in numbers, the force under General Crittenden, which assailed Thomas' brigades, was about ten thousand strong. Demoralized beyond hope of reorganization, the rebels quickly retreated from their fortifications at Mill Springs, leaving no further work for Thomas, in that quarter, except to push on into East Tennessee by Pound Gap, or Walker's Gap, or by the direct route to Huntsville, passing Cumberland Gap to the west. But, the exciting nature of the campaign then progressing up the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, impelled Buell to divert the division from further progress toward Knoxville. It soon reversed its order of march by again co-operating with the advance against Bowling Green and Nashville. CHAPTER V. AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTH UP TO FEBBUARY, 1862. JEFFERSON DAVIS' MESSAGE OF NOVEMBER 18TH, 1861. ADMISSION OF MISSOURI AND KENTUCKY TO THE CONFEDERACY. IMPROPRIETY OF THE WHOLE PROCEEDING. SPIRIT OF VINDICTIVENESS IN THE SOUTH. INTEREST VOICE OF THE GOVERNORS. Fast Day. Vindictiveness towards the North. AFFAIRS in the Confede- | course it did not prevent rate States during the last the South from being demonths of the year 1861 were, if "the pa- pendent on that very class pers" are authority, neither hopeless nor un- for their best schools, their best teachers and satisfactory. President Davis in his procla- preachers, their best commerce and their best mation setting apart November 15th as a Fast hopes for the future. Their terms of opproday, used the terms "fasting, humiliation and brium simply served to indicate that underprayer;" but, the general tone of the invoca- tone of scurrility and insolence which a slave tion was one of thanks for victory won. As ownership ever has and ever will engender. compared with his first proclamation for a But, no matter what the cause, the effect was Fast day (June 13th, 1861) the second gave none the less deplorable. The vocabulary evidence of a slight progress toward a con- of vile terms was exhausted-new words were sciousness of sin, for it embodied the word coined and phrases compounded-all in the "humiliation." The first did not-it prayed endeavor to give utterance to their sentistanding; the second brought the Confeder-ments towarcs the Northern people. When ates to their knees, and, in that respect, leaves us to infer that there was less confidence in their hearts than their words of victories won would imply. Vindictiveness toward the North. words and utterance failed Southern "ladies" would spit upon such 'Yankees' as came in their way-would lift their skirts in passing that they should not be contamiThe tone of the South-ted by the touch of Yankee breeches. It was ern press was not improved laughable yet painful, proving as it did the -it literally could be no existence of a demoralization in Southern somore malignant. In this it reflected the para-ciety incompatible with personal dignity and mount feeling apparently prevalent in all white circles. From the lips of the highest and the lowest, from male and female, from old and young, burst a volcano of epithet and imprecation upon the Yankees' that would have been appalling to one not well versed in Southern idioms; but, that was less an evi-al Executive and of its agents was sedulously dence of devotion to their cause than of encouraged by the leaders and the press of hate of rivals. For many years the growing the South, for the good reason that it filled power and prosperity of the Free States had the ranks of their army, and inspired their been resented by an openly expressed scorn troops with that kind of courage which springs of a free society; "Yankee" became a word from hate. Keep the people up to the point to imply something mean and inferior. Of of detestation and it would be easy to raise public purity. We leave it for others to The Secret of it. The Secret of it. act obedience. Message of Jefferson Davis. troops, to extort taxes, to the border. When the war comimpose burdens, and to ex-menced, the enemy were posFor any feeling of respect sessed of certain strategic toward their enemy to gain even a momenta-points and strong places in the Confederate States. They greatly exceeded us in numbers, in available rery ascendancy was worse than a defeat; sources, and in the supplies necessary for war. hence, we are not surprised that no occasion Military establishments had long been organized, was left unimproved where misrepresentation, and were completed. The navy, and, for the most defamation and false inference could avail to part, the army, once common to both, were in their influence the public mind. There was reason possession. To meet all this we had to create not in their madness but, alas, the people of the only an army in the face of war itself, but also miliSouth did not perceive the subtle influences tary establishments necessary to equip and place it at work upon them. in the field. It ought, indeed, to be a subject of gratulation that the spirit of the volunteer, and the patriotism of the people, have enabled us, under Providence, to grapple successfully with these diffìculties. Message of Jefferson Davis. The Message of Jefferson Davis to the Confederate Congress which re-assembled in adjourned session, at Richmond, Nov. 18th, gave the Confederate views and summary of events. We may transfer it at length, that our readers may have before them the revolutionary side of the story and argument: "TO THE CONGRESS OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES: "The few weeks which have elapsed since your adjournment have brought us so near the close of the year that we are now able to sum up its general results. The retrospect is such as should fill the hearts of our people with gratitude to Providence, for his kind interposition in their behalf. Abundant yields have rewarded the labor of the agriculturist, whilst the manufacturing industry of the Confederate States was never so prosperous as now. The necessities of the times have called into existence new branches of manufactures, and given a fresh impulse to the activity of those heretofore in operation. The means of the Confederate States for manufacturing the necessaries and comforts of life within themselves, increase as the conflict continues, and we are gradually becoming independent of the rest of the world for the supply of such military stoles and munitions as are indispensable for war. "The operations of the army, soon to be partially interrupted by the approaching winter, have afforded a protection to the country and shed a glorious luster upon its arms through the trying vicissitudes | of more than one arduous campaign, which entitle our brave volunteers to our praise and gratitude. From its commencement up to the present period the war has been enlarging its proportions and expanding its boundaries so as to include new fields. The conflict now extends from the shores of the Chesapeake to the confines of Missouri and Arizona, yet sudden calls from the remotest points for military aid have been met with promptness enough not only to avert disaster in the face of superior numbers, but also to roll back the tide of invasion from "A succession of glorious victories, at Bethel, Bull Run, Manassas, Springfield, Lexington, Lees burg and Belmont, has checked the wicked invasion which greed of gain and the unhallowed lust of power brought upon our soil, and has proved that numbers cease to avail when directed against a peo ple fighting for the sacred right of self-government and the privileges of freemen. "After more than seven months of war, the enemy have not only failed to extend their occupancy of our soil, but new States and Territories have been added to our Confederacy. While, instead of their threatening march of unchecked conquest, they have been driven at more than one point to assume the defensive; and upon a fair comparison between the two belligerents as to men, military means and financial condition, the Confederate States are relatively much stronger now than wher the struggle commenced. Since your adjournment, the people of Missouri have conducted the war in the face of almost unparalleled difficulties with a spirit and success alike worthy of themselves and of the great cause in which they are struggling. "Since that time Kentucky, too, has become the theater of active hostilities. The Federal forces have not only refused to acknowledge her right to be neutral, and have insisted upon making her a party to the war, but have invaded her for the pur pose of attacking the Confederate States. Out. rages of the most despotic character have been per petrated upon her people. Some of her most eminent citizens have been seized and borne away to languish in foreign prisons, without knowing who were their accusers, or the specific charges made against them, while others have been forced to abandon their homes, their families and property. and seek a refuge in distant lands. Finding that the Confederate States were about to be invaded through Kentucky, and that her people, after being |