Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, October 19, 1861

Camp Tompkins, October 19, 1861.

Dearest: — I got your letter of last Sunday yesterday. You can't be happier in reading my letters than I am m reading yours. Very glad our little Ruddy is no worse.

Don't worry about suffering soldiers, and don't be too ready to give up President Lincoln. More men are sick in camps than at home. Sick [men] are not comfortable anywhere, and less so in armies than in good homes. Transportation fails, roads are bad, contractors are faithless, officials negligent or fraudulent, but notwithstanding all this, I am satisfied that our army is better fed, better clad, and better sheltered than any other army in the world. And, moreover, where there is want, it is not due to the general or state Government half as much as to officers and soldiers. The two regiments I have happened to know most about and to care most about — McCook's Ninth and our Twenty-third — have no cause of complaint. Their clothing is better than when they left Ohio and better than most men wear at home. I am now dressed as a private, and I am well dressed. I live habitually on soldiers' rations, and I live well.

No, Lucy, the newspapers mislead you. It is the poor families at home, not the soldiers, who can justly claim sympathy. I except of course the regiments who have mad officers, but you can't help their case with your spare blankets. Officers at home begging better be with their regiments doing their appropriate duties. Government is sending enough if colonels, etc., would only do their part. McCook could feed, clothe, or blanket half a regiment more any time, while alongside of him is a regiment, ragged, hungry, and blanketless, full of correspondents writing home complaints about somebody. It is here as elsewhere. The thrifty and energetic get along, and the lazy and thoughtless send emissaries to the cities to beg. Don't be fooled with this stuff.

I feel for the poor women and children in Cincinnati. The men out here have sufferings, but no more than men of sense expected, and were prepared for, and can bear.

I see Dr. S— wants blankets for the Eighth Regiment. Why isn't he with it, attending to its sick? If its colonel and quartermaster do their duties as he does his, five hundred miles off, they can't expect to get blankets. I have seen the stores sent into this State, and the Government has provided abundantly for all. It vexes me to see how good people are imposed on. I have been through the camps of eight thousand men today, and I tell you they are better fed and clothed than the people of half the wards in Cincinnati. We have sickness which is bad enough, but it is due to causes inseparable from our condition. Living in open air, exposed to changes of weather, will break down one man in every four or five, even if he was “clad in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.”

As for Washington, McClellan and so on, I believe they are doing the thing well. I think it will come out right. Wars are not finished in a day. Lincoln is, perhaps, not all that we could wish, but he is honest, patriotic, cool-headed, and safe. I don't know any man that the Nation could say is under all the circumstances to be preferred in his place.

As for the new governor, I like the change as much as you do. He comes in a little over two months from now.

A big dish of politics. I feared you were among croakers and grumblers, people who do more mischief than avowed enemies to the country.

It is lovely weather again. I hope this letter will find you as well as it leaves me. Love and kisses for the dear ones.

Affectionately, ever,

R. B. Hayes.

Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 119-20

Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, October 9, 1861

Camp Ewing, Mountain Cove, Six Miles Above

Gauley Bridge, Wednesday, October 9, 1861.

Dearest: — Captain Zimmerman and I have just returned from a long stroll up a most romantic mountain gorge with its rushing mountain stream. A lovely October sun, bright and genial, but not at all oppressive. We found the scattered fragments of a mill that had been swept away in some freshet last winter, and following up came to the broken dam, and near by a deserted home — hastily deserted lately. Books, the cradle, and child's chair, tables, clock, chairs, etc., etc. Our conjecture is they fled from the army of Floyd about the time of [the] Carnifax fight. We each picked up a low, well-made, split-bottom chair and clambered up a steep cliff to our camp. I now sit in the chair. We both moralized on this touching proof of the sorrows of war and I reached my tent a little saddened to find on my lounge in my tidy comfortable quarters your good letter of October 1, directed in the familiar hand of my old friend [Herron]. Love to him and Harriet. How happy it makes me to read this letter.

Tell Mother Webb not to give up. In the Revolution they saw darker days — far darker. We shall be a better, stronger nation than ever in any event. A great disaster would strengthen us, and a victory, we all feel, will bring us out to daylight.

No, I don't leave the Twenty-third. I have been with them all the time except six days. I am privileged. In the Twenty-third I am excused from duty as major being judge-advocate general. On the staff I am free to come and go as major of the Twenty-third. This of course will not relieve me from labor, but it makes me more independent than any other officer I know of.

Dr. Clendenin and Joe tent together and mess with us. Dr. Clendenin's connection with us is permanent. We are in General Schenck's brigade. He lives in our regiment and we like him.

We are now in easy two days' ride of Cincinnati by steamboat, all but thirty or forty miles. We shall stay at this place ten days at least. We are building an entrenched camp for permanently holding this gateway of the Kanawha Valley. . . .

