Crittenden's Retreat.
Somerset, Feb. 13.--I have just returned from Albany, and receiving a very graphic account of the enemy's retreat or flight from Mill Springs, after the battle of Logan's Field, by a lady living on the road a short distance above Monticello, I send you her statement. Early on Monday morning they commenced passing along the road and through the fields, some riding, some on foot. Some wagons had passed during the night. All who could seemed inclined to run. In a lot near by, some three hundred horses belonging to the tories had been kept to feed and regain strength, as they were in a very bad condition. During the forepart of the day, men passing on foot had taken every horse, often without bridle or saddle; at times a string was used in place of bridles. Not a horse was left along the road. One of their wagons would be passing along a high road; any one who would come along would cut a horse loose, mount and away. Another would follow suit, until the wagoner was left with his saddle-horse, and he would follow. She often saw as many as three men on one horse. About eleven o'clock in the morning they commenced calling on her for food; said they had not tasted food since early Sunday morning. Strange-looking men would lean against the yard-fence, call for a morsel of bread. “Oh!” said they, “we have lost everything, we are ruined,” and cried like children. One old man from Alabama, with two sons, stopped to rest a few moments. He could scarcely totter to a seat. He had been sick for months. When he started to go on, she invited him to stay. “No,” he said, “the Yankees are close after me, and will cotch and kill me.” Many others, sick and wounded, would stop a few moments, but none would remain. The dread Yankees would cotch and kill them. She told them Yankees never killed a captured foe, but it all had no effect to check their mortal fear. One man passed with his brother on his back. Two would be leading and supporting one. Three or four would be packing one. A great many wounded passed. One had an arm shot off, tied up with a rag; some of their wounds appeared to have been dressed by a surgeon. About three o'clock in the afternoon some four hundred had halted in a field near by. Some guns were fired off up the road; they rushed around and into her house and kitchen, holding up their hands in terror, saying they would be all killed, for they could run no further, and their guns were thrown away. The firing was found to be a few of their own men shooting off their own guns to reload; it was a wet day and they were constantly expecting an attack. [46] “Well,” said I, “Mrs. H., how did it affect you?” She said she would have helped to hang the last one as they went up, with a good will; but their terrible fear and distressed condition made her forget for the time their being enemies, and she and her negroes cooked and fed, and occasionally dressed their wounds till long into the night. I saw guns that had been picked up all along the road from Mill Springs to some miles below Monticello, and was told by the citizens along the road that the road and roadsides were strewn with guns, clothing, hats, shoes, etc. There were some forty sick and wounded at Monticello. They are well cared for by our Brigade-Surgeon, Dr. Strew, by order of General Thomas. Many of them expressed a determination to go home and fight no more.Baltimore American, Feb. 22.
