The New York Herald Newspaper, January 25, 1862, Page 1

THE NEW YORK HERALD. PRICE TWO CENTS. WHOLE NO. 9267. NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1862. noon had passed away, did the conflict rage. It had coa- imnpregnable, © Zellicofiec’s den,” as it had come to be | plausibility,and so minute a specification of time and THE BATTLE OF MILL tinued without any decided advantage on either sido, he, on Sunday last, ventured @ field fight and at. }y place and circumstance, that they are caloulated, if pos- {I within half an hour of the conclusion of the ‘Thomas’ ‘division, which was advancing le, to deceive the very elect. and until wi oo a upon him from the direction of Columbia, in combination For instance, nothing seemed to be better established Dattle the result was doubtful. And it is not impro- | with a movement of General Schoepff's divialon on the than that the two well known and yesterday The Rebels Overcome by the Superior able that it might have resulted less honorably for | Other side from Somerset. Zollicoffer’s intention was | excellent officers belonging to this division had been cap- Interesting Correspondence Between the THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. North Carolina Rebels in # probably to attack there divisi in detail with su; tured by the enemy, together with quite a number of Rebel General Price and Major ourselves had not one of thove chances which so often | Por force. on the Nepoleasic spatom. Tho plan was | men; and had I been disposed to credit it without search- Flutter Fighting of the Union ‘Troops. influence such evonts decided it in our favor. good, but lacked one Napoleonic feature in the execu- | ing inguiry,I might have sent you a regular sensation General Halleck, . . ‘At about ten minutes past three o'clock the Fourth | Sion.’ Instead of beating the divisious in detail, the re- | dispatch. But with a small amount of trouble, I speedily po weak Kentucky regiment, deploying on the flank of the rebels, sult was s total rout. Occupying both sides of the river, | ascertained that the whole report was without any good &e., &., ¢ rebels had excellent means of crossing, and rapidly | foundation. I shall soon be able to gi INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE BATTLE, by some means approached the position assumed by the | retreated by means of the boats, but still in too great | account of the circumstances which gave rise to it. rebel general commanding, and @ shot from the pistol of | haste to prevent the same means of transit being om- It is Sunday; but the atmesphere ef a camp upon this &., &., a&. Colonel Fry is said to have inflicted the wound which re- | Ployed by an enemy Gushed with victory, since our Inst holy day is very different from that which prevails at Bight’s despatch: i bad | home. qudted io the death efGeneral Zollicofier. Colonel Balle | seca’ the teen nn crm us that General Shomes you a detailed THE MILITIA OF THE STATE CALLED ODT. Sr. Louw, Jan. 23, 1862. ‘The following is the correspondence which has taken Place between Generals Price and Halleck :— ‘boats and was hard after Zollicoffer’s flying Our Special Army Correspondence THE FIRST MOVEMENT OF GEN. THOMAS’ FORCES— WHEN IT COMMENCED—NATURE OF THE COUNTRY OF THE BATTLE—THE TROOPS UNDER GEN. OCHORPY?—THE DEATH OF THE REBEL GENERAL— BOW AND BY WHOM HE WAS KILLED—A PANIO AMONG THB REBELS—THB PURSUIT—RESULTS OF THR ACHISVEMENT, BTC., BTC. Sommrser, Ky., Jan. 21, 1862. ‘The long inaction of the army in this State has at length been ended, and a glorious and complete victory has awakened the troops from their lethargy. The late movements of Gen. Thomas, of which, though not igno- rant, I have been heretofore silent, have achieved the aim proposed, and I hasten to send you all details at hand. ‘rhe telegraph has sent you many particulars, and per- haps much I now write will have reached you ere this ‘account, which is made up in the confusion of the camp. The movements of Gen. Thomas, commanding the Fourth division of the army of Gen. Buell, which had any relation to his latest achievement, were begun as carly as the Ist of the month, when the principal part of his @ivision took up its position at Columbia, in Adair county, having left the brigades of Gen. Alvin Schoepff and Gen. Carter ten miles west of Somerset, and about the samo or little less distance north of Gen. Zollicoffer’s intronch- mentson the Cumberland. Gen. Thomas had marched the brigades of Generals Boyle, Ward, Manson, &., from their oncampments at Lebanon, Bardstown and other points to one large encampment at Oolumbia, from whence he designed making the flank movement, which, though not completed as intended» ‘and frustrated in one important particular, has yet re- sulted in the signal defeat of this part of the rebel army, with a force the full and exact number of which I am not now able to send, but certainly comprising the greater part of the two brigades of Generals