I feel as you do about the Twenty-third, only more so. There are several regiments whose music and appearance I can recognize at a great distance over the hills, as the Tenth, Ninth, and so on, but the Twenty-third I know by instinct. I was sitting in the court-house at Buckhannon one hot afternoon, with windows up, a number of officers present, when we heard music at a distance. No one expected any regiment at that time. I never dreamed of the Twenty-third being on the road, but the music struck me like words from home. “That is the band of my regiment,” was my confident assertion. True, of course.

We have lost by death about six, by desertion four, by dismissal three, by honorable discharge about twenty-five to thirty. About two hundred are too sick to do duty, of whom about one-fifth will never be able to serve.

I was called to command parade this evening while writing this sheet. The line is much shorter than in Camp Chase, but so brown and firm and wiry, that I suspect our six hundred would do more service than twice their number could have done four months ago. . . .

You need not get any shirts or anything. We get them on this line, very good and very cheap. I bought two on the top of Mount Sewell for two dollars and forty cents for the two — excellent ones. I am now wearing one of them.

One of the charms of this life is its perpetual change. Yesterday morning we were in the most uncomfortable condition possible at Camp Lookout. Before night I was in a lovely spot with most capital company at headquarters. . . .

[R]

Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 111-2

Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, September 11, 1861

Gauley River, 8 Miles South Of Summersville,

September 11, 1861.

Dear Lucy: — Well, darling, we have had our first battle, and the enemy have fled precipitately. I say “we,” although it is fair to say that our brigade, consisting of the Twenty-third, the Thirtieth (Colonel Ewing), and Mack's Battery had little or nothing to do, except to stand as a reserve. The only exception to this was four companies of the Twenty-third, Captains Sperry, Howard, Zimmerman, and Woodward, under my command, who were detailed to make an independent movement. I had one man wounded and four others hit in their clothing and accoutrements. You will have full accounts of the general fight in the papers. My little detachment did as much real work — hard work — as anybody. We crept down and up a steep rocky mountain, on our hands and knees part of the time, through laurel thickets almost impenetrable, until dark. At one time I got so far ahead in the struggle that I had but three men. I finally gathered them by a halt, although a part were out all night. We were near half an hour listening to the cannon and musketry, waiting for our turn to come.

You have often heard of the feelings of men in the interval between the order of battle and the attack. Matthews, myself, and others were rather jocose in our talk, and my actual feeling was very similar to what 1 have when going into an important trial — not different nor more intense. I thought of you and the boys and the other loved ones, but there was no such painful feeling as is sometimes described. I doubted the success of the attack and with good reason and in good company. The truth is, our enemy is very industrious and ingenious in contriving ambuscades and surprises and entrenchments but they lack pluck. They expect to win, and too often do win, by superior strategy and cunning. Their entrenchments and works were of amazing extent. During the whole fight we rarely saw a man. Most of the firing was done at bushes and log and earth barricades.

We withdrew at dark, the attacking brigades having suffered a good deal from the enemy and pretty severely from one of those deplorable mistakes which have so frequently happened in this war — viz., friends attacking friends. The Tenth and Twenty-eighth (Irish and Second German of Cincinnati) fired on each other and charged doing much mischief. My detachment was in danger from the same cause. I ran upon the Twenty-eighth, neither seeing the other until within a rod. We mutually recognized, however, although it was a mutual surprise. It so happened, curiously enough, that I was the extreme right man of my body and Markbreit the left man of his. We had a jolly laugh and introductions to surrounding officers as partners, etc.

The enemy were thoroughly panic-stricken by the solid volleys of McCook's Ninth and the rifled cannon of Smith's Thirteenth. The Tenth suffered most. The enemy probably began their flight by a secret road soon after dark, leaving flag, ammunition, trunks, arms, stores, etc., etc., but no dead or wounded. Bowie knives, awful to look at, but no account in war; I have one. One wagon-load of family stuff — a good Virginia plain family — was left. They were spinning, leaving rolls of wool, knitting, and making bed quilts. I enclose a piece; also a pass — all queer.

They [the enemy] crossed the Gauley River and are said to be fortifying on the other side. We shall probably pursue. Indeed, Colonel Matthews and [with] four of our companies is now dogging them. We shall probably fight again but not certainly.

I have no time to write to other friends. The men are now talking to me. Besides, I want to sleep. Dearest, I think of you and the dear ones first, last, and all the time. I feel much encouraged about the war; things are every way looking better. We are in the midst of the serious part of a campaign. Goodbye, dearest. Pass this letter around — bad as it is. I have no time to write to all. I must sleep. On Sunday last, I rode nineteen hours, fifty to sixty miles, crossed a stream with more water than the Sandusky at this season at Mr. Valette's from thirty to forty times — wet above my knees all the time and no sleep for thirty-six hours; so “excuse haste and a bad pen”, as Uncle says.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

P. S. — Joe and his capital assistants are trumps.

Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 90-1

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Tuesday, September 10, 1861

Marched seventeen miles, drove enemies' pickets out of Summersville, followed nine miles to Gauley river. Enemy entrenched on a hill, high, steep, and hidden by bushes, three to six thousand strong. We get ready to attack. We have been divided into three brigades: First, General Benham's, consisting of Tenth (Colonel Lytle's Irish), Twelfth (Colonel Lowe's), and Thirteenth (Colonel Smith's) regiments; Second, Colonel McCook's — the Ninth, Twenty-eighth, and Forty-ninth; Third, — Twenty-third and Thirtieth and Mack's Battery. McMullen's Battery attached to McCook. Stewart's Cavalry, West's to headquarters, and Schaumbeck's Cavalry to McCook's.

