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| Map of the battle of Mill Spring.1 |
Jan. 19, 1862. |
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about five miles from the latter place, to await attack, and then sent a courier to inform Thomas of the situation.
The commanding general hastened forward to view the position, when he found the Confederates advancing through a corn-field, to flank the Fourth Kentucky.
He immediately ordered up the Tennessee brigade and a section of artillery, and sent orders for Colonel R. L. McCook to advance with his two regiments (Ninth Ohio, Major Kaemmerling, and Second Minnesota, Colonel H. P. Van Cleve) to the support of the vanguard.
The battle was opened at about six o'clock by the Kentucky and Ohio regiments, and Captain Kinney's Battery, stationed on the edge of the field, to the left of the Fourth Kentucky.
It was becoming very warm when McCook's reserves came up to the support of the Nationals.
Then the Confederates
opened a most galling fire upon the little line, which made it waver.
At that moment it was strengthened by the arrival of the Twelfth Kentucky, Colonel W. A. Hoskins, and the Tennessee Brigade, who joined in the fight.
The conflict became very.
severe, and for a time it was doubtful which side would bear off the palm of victory.
The Nationals had fallen back, and were hotly contesting the possession of a commanding hill, with Zollicoffer's Brigade, when that General, who was at the head of his column, and near the crest with Colonel Battle's regiment, was killed.
The Confederate General Crittenden immediately took his place, and, with the assistance of Carroll's Brigade, continued the struggle for the hill for almost two hours. But the galling fire of the Second Minnesota, and a heavy charge of the Ninth Ohio with bayonets on the Confederate flank, compelled the latter to give way, and they retreated toward their camp at Beech Grove, in great confusion, pursued by the victorious Nationals to the summit of Moulden's Hill.
From that commanding point Standart's and Wetmore's Batteries could sweep the Confederate works, while Kinney's Battery, stationed near Russell's house on the extreme left, opened fire upon the ferry, to prevent the Confederates from escaping across the Cumberland.
Such was the situation on Sunday evening,
at the close of the battle, when Thomas was joined by the Fourteenth Ohio, Colonel Stedman, and the Tenth Kentucky, Colonel Harlan; also by General Stedman, and the Tenth Kentucky, Colonel Harlan; also by General
1 References.--the figures 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, and 6, refer to the first and succeeding positions of the Tenth Indiana regiment in the battle; 8, denotes the Second position of the Fourth Kentucky; 9, the Second position of the Second Minnesota; 10, the third position of the same; and 11, the Second position of the Ninth Ohio.
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