BATTLE OF MILL SPRING. retrograde movement, even had no enemy been threatening. A movement of one kind or the other was a military necessity. 19 dier-generals, all the colonels, and the captains of artillery and independent companies viewed the matter in the same light. The alternatives presented were an inglorious retreat without a blow; an impracticable defence of intrenchments, ending in a surrender; or an eventual starving out, with a similar result." If their intrenched camp was thus untenable, it was doubtless expedient either to attack or retreat. The enemy chose the bolder alternative, and hoped by fighting the separate forces of their antagonists in detail, first to beat General Thomas and then General Schoepf. "Amid these unpleasant facts, word was brought to General Crittenden of an advance by the enemy-say of eight to ten thousand men-from Columbia, and of a large force from Somerset, evidently with a view to storm our intrenchments. The result may be imagined had this been attempted; for we were without suitable means of transportation across the river, and all avenues of retreat could have been effectually cut off by the enemy crossing above and below Mill Spring. General Crittenden is stated to have had but three courses to pursue to at once fall back ingloriously and retreat without a blow; to stay still and be stormed out, and surrender whenever an enemy approached -or be starved out, and surrender within a week; or else to make an advanced movement into Kentucky. The entire army at Mill Spring had been reduced to a simple ration of beef and a half ration of corn, the latter eaten as parch-posed of the Ninth Ohio Regiment Voled corn, and not issued as meal. The enemy, variously estimated at from six to eight thousand men, under the command of Generals Crittenden and Zollicoffer, accordingly marched out at midnight on Saturday, January 18th, and had proceeded ten miles before the break of day. General Thomas was in the meantime halting in his contemplated advance against the enemy's intrenchments. With him was a force com unteers, Tenth Indiana Regiment Volunteers, Second Minnesota Regiment Volunteers, Fourth Kentucky Regiment Volunteers, Tenth Kentucky Regiment Volunteers, Eighteenth Regiment United States regulars, and two full batteries of artillery. "Under these circumstances, and with the report of the advance movement of the enemy, both from Columbia and from Somerset, a council of war was held on Saturday evening, January 18. With five thousand brave men behind them, the council of war thought that they could drive before them twice that number of Northern hirelings. The council is positively said to have been unanimous in its decision. Both briga- | day (January 19), was about six miles The place known as Webb's Cross Roads, Thomas' encampment on Saturday night (January 18), which became the field of battle of the next day, Sun east of Jamestown and ten miles west of the enemy's fortified camp of Beech Grove, situated between White Oak Creek and the Cumberland River. The enemy having reached within striking distance of General Thomas' Jan. camp at four o'clock in the morn18. ing, began the attack at once with great spirit. They had hoped to have taken their antagonists by surprise, but the Union troops, though not expecting the assault, were watchful, and prepared to defend themselves. After a severe skirmishing between the pickets, the main bodies advanced to meet each other, and the conflict became general, with a fire of cannon and muskets. The troops fought well on both sides, but at last, after an irregular struggle, or bush fight, of nearly three hours, the enemy were driven back, and by a spirited charge of bayonets forced to a total rout. The brunt of the battle was borne by the Fourth Kentucky, Second Minnesota, Ninth Ohio, and Tenth Indiana. Shortly after eleven o'clock Colonel Haskin succeeded in flanking the enemy on the extreme right, when the Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota charged with the bayonet, with loud cries, which broke the rebel ranks, and the rout began. They fled pell-mell to their camp, strewing the road with muskets, blankets, overcoats, and knapsacks, and abandoning two guns and caissons. The panic of the enemy was increased by the arrival of Federal reinforcements, consisting of a Tennessee brigade and the Tenth Kentucky Reg iment, and the death of their favorite commander, General Zollicoffer, who was shot through the heart at the head of his staff, by Colonel Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky Regiment. General Zollicoffer having lost his way in the bushes, came out suddenly in face of Colonel Fry, who was accompanied by some staff officers. The two parties mistook each other for friends, and approached within a few yards, when, finding their mutual mistake, both halted and prepared for a hand-to-hand conflict. One of General Zollicoffer's aids shot at Colonel Fry, but only brought his horse down. The Union Colonel immediately drew his revolver, and brought General Zollicoffer from his saddle at the first fire. The loss on the part of the enemy was reported to be two hundred and seventy-five, while that of the Unionists was hardly less. The soldiers of the Tenth Indiana Regiment being in advance, were the greatest sufferers, losing seventy-five killed and wounded. When they charged with their bayonets, they were brought so close to the enemy, that a Mississippi regiment turned upon them with their long bowie-knives, which they thrust through a fence that separated them from their assailants. The bayonets, however, by their greater length, gave the advantage to the Indiana men, and their opponents, unable to use their knives with effect, were forced to fly. The enemy were pursued to their intrenched camp, when night falling, the Unionists ceased the pursuit, although |