First Brigade led the attack. We stood near half an hour listening to the heavy cannon and musketry, then were called to form in line of battle. My feelings were not different from what I have often felt before beginning an important lawsuit. As we waited for our turn to form, we joked a great deal. Colonel Matthews, Scammon, Captains Drake and Woodward, and privates — all were jolly and excited by turns.

Finally our turn came. I was told to take four companies and follow one of General Rosecrans' staff. I promptly called off Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Tenth companies. We marched over a hill and through a cornfield; the staff officer and myself leading on, until we reached the brow of a high hill overlooking the Gauley River and perhaps three-quarters of a mile from the entrenchments of the enemy. He [the officer] then said to me that I was to be on the extreme left of our line and to march forward guided by the enemy's guns, that he had no special orders to give, that I was an officer and must use my own judgment. He never had been over the ground I was to pass over; thought the enemy might retreat that way.

I marched to the wood; found it a dense laurel thicket on the side of a steep hill, rocky and cavernous; at the bottom a ravine and river and up the opposite hill seemed to be the enemy. I formed the four companies into order of battle, told them to keep together and follow me; in case of separation to push forward in the direction of the declining sun and when the firing could be heard to be guided by it. I handed my horse to one of the unarmed musicians, and drawing my sword crept, pushed, and struggled rapidly down the hill. When I reached the bottom but four or five of Company K (Captain Howard) were in sight. Soon men of Captain Zimmerman's came up and soon I gathered the major part of the four companies. I had sent Captain Woodward and twenty scouts or skirmishers ahead; they were among the unseen.

By this time it was getting late. I formed a line again extending from the river up the hill and facing towards the enemy, as we supposed. The firing had ceased except scattered shots. We pushed slowly up, our right up hill, where I was soon encountered [by] the Twenty-eighth — lost. Had a laugh and greeting with Markbreit who was on the left of the Twenty-eighth (he was my partner). The head of my column was near enough to be fired on. Two were wounded, others hit; none seriously hurt. The face of the hill on which the enemy was posted was towards precipitous rock. We could only reach them by moving to the right in front of the Twenty-eighth, Forty-seventh, and Thirteenth.

I have heard nothing clear or definite of the position, either of the enemy or ourselves. The above [drawing] is no doubt very erroneous, but is my guess. I got up nearer than anybody except the Tenth and Twelfth but was down a steep hill or precipice and concealed. Some of my men bore to the right and pushing in front of the Twenty-eighth and Forty-seventh mixed with the Thirteenth. It soon got dark; all firing ceased. I drew off single file, Captain Sperry leading; got up the hill just at complete dark; found messengers ordering us to return to the rest of our regiment, on the extreme right. Some thirty of my men were missing — Captain Woodward, Lieutenant Rice, etc., etc. I left ten sentinels along the brow of the hill to direct them where to find us. The greater part soon overtook us. We marched through lost fragments of regiments — Germans mostly, some Irish, talking of the slaughter, until we got into an old field near our regiment. There we waited. Nobody seemed nervous or anxious — all wishing for light. Talked with McCook who criticized the orders, but was in good temper; had lost three horses. Finally found our regiment and all marched off to bivouac. In the morning great cheering near the fort. Enemy had run away in a panic by a road over the hill back of their works, leaving flag, etc.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 87-9

Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, September 5, 1861

Sutton, Or Suttonville, Virginia, September 5, 1861.

DEAREST: — We are in another camp of fine views. This is the last stronghold of our army as we advance toward the enemy. We are now part of an army of from six to eight thousand and are pushing towards an advancing enemy stronger in numbers, it is said. Some time will perhaps elapse before we meet, but we are pretty certain to meet unless the enemy withdraws. This, I think, they will do. I like the condition of things. Our force, although not large, is of good regiments for the most part: McCook's Ninth, Colonel Smith's Thirteenth, Lytle's Tenth (Irish), are all here; also Colonel Moor's Twenty-eighth (Markbreit's regiment), Colonel Lowe's Twelfth, our regiment, and Colonel Porshner's Forty-ninth (Wilstach regiment) coming; also one part company of Regulars; four companies artillery, four companies cavalry. An army about as large as can well manoeuvre in these mountains. General Rosecrans is in command in person with General Benham of the Regular Army to second him. We are camped on both sides of Elk River, connected by a beautiful suspension bridge. Camps on high hills; fortifications on all the summits. “A gay and festive scene,” as Artemus Ward would say, especially about sundown when three or four fine bands are playing in rivalry.