Boyle and Manson. Among the forces engaged in the fight it is eertain there were the Tenth Indiana, Ninth Ohio, Seeond Minne- seta, Tenth and Fourth Kentucky, and the Fighteenth regulars. The Tenth Indiana and Eighteesth regulars ‘were reinforcements which reached General Thomas on Saturday morning, and they were compelled to make a forced march of over twenty-five miles to reach the po- sition in time for the affair. ‘This position, to which General Thomas had proceeded, and in which he had halted on Saturday night with a view Of crossing the Cumberland and proceeding southeast to Monticello, is about six miles east of Jamestown and twelve miles west of Mill Spring, or the intrenchments of Zollicoffer, at White Oak creek. A country road lead” fmg to Jamestown runs due east for six miles, crossing two smal! streams and traversing a rolling country, thence, taking @ turn southeast and crossing the Cum- Derland, continues in the same direction to Mon- ticello. In tho immediate -vicinity of the two small streams crossed by this road the country is quite hilly, and to the south becomes rough and rugged, culminating in the lofty crags that form the bauks of the Cumberland ‘atthis point. The road named, however, avoids these rags, and, following the course of a small stream two miles further east, finds a good descent and crossing at the river. Here isa SKETCH OF THE BATTLE FIELD AND ITS VICINITY. Peyton, Jr., son of the ex-member of Congress trom Ten- neasee, had been killed at an earlier hour. The death of their general, added to that of their most prominent Tegimental officer, created a consternation among the rebels which became a panic, and caused their rapid re- treat at half-past three from the battlo field. In their rapid flight the bodies of two hundred and eight men were left lying dead upon the field, and among these wero the bodies of Zollicoffer and Peyton. They a'so de- serted a flag, which was picked up on the field. Our own loss Icannot positively state, and the telegraph will pre. cede me, and J shall be fortunate if, in this country of oc- | casional mails and no Adams Express, the official report does not get ahead of me. ‘ General Thomas did not halt the eager columns who had engaged the rebels all the long and desperate day, ‘but began the pursuit with vigor. The retreat became a panic more terrible than the famous one of Bull Run; for close upon the heels of the frightened rebels followed the animated and victorious Unionists. Into their intrench- ments they fled at nightfall, and our little army, sinking on the western cliffs of White Oak creek, lay on their arms till morning, ready to storm the den beyond the stream. But when morning dawned they marched into the intrenchments unopposed, and with colors flying. The two forces of Thomas and Schoepff, combining, crossed Cumberland river at Mill Spring, and again bogan th® Pursuit of the scattered rebels. ‘The result of this pur- suit, 1 have learned since beginning this letter, was tho capture of a very large portion of the force; but go im. probable sounds the number that Ican hardly give it credence and the benefit of an expression. The result of this splendid.achievement has been the defeat and destruction of an army of 10,000 men, and, doubtless, their utter demoralization. It has removed from the left flank of our army the only obstruction that prevented its marching on Bowling Greev. It has left General Thomas’ division free to act as the left wing of the main army, composed of the First, Second and Third divisions, and we shall doubtless have vigorous move- ments on the part of Generals McCook, Nelson and Crit- tenden, in accordance with this one on General Thomas’ part. Wo have gained and now hold possession of the in- trenchments of White Oak creek and Mill Spring. We have taken eighteet# pieces of artillery and many pieces mounted on the works. All their ammunition, an im. portant feature among the spoils, has fallen into our bands, as well as eighty-three wagon loads of various valuable stores, all their camp equipage and horses. All their means of transportation were captured, besides cer- tain trophics in the shape of flags. While General Schoepff did not play as prominenta part as was hoped, it is not to be presumed that he was idle, ‘With bis plans entirely disarranged by the unanticipated Movement of Zollicoffor, he was left without orders, and could only use his best judgment, founded on the scant in- formation he had of the situation, in attempting to cut off the retreat of the rebeis. But the character of the coun- try defeated his plans for advancing, and no idea could be entertained of attacking the intrenchments on the insuffli- cient information which he possessed. Had General Schoepff known the position he mighy possibly have stormed the intrenchments and wrested them from the hands of the two thousand reserves holding them. I will write from Mill Spring to night. Whether a mail will convey my letter to you from that point or not it is impossible to state. 