AEMY OPERATIONS. 



27 



military power, with unbroken success, for constitu- 

 tional freedom, and for her own national government. 

 Where is your spirit of other days, that you do not 

 rush to her victorious standard ? Shall the sons of 

 Tennessee, Virginia. Mississippi, and other Southern 

 States, with whom you have gathered the laurels on 

 other battle fields, win them all in this war of inde- 

 pendence, while you are inactive and lost in slothful 

 indolence ? May the proud genius of my native Ken- 

 tucky forbid it. " 



In" these mountains, where freedom and patriotism 

 stir the human heart, can you sleep with the clarion 

 of a glorious war ringing in your ears? True, you 

 have refused to bear the arms and wear the livery of 

 Northern despotism. Their base hirelings have been 

 among you, but have not seduced you into their ranks. 

 "Will yo'u stay at home and let noble bands of soldiers, 

 armed in your cause as in their own, pass on to battle 

 fields, on 'your own soil, consecrated by no deed of 

 your valor 1 



Having assumed command of the forces of the Con- 

 federate States on Cumberland river, in south-eastern 

 Kentucky, I make this appeal to you. You are already 

 assured that we come among you as friends and 

 brothers, to protect you in your personal liberties and 

 property, and only to make war against the invaders 

 of your "home and our common enemies. I invoke you 

 to receive us as brothers, and to come to our camp and 

 share with us the dangers and the honor of this strug- 

 gle. Come to these headquarters, as individuals or fn 

 companies, and you will b.e at once accepted and mus- 

 tered in with pay and arms from the Government of 

 the Confederate "States. At first many Kentuckians 

 entered the army of the South for the "great cause it 

 supports ; now this has become the cause of Kentucky, 

 and it is your duty to espouse it. Duty and honor 

 unite in this call upon you. Will you join in the mov- 

 ing columns of the South, or is the spirit of Kentucky 

 dead? GEO. B. CRITTENDEN, Major-General. 



Previous to the junction of the force of 

 Gen. Crittenden with that of Gen. Zollicoffer, 

 Gen. Buell, in command of the Federal depart- 

 ment, with his headquarters at Louisville, had 

 detached from his main body a division under 

 Gen. Geo. H. Thomas to attack the rear of 

 Gen. ZollicoS'er, whose position was a strong 

 one. It was about fifteen miles south-west of 

 Somerset, forty miles south-east of Columbia, 

 and six miles below the head of steamboat navi- 

 gation. It was considered to be one of the 

 three Confederate strongholds in Kentucky 

 the first being Columbus, in the extreme 

 West ; the second. Bowling Green in central 

 Kentucky ; and the third, this one in the south- 

 east, commanding the coal mines and many of 

 the salts wells south of the Cumberland, and 

 suitable to check any Federal advance into 

 east Tennessee. The hills on the immediate 

 bank of the river are between three and four 

 hundred feet in height and their summits were 

 fortified. The actual situation of the Con- 

 federate force has been variously represented. 

 It was nearly destitute of supplies, and upon 

 hearing of the approach of the Federal force, 

 the choice was presented to Gen. Crittenden, 

 either to retreat without striking a blow, or to 

 remain in his position and be stormed out, or 

 to surrender upon the approach of starvation, 

 or to make an advance. The latter measure 

 was chosen, and for this reason the Confederate 

 general was found without his intrenchments 

 and making an attack upon the approaching 



force. It is probable, however, that the Fed- 

 eral force was supposed to be much smaller than 

 it in truth was, and hence the Confederate 

 general was tempted to advance and make 

 an attack. That day (Sunday) he was defeated 

 and retired to his intrenchments. During the 

 night he abandoned his camp, and by the aid 

 of a small steamboat crossed the Cumberland 

 with his entire force. The Federal forces most 

 actively engaged were : the 9th Ohio, Col. 

 McCook ; 2d Minnesota, Col. Van C'leve ; 4th 

 Kentucky, Col. Fry : 10th Indiana, Col. Hun- 

 son ; with the batteries of Capts. Stanhart and 

 Wetmore. These were supported by the 14th 

 Ohio, Col. Steadman: and the 10th Kentucky, 

 Col. Haskin. The force of Gen. Schcepff came 

 np and joined in the pursuit. The Confederate 

 force consisted of the loth Mississippi, Col. 

 Walthal : 19th Tennessee, Col. Cummings; 

 20th Tennessee, Capt. Battle ; 25th Tennessee, 

 Capt. Stouton; 17th Tennessee, Col. Newman; 

 28th Tennessee, Col. Murray ; 29th Tennes- 

 see. Col. Powell ; 16th Alabama, Col. Wood, 

 with two batteries. The Federal loss was 38 

 killed and 194 wounded ; the Confederate loss 

 was 190 killed (among whom was Gen. Zolli- 

 cofter), 60 wounded, and 89 prisoners. The 

 forces of Gen. Thomas and Gen. Crittenden 

 were about equal. The force of Gen. Schcepff, 

 howevtr. was equal to a reserve for Gen. Tho- 

 mas. The artillery of Gen. Thomas was of 

 longer range than the Confederate guns. 



The following order of thanks was issued by 

 President Lincoln in consequence of this vic- 

 tory : 



"WAR DEPARTMENT, January 2-2, 1S62. 



The President, commander-in-chief of the army and 

 navy, has received information of a brilliant victory 

 achieved by the United States forces over a large body 

 of armed traitors and rebels at Mill Springs, in the 

 State of Kentucky. 



He returns thanks to the gallant officers and soldiers 

 who won that victory ; and when the official reports 

 shall be received, the military skill and personal valor 

 displayed in battle will be acknowledged and reward- 

 ed in a fitting manner. 



The courage that encountered and vanquished the 

 greatly superior numbers of the rebel force, pursued 

 and attacked them in their intrenchments, and paused 

 not until the enemy was completely routed, merits and 

 receives commendation. 



The purpose of this war is to attack, pursue, and 

 destroy a rebellious enemy, and to deliver the country 

 from danger menaced by traitors. Alacrity, daring, 

 courageous spirit, and patriotic zeal, on all occasions 

 and under every circumstance, are expected from the 

 army of the United States. 



In the prompt and spirited movements and daring 

 battle of Mill Springs, the nation will realize its hopes, 

 and the people of the United States will rejoice to 

 honor every soldier and officer who proves his courage 

 by charging with the bayonet and storming intrench- 

 ments, or in the blaze of" the enemy's fire. 



Bv order of the President. 



EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. 



This victory opened the path into east Ten- 

 nessee, but no advantage was taken of it by the 

 Federal Government. It also produced an 

 exhilaration in the North far above its im- 

 portance. 