Elk River empties into Kanawha, so that the water now dripping from my tent will pass you, perhaps, about a fortnight hence; the clearest, purest water it is too. From the tops of the high hills you can see the rocks in the river covered by ten or twenty feet of water. Nothing finer in Vermont or New Hampshire.

I have just got a letter from Dr. James [D. Webb]. Say to him, let all my letters be opened, and if any are important, send them; otherwise, not, unless from some especial friend. Send me some stamps and tell me how you are off for cash. We expect to be paid soon; if so, I can send you some three hundred to six hundred dollars.

We are to have a bore here in a few days — a court-martial on some officer in the Tenth or Twelfth, and I am to be judge-advocate, unless I can diplomatize out of it, which I hope to do.

We got today papers from Cincinnati — the Times of the 28th and the Commercial of the 2d. Think of it; only three days old! It has rumors that General Rosecrans is captured. Well, not quite. He is in good health, and the Twenty-third Regiment is his especial guard. No force can get him here without passing my tent.

Among the interesting things in camp are the boys. You recollect the boy in Captain McIlrath's company; we have another like unto him in Captain Woodward's. He ran away from Norwalk to Camp Dennison; went into the Fifth, then into the Guthries, and as we passed their camp, he was pleased with us, and now is “a boy of the Twenty-third.” He drills, plays officer, soldier, or errand boy, and is a curiosity in camp. We are getting dogs too, some fine ones; almost all the captains have horses and a few mules have been “realized” — that's the word — from Secessionists.

It is clearing off, so we shall be happy again. I am sorry you are unwell. Don't get down-spirited. We shall get through and come home again. Love and kisses for all the boys. Affectionate regards to Grandma. Jim's letters will be very acceptable. Goodbye, darling.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

P. S. — If you could see the conveniences (?) I have for writing, you would see how such a scrawl as this becomes a possibility. I have found out the day of the week and month; it is Thursday, the 5th September, 1861.

Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 85-7

Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, September 4, 1861

Bulltown, September 3, [4], 1861.  Wednesday Morning.

Dearest: — Let me say first that the army mail arrangement is perfect. All letters are got promptly here. We march forty or sixty miles to a new point. We are hardly stopped at our destination on a sidehill, in a wood or meadow, before a courier steps up and hands us, privates and all, letters just from Clarksburg. For instance, we are seventy miles over mountains from our last camping place. I had not got off of Webby before a fellow came up, “Are you the Major?” and handed me a letter from you, 27th, from Mother, 26th, from Uncle, 26th, and half a dozen others all late. The same thing is happening all the time.

We have had a forced march without tents, cooking utensils, or knapsacks over a mountain road — bridle path. I came out first best. All the horses injured except Webby. . . .

Good time here. McCook gathered his whole regiment. They serenaded us and we them. The Ninth and Twenty-third swear by each other. They Dutch, we Yankees. General Rosecrans takes command here. We go south to Sutton, etc., until we meet the enemy. Shall not write often now.

Good-bye. Blessings, love, and kisses for all.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 83-4

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Wednesday, September 4, 1861

Saw General Rosecrans and staff. Caught our guard without a salute. We go with him south today. A good time with McCook and his Ninth. Marched from Bulltown to Flatwoods on road to Sutton, about ten or eleven miles. Camped on a hill with Captain Canby's Company F of our right wing and Captain Moore's Company I, ditto. How pleasant to meet them after our long (five weeks) separation. They have had troubles, hard marches, and fun; one man shot resisting a corporal, two men in irons for a rape, and one man arrested for sleeping on post (third offence penalty death!)

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 83

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Friday, August 30, 1861

Last night Dr. Joe and I did our best to house in Mrs. Sea's barn (a good Union lady, two sons in the army), the Germans of the Ninth, who lay in the mud, without shelter. Spent today in a jolly way, resting.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 80

9th Ohio Infantry – 3 Months

Organized at Camp Harrison near Cincinnati, Ohio, April 22, 1861. Moved to Camp Dennison, Ohio, and duty there till May 27. Reorganized at Camp Dennison for three years May 27 to June 13, 1861, the first three-years Regiment from the State. Three months' men mustered out August 4, 1861.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1500

9th Ohio Infantry – 3 Years

Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, May 27 to June 13, 1861. Ordered to West Virginia June 16. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Army of Occupation, W. Va., to August, 1861. 2nd Brigade, Kanawha Division West Virginia, to November, 1861. 3rd Brigade, Army Ohio, to December, 1861. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, Army Ohio, to September, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Corps, Army Ohio, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Center 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to May, 1864.

