the army of the cumberland-第4节
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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 cannontwelve pieceswith their caissons packed with ammunition； a large amount of small arms； with ammunition for the same； over one hundred and fifty wagons； and more than one thousand horses and mules； with a large amount of tools； stores； camp and garrison equipage。
As all the boats were destroyed； it was impossible for Thomas to cross his command in pursuit。 General Thomas in his official report of the engagement says： 〃Their command was completely demoralized and retreated with great haste and in all directions； making their capture in any number quite doubtful if pursued。 There is no doubt but that the moral effect produced by their complete dispersion will have a more decided effect in re…establishing Union sentiments than though they had been captured。〃
The rebels suffered terribly by heavy marching through the rain； mud； and cold； with insufficient food； frequently with nothing but parched corn to sustain life。 Crittenden finally took position at Chestnut Mound； within reach of relief from Nashville。
In the Life of Albert Sidney Johnston； speaking of Crittenden's retreat； the author says： 〃During his retreat his army became much demoralized； and two regiments； whose homes were in that neighborhood； almost entirely abandoned their organization and went every man to his own house。 A multitude deserted； and the tide of fugitives filled the country with dismay。〃
The battle fought at Logan's Cross Roads； called by the rebels the Battle of Fishing Creek； and by the Federals the Battle of Mill Springs； was most disastrous to the enemy； and inflicted the most severe blow they had up to that time experienced。 The victory for the Federal forces was the first complete success of the war； and was hailed everywhere with joy and hope。 An order was issued by the President congratulating the troops on their success； and the general in command conveyed his thanks to General Thomas and troops for their brilliant victory。
Thomas's command lost in the engagement 39 killed； and 207 wounded。 He reported the rebel loss at 122 killed； and the total loss at 349。 The large proportion of killed to the wounded indicates heavy fighting at close quarters； and also a superiority of either the arms of the Federal troops or their firing。
The body of General Zollicoffer was treated with great respect。 General Thomas had it embalmed and carried around by Lebanon。 It was then sent to General Buell through his lines under a flag of truce。 Zollicoffer's death was a very depressing event to the Tennesseeans。 He was their most popular leader； and his death was felt by the people of Tennessee as a personal bereavement。
Crittenden's attack and defeat were a great surprise to Johnston。 This force had been ordered to Mill Springs to maintain that point of the general military line as a corps of observation merely。 With the attack and defeat Johnston found his line broken； his position at Bowling Green liable to be turned on that flank； and an army on which he counted demolished。 This with his losses on his left in Western Kentucky and at Fort Henry compelled his main command at Bowling Green to abandon that place； and retire into Tennessee。 Thomas； after the battle of Mill Springs； concentrated his command at Somerset； awaiting orders。 He was ordered to Mumfordsville； February 15th； to take part in the general advance against Bowling Green。 These orders were countermanded by reason of the evacuation of that place； on the 14th； and on the 22d； Thomas was ordered with his division to proceed by forced marches to Louisville； and there embark for Nashville。 The command arrived at Nashville on the 2d； 3d； and 4th days of March。
Chapter III。
Concentration at Nashville
Don Carlos Buell； who was placed in command of the Department of the Ohio on Sherman's request to be relieved； had been serving from the early summer of 1861 as Assistant Adjutant…General on the staff of Brigadier…General E。 V。 Sumner； U。S。A。； in command of the Department of the Pacific。 He had been promoted to the rank of lieutenant…Colon
