Seward the present Federal Secretary of State. How long will Kentuckians close their eyes to the contemplated ruin of their present structure of society?" August Willich, a soldier of European experience, entered the service as Major of Colonel McCook's 9th Ohio. The efficiency of both regiments was largely due to his zeal and ability as an instructor and disciplinarian. The day following this proclamation, there was a spirited engagement on the south side of Green River, opposite After this engagement the enemy, fallMumfordsville, at Rowlett's Station, ing back towards Bowling Green, having where the troops were restoring the destroyed the northern railway commurailway bridge which had been des- nication, strengthened their defences at troyed by the rebels, between four com- that place, and concentrated there a panies of Colonel Willich's 32d German large force under command of General Indiana Regiment, under Lieutenant-Col- Albert Sydney Johnston; while Mconel Van Trebra, a part of General Mc- Cook's, Nelson's, and Mitchell's divisCook's advance division, and Colonel ions of General Buell's army threatened Terry's regiment of Texan mounted the position in front. Whilst these twoRangers, supported by two regiments fold preparations of attack and defence of infantry and a battery of six guns. were being made and similar proceedThe national party, thus greatly out- ings were going on upon the line of Zolnumbered, bravely repelled the enemy's licoffer's advance, there was a sudden onset. The attack of the enemy was diversion of a portion of the national mainly with his cavalry and artillery. forces to arrest a movement of General The Union troops fought as skirmish- Humphrey Marshall, who, notwithstanders, rallying rapidly into squares when ing his previous disclaimer, was again charged by the cavalry; sometimes even himself in arms. He was this time in defending themselves singly and killing command of a force of some three thoutheir assailants with the bayonet. Thir- sand rebels in the extreme eastern porty-three of the rebels, including Colonel tion of the State, on the Big Sandy Terry, were killed, and about fifty wound- River, where he had entrenched himed. The Union loss was Lieutenant Saxe self in the neighborhood of Paintsville. and eight men killed and ten wounded.* Thither, by order of General Buell, he The Indiana troops were aided by a was pursued by Colonel Garfield, folbattery stationed on the north side of lowing up the course of the river from the river. The enemy retreated as the Ohio, at the head of a brigade reinforcements were coming up. Col- composed of his own, the 42d Ohio regionel Willich's command was handsomely ment, the 14th Kentucky, and three huncomplimented a few days after in an or- dred of the 2d Virginia cavalry. His der from General Buell, at Headquarters march was one of extraordinary difficulat Louisville. He thanked the offi- ties from the state of the roads, the men cers and soldiers of the regiment for being compelled to relieve the teams by their gallant and efficient conduct, com- adding a portion of the transportation mending it as a study and example to burdens to their own, as they made all other troops under his command, and their way through the deep mud of the enjoining them to emulate the discipline wet, inclement winter season. On hearand instruction which ensure such re- ing of their approach, Marshall broke sults." He ordered the name of Row-up his camp and began a retreat, his lett Station to be inscribed on the regi- whole army flying in confusion, closely mental colors of the regiment. Colonel pursued by Colonel Garfield's troops. In an encounter of the cavalry of the 1861. General Buell's Military Order, December 27, 1861. rival forces three were slain on the rebel " * General Buell to General McClellan, December 18, BATTLE OF PRESTONBURG.. side and a considerable number wounded, *Colonel J. A. Garfield to Captain J. B. Fry, A. A. G., January 8th, 1862. 203 on the sides of the adjacent hills. Colonel Garfield wholly avoided the guns, bringing his force along the brow of the hill, where the fight was carried on. His men, also, were skillful in availing themselves of the protection of the trees. Among the anecdotes of the engagement, characteristic of this peculiar warfare, the story is told of the commanding Colonel's address to a band of Kentuckians volunteering to clear the hill of the enemy-"Go in boys; give them Hail Columbia!" and of his own enthusiasm being so much excited that he followed on with the reserve, pulling off his coat and flinging it up into the air, where it lodged in a tree. The men then threw up their caps with a wild shout and rushed upon the enemy; Colonel Gar field in his shirt-sleeves leading the way. A member of Captain Bushnell's company of the commander's 42d Ohio, was about to bite a cartridge when a musketball struck the cartridge from his fingers. Coolly facing the direction from which the shot came, he took out another cartridge and exclaimed, "You can't do that again, old fellow."