SERVICE. – West Virginia Campaign July 6-17, 1861. Battle of Rich Mountain July 10. Capture of Beverly July 12. Duty at New Creek till August 27. At New River till November 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., November 24-December 2, thence to Lebanon, Ky., and duty there till January, 1862. Advance to Camp Hamilton January 1-17. Battle of Mill Springs January 19-20. March to Louisville, Ky., thence moved to Nashville, Tenn, via Ohio and Cumberland Rivers February 10-March 2. March to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 20-April 7. (Presented by ladles of Louisville with a National flag for gallantry at Mill Springs.) Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Ordered to Tuscumbia, Ala., June 22, and duty there till July 27. Moved to Decherd, Tenn., July 27, thence march to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 21-September 26. Pursuit of Hood into Kentucky October 1-15. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Nashville, Tenn., via Bowling Green, Lancaster, Danville and Lebanon October 16-November 7. Duty at South Tunnel opening communications with Nashville November 8 26. Guard fords of the Cumberland till January 14. 1863. Duty at Nashville, Tenn., January 15-March 6. Expedition toward Columbia March 6-14. Moved to Triune and duty there till June. Franklin June 4-5. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 27. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga, Ga., September 19-21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Brown's Ferry October 27, Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Battles of Orchard Knob November 23. Mission Ridge November 24-25. Demonstration on Dalton, Ga., February 22-27, 1864. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. Reconnoissance from Ringgold toward Tunnel Hill April 29. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-25. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Left front May 25. Mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, June 7, 1864, expiration of term.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 85 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 60 Enlisted men by disease. Total 153.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1500

The Troops at Mill Spring Fight

The 10th Indiana, Col. Manson, who bore so noble a share in the Mill Spring battle were recruited in the vicinity of Lafayette, Indiana, and the intelligence that seventy five of the regiment are killed creates a profound sensation in that community.  The citizens of Lafayette have dispatched special messengers to the scene of battle.  The Courier says in passing along the railroad crowds of people flocked to the cars, in the hope of learning some additional particulars of the great battle at Somerset.  Many and eager were the inquiries.  An old man and his wife, who had walked five miles to the station asked in trembling tones for a copy of the Courier containing a list of the killed and wounded.  We were not surprised to learn that this venerable couple had two sons, a son in law and a nephew in the gallant Tenth.

Col. McCook of the 9th Ohio regiment who was wounded at the battle near Somerset, is the honored commander of one of the best regiments in the service.  It is composed in part of German veterans, all of whom have seen service in Europe.  They were in the three months campaign in Western Virginia, and are the same who, the day previous to the battle of Rich Mountain, while lying in front of the Rebel entrenchments at Laurel Hill, sent a formal request to Gen. McClellan for a permission to storm the breastworks at the point of the bayonet, assuring the General that they could do the work in a very short time.

Standart’s, Wetmore’s and Kinney’s Batteries were among the reinforcements that came into the fight near Somerset.  Standart’s Battery has been stationed at Somerset, Kenney’s Battery has lately been at Lebanon, Wetmore’s Battery has lately been at Danville but they all came up in time to take part in the fight. – The Batteries are all Northern Ohio Batteries.  Capt. Standart is of Cleveland, Capt. Kinney is of Geneva, Ashtabula county, and Captain Wetmore of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county.  These batteries belong to Col. Barnett’s Regiment.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

Zollicoffer’s Defeat

Interesting Account by an Eye-Witness

We cut the following letter from a Cincinnati paper.  It is a spirited account of the battle.

ZOLLICOFFER’S (LATE) ENCAMPMENT,

January 20, 1862

Here I am in a cedar log cabin, inside the intrenchments of the wonderful position of old “Zolly,” to write you a letter, on contraband paper, with a contraband pen and contraband ink.  Where shall I begin – what shall I write first.  There are incidents enough, if all recounted, to fill a volume, things that took place in this, the most complete victory, and the most overwhelming, total overthrow the Secession army has yet met with in this rebellion.  To begin at the beginning, and tell the story straight.

Just at day break on Sunday morning, the 19th of January, sharp firing commenced with the pickets in the same spot where the firing was last Friday night, the long roll beat in Indiana 10th, and they formed instantly and marched to the support of their pickets.  The 10th and Kinney’s battery were close together, and a half a mile in advance of everything.  The battery got ready for action on the instant and awaited orders.  By the way, Stannard’s battery and Wetmore’s four gun battery were both in park, one on each side of Kinney’s battery.  The 1st Tennessee was about a quarter mile in the rear of these batteries, in the woods.  The 4th Kentucky, Col. Fry, was the next regiment on the road, half a mile in the rear of the batteries, it was forming as I ran past, getting to my own regiment, (for I slept in Kinney’s battery), the 2nd Tennessee another quarter of a mile in the rear of the 4th Kentucky.  By this time the cavalry were running their horses all over the country, in every direction – except towards the firing, which still continued at intervals.  The 2d was just getting breakfast, and supposing it to be only a Picket fight, kept on cooking and eating though very few had eaten anything when the column of our forces appeared coming on in our rear.  Lieutenant Colonel Trewhit promptly got us into line and double-quicked us into the road ahead of the advancing column, the 4th Kentucky had gone when we reached their encampment.  The firing still continued, and very briskly, we kept on at double-quick, all hoping and believing that we would have a chance to smell burnt powder.  But when opposite the encampment of the 10th Indiana, up rode the Colonel, and halted us for further orders, we all thought – if we didn’t say it – d---n further orders.

