At about five o’clock we had succeeded in driving the enemy behind their intrenchments at Mill Springs, being a distance of eight miles from where the battle commenced. Reinforcements had now come up, and though the men were nearly exhausted, having eaten nothing since early morning, and were saturated with the rain, the guns were soon got in position, and opened with shell on the enemy’s works. The Rebels replied with a few ineffectual shot, their shell falling far short of their destination. Kinney’s and Wetmore’s Batteries were also engaging the enemy from different positions. About eight in the evening the enemy’s guns were silenced, and in a short time the firing ceased altogether. An hour later quiet reigned in the camp.
Our weary men now stretched themselves on the cold, damp ground, to obtain a little repose from the toils of the day. All slept near their post of duty, and were ready to spring into action at sound of the bugle. At early dawn they were at their stations, to renew the battle; but no sound came from the enemy’s camp.
It was now determined to make a grand charge, and storm the Rebel works. All the forces were drawn up in line of battle, and, at the same time, our guns were got in readiness to open on the enemy. At last the word to charge was given, and with a loud yell, the brave troops rushed forward, and were soon scaling the entrenchments. But what was their surprise, when reaching the top of the breastworks, to find the place evacuated. The birds had flown; or to use their own favorite phrase, “skedaddled.” They had succeeded in crossing the river in a small steamer. A shell from our battery struck the boat just as it had crossed for the last time. The shell exploded, setting the boat on fire, and it was soon burned to the water’s edge.
Having no means of crossing our forces, we were unable to follow them up. They had attempted to get part of their guns over the river, but our near approach prevented them from doing so. They left several sticking fast in the mud. A large number of the Rebels could yet be seen climbing the hill on the opposite side of the river, when a few shell thrown among them caused them to scatter in wild confusion. So great was their fright, and in such a hurry were they to get away, that they left everything behind, even to their half-cooked rations. They saved nothing, except what they had on their backs.
The result of this glorious victory to the Union cause, is summed up as follows: From three hundred to four hundred of the enemy killed and wounded, and two hundred taken prisoners. About fifteen hundred horses and mules, five hundred wagons and harness, fourteen guns, with caissons and equipments complete, five thousand muskets, together with a large quantity of provisions, clothing and ammunition, fell into our hands. But the best of all, by this victory we succeeded in freeing this part of Kentucky of the secesh army, much to the gratification of the good Union people.
This was the first, of a series of brilliant victories that soon followed. The enemy’s force in this engagement, was about ten thousand; while our force, actually engaged, did not exceed three thousand five hundred—they having about three to our one. Our men got a large quantity of trophies, in the shape of guns, revolvers, watches and clothing.
The following list comprises our force engaged in the battle: Tenth Indiana, Fourth Kentucky, Ninth Ohio, Second Minnesota, part of the First Tennessee, all Infantry, and a portion of Woolford’s Cavalry, together with our own and Kinney’s and Wetmore’s Batteries, First Ohio Artillery.
This battle has been given several names; such as, battle near Somerset, battle of Fishing Creek, Logan’s X Roads, Old Fields, and Mill Springs. It is better known by the last mentioned.
It was not until Wednesday evening, the 22d of January, that our battery arrived in Camp at Somerset, having been absent six days. Although the men were well nigh worn out, yet all were in high spirits over their late victory, and for a long time it was the only thing talked of.