* Colonel James A. Garfield, the leader of the Union troops in this encounter, was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1831. He was educated at Williams College, Vermont, where it is said, he enjoyed a high reputation for ability, graduating with distinction in 1856. He afterward became Principal of an Academy in northern Ohio, and in 1859 was elected to the State Senate, of which he became a prominent member. He had just been admitted to the bar when the Rebellion broke out. He offered his services to the nation, and was soon at the head of his Ohio regiment. This decisive battle freed the people of Kentucky from the military operations of General Marshall, and left Generals Thomas and Schoepf free to pur * Anecdotes of the engagement narrated by Captain Willard of Colonel Garfield's 42d Ohio Regiment. Cleve land Herald, January 16, 1862. sue their designs against Zollicoffer. Colonel Garfield took possession of Prestonburg, and issued a proclamation, in which he offered to all in arms "only the alternative of battle or of unconditional surrender" but to those who had taken no part in the war, "even though they held sentiments adverse to the Union," the full protection of the Government in life and property. For "gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Prestonburg," Colonel Garfield was in February promoted to be a Brigadier-General of Volunteers. Following hard upon Colonel Garfield's engagement with Marshall at Prestonburg came the decisive victory over the forces of the enemy at Mill Springs, up to that time the most important battle gained by the Union forces, and, in fact, as it proved, the commencement of a series of successful military operations of the utmost value in the progress of the war in the West. To the faithful few, the valiant bands of Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota, and Kentucky, and the exiles of Tennessee, who fought on the banks of the Cumberland, men looked back with gratitude when fort after fort fell, and post after post was evacuated, carrying the headquarters of the Union army to the proud city of Nashville, which not long before had been proposed as the capital of the Confederate States. We have seen General Zollicoffer establishing himself on the Cumberland on the borders of Wayne and Pulaski county, where he held an advantageous position on both sides of the river, which he fortified with great skill. The spot which he had selected was about twenty-five miles due north of the state line of Tennessee and about fifteen by the road south-west from Somerset, where, at Mill Springs, a bend of the Cumberland and its junction with the White Oak Creek afforded water protection on three sides. In this area, on a range of hills several hundred fest above the river, and supporting one another, Zollicoffer built his works, a series of well constructed fortifications, from which he could be dislodged only by a close and severe contest. The position was still further secured by additional works on the south side of the Cumberland. On this well defended height and its vicinity were encamped some twelve thousand men, with about eight hundred cavalry and fifteen pieces of artillery. In the beginning of January, General Zollicoffer was joined. by Major-General George B. Crittenden, who, as the superior officer, assumed the command. General Crittenden was the son of the venerable Senator from Kentucky. He had received a military education at West Point, and served in the army of the United States, from which he had been discharged, it is said, on account of intemperance. In front of the rebel position, guarding the approaches of the enemy, General Schoepf was encamped with his brigade at Somerset, while General Thomas was stationed with his division a considerable distance to the north, at Lebanon. Such was the state of affairs in the region early in January, when an expedition was set on foot, in pursuance of instructions from General Buell, against the threatening position of the enemy. Its details, with an account of the action which ensued, commonly called the battle of Mill Springs, are thus given in the official report of Brigadier-General Geo. H. Thomas, to whom the movement was entrusted. "I have the honor," says that officer in his report to General Buell of the 31st of January, "to report that in carrying out the instructions of the General commanding the department, contained in his communications of the 29th of December, I reached Logan's Cross Roads, about ten miles north of the intrenched camp of the enemy, on the Cumberland river, on the 17th inst., with a portion of the 2d and 3d Brigades, Kenney's Battery of Artillery, and a battalion of Wolford's Cavalry. The 4th and 10th Kentucky, 14th Ohio, and the 18th United BATTLE OF MILL SPRINGS. States Infantry, being still in the rear, detained by the almost impassable condition of the roads, I determined to halt at this point to await their arrival, and to communicate with General Schoepf. The 10th Indiana, Wolford's Cavalry, and Kenney's Battery took position on the road leading to the enemy's camp. The 9th Ohio and 2d Minnesota, (part of Colonel McCook's brigade,) encamped three-fourths of a mile to the right, on the Robertsport road. Strong pickets were thrown out in the direction of the enemy, beyond where the Somerset and Mill Springs road comes into the main road from my camp to Mill Springs, and a picket of cavalry some distance in advance of the infantry. General Schoepf visited me on the day of my arrival, and after consultation I directed him to send to my camp Standart's Battery, the 12th Kentucky and the 1st and 2d Tennessee regiments, to remain until the arrival of the regiments in the rear. Having received information on the evening of the 17th that a large train of wagons, with its escort, were encamped on the Robertsport and Danville Road, about six miles from Colonel Stedman's camp, I sent an order to him to send his wagons forward, under a strong guard, and to march with his regiment, (the 14th Ohio,) and the 10th Kentucky, (Colonel Harlan,) with one day's rations in their haversacks, to the point where the enemy were said to be encamped, and either capture or disperse them. Nothing of importance occurred, from the time of my arrival until the morning of the 19th, except a picket skirmish on the 17th. The 4th Kentucky, the battalion of Michigan Engineers, and Wetmore's Battery, joined on the 18th. About 5 o'clock on the morning of the 19th, the pickets from Wolford's Cavalry