The 10th Indiana went into the woods about a quarter of a mile in advance of their tents to the support of their pickets and bravely did they support them, too, for over half an hour against the whole force led against them and never retreated a step, nor gave an inch of ground, until nearly surrounded by overwhelming number then, to save themselves from being entirely surrounded, they unwillingly gave way.  Here was a crisis and yell on yell went up from the lantern jawed Secessionists, they thought the day was all their own.  But happily, any disastrous consequence was prevented by the arrival of the 4th Kentucky and 9th Ohio to the support of the gallant 10th.  Again our men made a stand, now there was fighting in good earnest and the 2d Minnesota joined win with the 10th and the 4th and the 9th Ohio. – Volley after volley rattled in quick succession, and sometimes it seemed as though there was only one continuous volley, interrupted now and then by the growling of the “yellow pups,” which had been brought to bear on the enemy and when they once commenced, they distributed their favors freely in all directions, in the shape of shot and shell and, gentlemen excuse me from being the recipient of such favors. – There were only two or three shots from cannon fired by the enemy, and they were either badly armed or the pieces were out of range, for the shot did not disturb anybody.  Once they threw a shell into the air which burst when some four or five hundred feet high.  No damage was done by it, and their artillery seemed to be of no use to them whatever, while on the contrary ours seemed to be of immense use to us, and was most ably and effectively handled.  After a little more than two hours of hard fighting, a most tremendous volley of musketry followed by a ringing about from our side seemed to have decided the battle in our favor for from that time, although firing was kept up at intervals, the secessionists, whipped and cowed, began their retreat, which in about twenty minutes more became a total rout, and from the indications along the road which we afterwards passed over, the flight appeared to have been a regular race from that point back to their intrenchments to see who could get there first, and the devil take the hindmost.

All the credit and honor of this battle is due to the 10th Indiana, the 9th Ohio, the 4th Kentucky and 2d Minnesota.  For they did all the fighting, as it were, single handed, with the exception of what support they received from the artillery.  They all fought nobly, and judging from the sound of the musketry they never wavered from a fixed determination to gain the victory, and they did gain it.  The combatants where so near to each other at one time, that the powder burned their faces in the discharge of their pieces, but the underbrush was so thick that bayonets were of but little use, and a charge could hardly have been made.

The most important event of the day was the death of Zollicoffer.  Col. Fry, of the 4th Kentucky, charged up a hill by himself upon a group of mounted officers, and fired at one he conceived to be the chief among them, he fired two shots, both of them took effect, and Zollicoffer, one of the master spirits of the rebellion, fell off his horse dead.  Col. Fry was, luckily unhurt, but his horse was shot through the body, the bullet entering only a few inches behind the Colonel’s leg.  This must have been a deadener to all hopes of the secessionists had for victory, as from this moment began the retreat, and so closely did our forces push upon them that they were obliged to leave their illustrious leader where he fell, by the side of the road.

What were the East Tennesseans doing during all this engagement with their boasted bravery?  The 1st Regiment I know but little about, except that it marched towards the edge of the woods in which the firing was going on, and disappeared from sight.  As a regiment they did not fire a gun, but Lieutenant Colonel Spears who is a whole team and horse to let some way got in ahead of his men and where the fighting was, he shot a few times with his revolver, and turned round to see where his men where, when he perceived an officer in between him and where his regiment ought to be, evidently trying to cut him off.  But the officer – who turned out to be Lieutenant-Colonel Carter – waked up the wrong passenger when he got after Spears, and the tables were turned, for instead of cutting Col. Spears off, the Colonel took him prisoner and brought him back into the regiment.  The 2d Tennessee went through various sundry evolutions, they were marched and counter marched, right-obliqued and left-obliqued, right-faced and left-faced, and brought up all standing in a briar patch.

Well, finally we were formed in a line of battle, out of all harm’s way, and remained so until the firing was nearly all over, when we were double-quicked to the edge of the woods, and halted again, until the firing receded and died away entirely.

It is needless to comment upon the conduct of the Tennesseans, to say that they could have done or would have done under other circumstances.  Here is the fact what they did do, and that was simply nothing.  As to the rest, the future will decide.

Our course was now steadily forward to the main road that led to Zollicoffer’s encampment on the Cumberland.  I shall not attempt to describe the battlefield, the dead or the dying. – Of course, in all battles somebody must be killed, and somebody must be wounded, this was no exception to the general rule.  I shall mention only one of the dead – that one Zollicoffer.  He lay by the side of the road along which we all passed, and all had a fair view of what was once Zollicoffer.  I saw the lifeless body as it lay in a fence corner by the side of the road, but Zollicoffer himself is now in hell.  Hell is a fitting abode for such arch traitors!  May all the other chief conspirators in the rebellion soon share Zollicoffer’s fate – shot dead through the instrumentality of an avenging God – Their spirits sent straitway to hell, and their lifeless bodies lay in a fence corner, their faces spattered with mud, and their garments divided up, and even the hair of their head cut off and pulled out by an unsympathizing soldiery of a conquering army, battling for the right!

