the army of the cumberland-第4章
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een intrenching his camp； his line of fortifications extending from the river to Fishing Creek and his camp being in the angle formed by the junction of this stream with the Cumberland。 Having accomplished this； and not intending to bring on an engagement； Schoepff returned with his command to their encampment north of Somerset。
Buell now finding that the only rebel force encamped in Eastern Kentucky was that under Zollicoffer； and deeming it important that he be driven from the State； modified his previous order to Thomas； and on December 29th directed him to advance against Zollicoffer from Columbia and attack on his left flank。 He also ordered Schoepff to attack him in front。 Two days later Thomas started from Lebanon with the Second Brigade； under command of Colonel Manson； and two regiments of Colonel McCook's brigade； Kinney's battery of artillery； and a battalion of Wolford's cavalry。 Heavy rains； swollen streams； and almost impassable roads impeded the movement of the troops so that it was not until the 17th of January that they reached Logan's Cross Roads； ten miles from the rebel encampment。 At this point Thomas halted his command and awaited the arrival of the Fourth and Tenth Kentucky； the Fourteenth Ohio； and the Eighteenth United States Infantry； detained in the rear by the condition of the road。 He communicated at once with Schoepff； and the same day the latter reported in person。 General Thomas directed Schoepff to send him Standart's battery； the Twelfth Kentucky and the First and Second Tennessee regiments； which were to strengthen the command on the immediate front until the arrival of the regiments in the rear。 Thomas placed the Tenth Indiana； Wolford's cavalry； and Kinney's battery on the main road leading to the enemy's camp。 The Ninth Ohio and the Second Minnesota were posted three…quarters of a mile to the right on the Robertsport road。 Strong pickets were thrown out on the main road in the direction of the enemy； with cavalry pickets beyond。 Our pickets were fired on and had a skirmish with the rebel pickets on the night of the 17th。 On the 18th； the Fourth Kentucky； a battalion of the Michigan Engineers and Wetmore's Battery also reported to Thomas。
Crittenden； on learning that Zollicoffer had crossed the Cumberland； had sent at once an order by courier； post haste； directing him to recross； but on his arrival at Mill Springs he found Zollicoffer still on the north bank； waiting his arrival before retiring。 Crittenden gave orders at once for the construction of boats to take his command across the river； but they were not ready when he heard of the approach of General Thomas on January 17th。
On the 18th； Crittenden reported to General Johnston that he was threatened by a superior force of the enemy in his front； and that as he found it impossible to cross the river； he should have to make the fight on the ground he then occupied。
His weekly reports showed eight infantry regiments； four battalions （seventeen companies） of cavalry； and two companies of artillery； making an aggregate of 9；417 men。 His circular order of the 18th； directing the order of march in his advance to attack； shows that his army was on the day of battle composed of the same companies； and that his force was about the same。
At midnight； on January 18th； in a heavy winter rain； the Confederate army marched out to battle with Bledsoe's and Saunders's independent cavalry companies in advance。 Zollicoffer's brigade of four regiments； with Rutledge's battery of artillery； followed。 Then came General Carroll's brigade of four regiments； one in reserve； with McClung's battery of artillery； Brauner's battalion of cavalry on the right； and McClellan's battalion of cavalry on the left； with Cary's battalions in the rear。 After a six hours' march through the rain and the mud； the advance struck our cavalry pickets at six o'clock； in the early gray of a winter morning； two miles in front of the Federal camp。 Wolford's cavalry slowly fell back； reporting the enemy's advance to Manson； who immediately formed his regimentthe Tenth Indianaand took position on the road to await the attack。 Manson then ordered the Fourth Kentucky； Colonel Speed S。 Fry； to support him； and reported to Thomas； in person； the advance of the rebels in force； and the disposition he had made of his troops to meet the attack。 General Thomas directed him to return to his brigade immediately； with orders to hold the enemy in check until the other troops could be brought up。 Orders were given to the other commanders to form immediately； and in ten minutes they were all marching to the battle…field； except the battalion of Michigan Engineers and a company of the Thirty…eighth Ohio； detailed to guard the camp。
The rebels； in their advance； opened the attack with Walthall's Mississippi and Battle's Tennessee regiments； which as they moved forward； forming the right of the rebel line； encountered the Fourth Kentucky and the Tenth Indiana； formed on the first line to resist their attack in the edge of the woods to their front。 The Tennessee regiment endeavored to flank the Fourth Kentucky on the left； while the latter regiment was resisting the rebel attack on the front in a most obstinate manner。 Carter's Tennessee brigade was ordered up in position to meet this flanking movement with a section of Kinney's battery； and the attempt of Battle's regiment was checked。
Orders were sent to Colonel McCook to advance with the Ninth Ohio and the Second Minnesota regiments。 These regiments coming up occupied the position of the Fourth Kentucky and Tenth Indiana； who by that time were out of ammunition。 As soon as this disposition of these troops had been made the enemy opened a most determined and galling fire； pressing our troops at all points。 General Thomas's command returned the fire with spirit； and holding their position the contest was maintained for half an hour on both sides most obstinately。
At this time； General Zollicoffer； being in the rear of the Nineteenth Tennessee regiment of his command； became convinced that the Fourth Kentucky （Federal） regiment was a part of his brigade； ordered the Tennessee regiment to cease firing； as they were shooting their own troops。 He then rode to the front； where he met Colonel Fry； the commanding officer of the Fourth Kentucky。 Zollicoffer stated to Fry that both commands belonged to the same side； and that firing should stop。 To this Fry assented and started to order the Fourth Kentucky to cease firing； when one of Zollicoffer's aids coming up； seeing that Fry was a Federal officer； opened fire upon him with a revolver； wounding his horse。 Fry returned the fire； shooting Zollicoffer through the heart。
Shortly after； the First and Second East Tennessee regiments of Carter's brigade and Hoskins's Kentucky regiment were placed on the left of the Second Minnesota regiment； and opening a heavy fire on the right flank of the rebel line caused it to give way。 The Second Minnesota regiment kept up a galling fire in the centre； while the Ninth Ohio charged the enemy with fixed bayonets on the left； turned that flank； and drove them from the field。 The whole rebel line then gave way； retreating in the utmost confusion and disorder to their intrenchments at Beech Grove。 Thomas ordered an immediate advance； after supplying his troops with ammunition； driving the rebels into their intrenchments。 As these were approached they were invested by the division deployed in the line of battle。 Cannonading was kept up until dark； firing being in the direction of the ferry to defeat a crossing。 During the night preparations were made for an assault on the intrenchments on the following morning。 The Fourteenth Ohio； Colonel Steedman； and the Tenth Kentucky； Colonel Harlan； reported after the fight； where placed in the front of the advance； and were the first to enter the intrenchments。 Schoepff's brigade joined the command during the evening； and was placed in position for the attack。
At midnight Crittenden abandoned everything； and between that hour and daylight escaped across the river by means of a steamer and some barges at the landing； which he burned； leaving behind him his badly wounded； all of his cann