encountered the enemy advancing on our camp; retired slowly, and reported their advance to Colonel M. D. Manson, commanding the 2d Brigade. He immediately formed his regiment (the 10th In 205 diana) and took a position on the road to await the attack, ordering the 4th Kentucky (Colonel S. S. Fry) to support him, and then informed me in person that the enemy were advancing in force, and what disposition he had made to resist them. I directed him to join his brigade immediately, and hold the enemy in check until I could order up the other troops, which were ordered to form immediately, and were marching to the field in ten minutes afterwards. The battalion of Michigan Engineers, and Company A, 38th Ohio, (Captain Greenwood,) were ordered to remain as guard to the camp. Upon my arrival in the field soon afterward, I found the 10th Indiana formed in front of their encampment, apparently awaiting orders, and ordered them forward to the support of the 4th Kentucky, which was the only whole regiment then engaged. I then rode forward myself to see the enemy's position, so that I could determine what disposition to make of my troops as they: arrived. On reaching the position held by the 4th Kentucky, 10th Indiana, and Wolford's Cavalry, at a point where the roads fork leading to Somerset, I found the enemy advancing through a cornfield, and evidently endeavoring to gain the left of the 4th Kentucky regiment, which was maintaining its position in a most determined manner. I directed one of my aids to ride back and order up a section of artillery and the Tennessee Brigade to advance on the enemy's right, and sent orders for Colonel McCook to advance with his two regiments (the 9th Ohio and 2d Minnesota) to the support of the 4th Kentucky and 10th Indiana. A section of Kenney's Battery took a position on the edge of the field to the left of the 4th Kentucky, and opened an efficient fire on a regiment of Alabamians, which was advancing on the 4th Kentucky. Soon afterward the 2d Minnesota, (H. P. Van Cleve,) the Colonel reporting to me for instructions, I directed him to take the position of the 4th Kentucky and 10th Indiana, which position on the left, near Kenney's Batregiments were nearly out of ammunition. The 9th Ohio, under the immediate command of Major Kæmmerling, came into position on the right of the road at the same time. tery, and every preparation was made to assault their intrenchments on the following morning. The 14th Ohio, Colonel Stedman, and the 10th Kentucky, Colonel Harlan, having joined from detached service, soon after the repulse of the evening, continued with their brigade in the pursuit, although they could not get up in time to join in the fight. General Schoepf also joined me on the evening of the 19th, with the 17th, 31st, and 38th Ohio. His entire brigade en Immediately after the regiments had gained their position, 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 12th Kentucky (Colonel W. A. Hos-tered with the other troops. On reaching kins) and the Tennessee brigade reached the field to the left of the Minnesota regiment, and opened fire on the right flank of the enemy, who then began to fall back. The 2d Minnesota kept up a most galling fire in front, and the 9th Ohio charged the enemy on the right, with bayonets fixed, turned their flank and drove them from the field, the whole line giving way and retreating in the utmost disorder and confusion. As soon as the regiments could be formed and refill their cartridge boxes, I ordered the whole force to advance. A few miles in the rear of the battle-field a small force of cavalry was drawn up near the road, but a few shots from our artillery (a section of Standart's Battery) dispersed them, and none of the enemy were seen again until we arrived in front of their intrenchments; as we approached their intrenchments the division was deployed in line of battle, and steadily advanced to the summit of the hill at Moulden's. From this point I directed their intrenchments to be cannonaded, which was done until dark by Standart's and Wetmore's Batteries. Kenney's Battery was placed in position on the extreme left at Russell's house, from which point he was directed "It affords me much pleasure to be to fire on their ferry to deter them from able to testify to the uniform steadiness attempting to cross. On the following and good conduct of both officers and morning Captain Wetmore's Battery was men during the battle. I regret to have ordered to Russell's house and assisted to report that Colonel R. L. McCook, comwith his Parrot guns in firing upon the manding the 3d Brigade, and his Aid, ferry. Colonel Manson's Brigade took | Lieutenant A. S. Burt, 18th United States the intrenchments we found the enemy had abandoned everything and retired during the night. Twelve pieces of artillery, with their caissons packed with ammunition, one battery wagon, and two forges, a large amount of ammunition, a large number of small arms, (mostly the old flintlock musket,) one hundred and fifty or sixty wagons, and upward of one thousand horses and mules, a large amount of commissary stores, intrenching tools, and camp and garrison equipage, fell into our hands. A correct list of all the captured property will be forwarded as soon as it can be made up and the property secured. The steam and ferry boats having been burned by the enemy in their retreat, it was found impossible to cross the river and pursue them; beside, their command was completely demoralized, and retreated with great haste and in all directions, making their capture in any numbers quite doubtful, if pursued. There is no doubt but what the moral effect produced by their complete dispersion will have a more desired effect in reëstablishing Union sentiment than though they had been captured. |