The March was now steadily but cautiously forward.  Two pieces of artillery were taken, one was crippled in the woods near the battle ground, and the other was stuck in the mud about a mile in the rear; also two wagons with ammunition.  No incident worth mentioning occurred on the march, which was deliberately but steadily forward, with the artillery well up, until a final halt was made, about half past four, within a mile of the breastworks of the famous fortifications on the Cumberland which have been reported impregnable.  Here the artillery was again planted, and set to work shelling the wonderful fortifications; and a continuous fire was kept up for nearly an hour.  Every shell that was thrown we could hear burst distinctly.  There was only one cannon that answered us from the breastworks, and that one sounded more like a potato pop-gun than anything else I can liken it to, and did us no damage, as the shot never reached us.  The one piece was only [fired four times. Night closed in and the firing] ceased. We all lay down on the wet ground, in perfect security, to rest our weary limbs, the distance we had come being over ten miles on the direct road, let alone the bushes and underbrush we went through, to say nothing about two or three dress-parades of the 2d for somebody's amusement, but not our own, I can assure you. And then the roads and fields were awfully cut up, and mud was plenty, as it had rained a good part of the forenoon. Our men lay down to rest without a mouthful to eat, many of whom had eaten no breakfast, but as Captain Cross said, “the man who could not fast two days over Zollicoffer's scalp, was no man at all;” and there was no grumbling, as there was necessity for it. However, the teams came up in the night with crackers and bacon.

Now here is the summary, so far as I know, up to Sunday night we were within a mile of Zollicoffer’s encampment, Zollicoffer is licked and his forces have been whipped – some two hundred of them being killed and a great many wounded, one of Crittenden’s Aids, a Lieutenant Colonel and three Surgeons are taken prisoners, but now many more I know not, two pieces of artillery and tree wagons were left, and the roads were strewed with guns, blankets, coats, haversacks and everything else that impeded flight, on our side from 20 to 30 are killed and from 80 to 100 wounded, having no prisoners taken that we know of.

On the morning of the 20th, soon after day light, several of the regiments were moved forward toward the breastworks, and a cannon ball or two fired over into them, but no answer was made, all was quiet.  The regiment moved steadily on and into their fortifications, it being ascertained that there was no one to oppose them.  The enemy having crossed the river during the night, or early in the morning, the rout was complete.  It seems as though there was a perfect panic among them, their tents having been left standing, and their blankets, clothes, cooking utensils, letters, papers, etc, all left behind.  The position is a pretty strong one, but not near so much so as we had been led to suppose. – Huts were built, nicely chinked with mud, many of them having windows in them for comfortable winter quarters.  How much work the devils have done here and how little it has profited them!  I have been wandering around all day, seeing and hearing what I could.  The Cumberland makes one side of the encampment safe, by an abrupt bank 250 feet high.  I went down to the river bottom, to which there is a road on our side.  Here were all or nearly all of their wagons, some twelve or fifteen hundred horses and mules, harness, saddles, sabres, guns, in fact, everything.  It was a complete stampede, and by far the most disastrous defeat the Southern Confederacy has yet met with.  Ten pieces of cannon, with caissons are also here.  To all appearances, they seem to have completely lost their senses, having only one object in view, and that was to run somewhere and hide themselves.

Now, to account for the battle taking place as it did.  There were 11 rebel regiments here, two being unarmed, and Zollicoffer, who was the presiding devil, although Crittenden and taken the command, thought the 10th Indiana and Kenney’s battery were just two regiments by themselves, and did not know that they were supported by the balance of the division, which was out of sight behind on account of the timber, and he conceived the happy idea of rushing upon and capturing these two regiments to get their arms to supply his own unarmed men.  So he took all the available force he had – some 8,000 or 9,000 men – and made the attack – with what result has already been shown.  Now this only goes to prove that, in order to put this rebellion down we must do something.  In this fight four of our regiments whipped and completely routed the great army that was under Zollicoffer, killed the devil himself, and maybe Crittenden too, for he has not been heard of since the battle.  The prisoners we have taken estimate our force at 20,000, bah!  We can take them any time and any place, and giving them the odds 3 to 1, whip them every time.  Their cause is a bad one, they know it, and the only way their men can be induced to fight at all, is by their leaders getting in the very front rank with them.

The 2d Minnesota, captured a banner from the Mississippi regiment, which had on it the “Mississippi Butchers.”  They may be good butchers at home, but they make a mighty awkward fist at butchering Yankees.  They and better go home and tend to their business.  Nearly every man has a trophy of this victory, there are plenty to get, certain, and I am writing this now with a Louisiana Zouave head dress and tassel on my head.

I give you a copy of two or three of the documents we found in the camp.  The following was found on a table in one of the cabins:

“COL. SPEARS – We fought bravely and desperately, but misguidedly.  We leave here under pressing circumstances, but do not feel that we are whipped.  We will yet succeed, and –”

Here the circumstances became so pressing that the writer did not want to finish the epistle.  Colonel Spears supposes the writer to be Major John W. Bridgman, of the Tennessee Cavalry.

The following was written on a piece of brown paper, with a pencil:

“JAN 19th, 1862.  FISHING CREEK.

The great battle at Fishing Creek took place.  Our loss was great.  Supposed to be eight hundred killed and wounded, and a great many taken prisoners.  We will try them again at our breastworks if they come to us.”

At the bottom of the paper, upside down is a name I cannot make out, and then Polasky.

Here as another paper which is evidently the result of a council of war, held before the force came across on the north side of the Cumberland.

“The result of your crossing the river now, will be that you will be repulsed and lose all the artillery taken over.

ESTILL.”

Dec. 14th, ’61.

“Another ‘Wild Cat’ disaster is all we can look forward to.

FULKERSON.”

“We will cross over and find that the enemy has retired to a place that we will not deem advisable to attack, and then we will return to this encampment.

LORING.”

Estill is a Colonel from Middle Tennessee. – Fulkerson is a Major, and one of the big heads of the Secession party in Tennessee.  It seems there was opposition in the camp to the move on to this side of the river, but old Zollicoffer, the head devil of the army, ruled the roost and did come over.  Some of these predictions proved to be strictly true, it did turn out to be a “Wild Cat” disaster, only worse, and they did lose all their artillery, and more than all, the old he devil Zollicoffer lost his life.  The route has been complete and total.  His whole force is entirely scattered, and if the victory is followed up across the river, they will never rally together again.

It is now nearly three o’clock in the morning while I write, and with a few reflections this already long letter – perhaps too long – shall be closed.

What a lucky thing that Zollicoffer was bold enough to attack our force, had he not done so, no battle would have been fought here for a long time.  And this victory cannot be credited to the skill of a Brigadier General.  The battle was entirely accidental, the position was entirely a chance position, and the men themselves, led by their Colonels fought the battle and won it.  The 10th Indiana got into the fight supporting their pickets, the 4th Kentucky and 9th Ohio rushed in, without orders, to support the 10th.  Whether the 2d Minnesota had orders to go in or not, I do not know. – And these four regiments did all the fighting that was done, and that was enough to whip the eight regiments Zollicoffer had in the engagement.  If these Brigadier Generals must be paid big wages by the Government, why just pay it to them and let them stay at home, for they are no earthly use among us.  Let the men go ahead and wind up this war, it can be done in two months.  Secret – do something.

Would that some abler pen could give you a full and complete account of this rout.  I considered it my duty to do my best in an attempt to describe it, but it has been hurriedly written – with a willing but weary hand, so excuse the confused parts of the letter.

FELIX.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 1

The German Regiment At Somerset

The Ninth Ohio, known as the German Regiment, under command of Col. Bob McCook, was in the battle at Somerset.  It was the 9th that decided the day by an impetuous, irresistible charge with the bayonet.  The Cincinnati Gazette remarks:

Cincinnati has had high hopes of this Regiment of her sons, and she is proudly gratified that her hopes are thus renewedly [sic] realized.  All honor to the German Ninth, and the well tried leader, and let their city, like the Roman matron preserve their names and fame among her brightest jewels.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 1

The special boast of the rebels . . .

. . . during the war, has been their ability to destroy their enemies in hand to hand combat.  They have constantly flattered themselves that the superiority of their troops in fighting with the bayonet and bowie knife was an indisputable fact.  The Mississippians have prided themselves on the tremendous slaughter they would be able to inflict upon the Yankees with the bowie knife. – It must be especially disheartening to them to learn that at the battle of Webb’s Cross roads these terrible Mississippians with bowie knives two feet long, ran panic stricken before the leveled bayonets of the 2nd Minnesota and the 9th Ohio regiments.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 1

The ladies of Louisville . . .

. . . have it in contemplation to present a flag to each of the regiments engaged in the Mill Spring fight, the Fourth Kentucky, Tenth Indiana, Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2

The following from Col. R. L. McCook’s report . . .

. . . of the part taken by his brigade at the battle of Cumberland as he calls it cannot be too often or conspicuously printed.

“Seeing the superior number of the enemy and their bravery I concluded the best mode of settling the contest was to order the 9th Ohio Regiment to charge the enemy’s position with bayonet, and turn his left flank.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 8, 1862, p. 2

Flag Presentation

LOUISVILLE, Feb. 25. – the 9^th Ohio and 2^nd Minnesota regiments this afternoon received two spending flags from the loyal ladies of Louisville in commemoration of their victory at Mill Spring, January 19^th.  Considerable enthusiasm was added to the presentation.

A deserter from the rebel army arrived at Mumfordsville to-day, reports the national flag floating over Nashville, and that the rebels pretend to be concentrating 20,000 men at Murfreysboro [sic] intending to give battle there.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 3