1 will send full details. Telegraphic, Cincrexati, Jan. 24, 1862. This morning’s papers contain full accounts of the battle of Mill Spring. It was a fuir open battle. The forces beyond the Cumberland, their leader and nearly three hundred of his men being left dead upon the feld, their stores and camps and late intrenched position abandoned to the enem: The Rebels Won’t Believe the Accounts of Zollicoffer’s Defeat. Battimon, Jan. 24, 1862. The Norfolk Day Book publishes the Union accounts of the defeat of Gen. Zollicoffer, and says that it does not be- lieve a word of it, and that it is | Wall street lie, got up to raise the spirits of the Yankees after their defeat at Tronton by Jeff. Thompson. The Richmond Dispatch has the following in regard to the Union accounts of the fight at Somerset, Ken- tucky:-— We publish a batch of the federaldespatches, and do not believe that there isa word of truth in them. The fact is, as the reader will perceive on reading the money article of the New York Evening Post, that stocks were going down at such a rapid rate, owing to the failure of the Burnside expedition and the licking the fedorals re- cently got at the hands of Jef. Thompson, that it was necessary tosteam up in some way or other to keep down the rebellion at home. So they resorted to these despatches, thefr regular plan of operating on the stock market and of keeping their spirits up. We sus- pect that General Zollicoffer has given them @ licking, ashe commenced the attack, according to their own ac- count, as contained in one of their despatches, and it is not likely that so prudent a commander ‘Zoliicoffer would have opened the ball on thom and 8 wuffered }- them to defeat him so easily. The whole yarn is ‘‘fiahy” and smells strongly of Wall street stock operations. NEWS FROM CENTRAL KENTUC! {Special correspondence of the Cincinnati “con | Camp Guorce Woop, Mowrorpsvit1z, Jan. 17, 1862. AN ALARM. One month ago, this three P. M., commenced the: ment between the brave Germans under Willich an equally brave Texan cavalrymen, supported by rebeb in- fantry and artillery, the result of which the country has been informed, wag a decisive victory to onr arms; an hour and a hbaifcarlier on this monthly auniversary an excited rider reined in his foaming and splashed steed in front of headquarters, and startled the Gencral with the information that the rebels were advancing upon us in force, the head of their column being at'the moment this side of Horse Cave, only six miies south of this point, on the Louisville apd Nashville turnpike; that our pickets composed of the Seventy-seventh and Seventy- ninth Ponnaylvania, had taken position in our intrench- ments, on the south bank of Green river and were awaiting the enemy. This seems to be the state of the case. Instantly the General issued orders to command- ors of brigades to marshal their regiments at once for ac- tion; and in ap incredibly short space of time the long roll was sounding throughout the camp. Then Generals McCook, Johnston and Rousseau, and their staffs, dashed off in the direction of the pontoon bridge which crosses Green river, and soon they could be seen wording their way up the south bank, and off into the ‘woods beyond the brow. In the meantime the regiments were swarming on the north bank, chailng for orders to cross. They were not kept waitmmg many minutes. Down the bank went the First Wisconsin; then came Johnston's brigade, which crossed over in the following order:—Thirty-second Indiana, Seventy eighth Pennsy|- ‘vania, Fifteenth Ohio and Forty-ninth Ohio. It ao hap- pened that most of the regiments passed over the brow of the bill where, under an elim tree, sleep the mortal ree maips of the brave Germans who fell in battle just the month previous. May itnot have been that these new graves, festooned as they were with evergreens, with | neatly planed boards telling the story of their fall, and withal the remembrance of the Spartan bravery of the inmates—inay it not have been, I say, that this sight and its memories nerved anew each arm and inspired every breast with the thought that to them it must be victory or deathy It certainly seemed 80, as their comrades of the Thirty-second passed by the graves they breke forth into a joyous song,and even when the distance dwarfed them into Pigmies far up the hill on the opposite side, you could faintly hear their rich German voices. They soon dis- in the woods, taking position as skirmishers NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE GULF. Cedar Keys, Florida, Taken by the Federal Forces. Capture of a Rebel Schooner at the Mouth of Mobile Bay, diers have been subj Baurnony, Jan. 24, 1862. ‘The boat from Old Point has arrived, but it brings no ndtvs of importance. ‘A flag of truce took three released prisoners to Norfolk, and brought back sevoral ladies and gentlemen. ‘The storm at the South still continues. The Norfolk Day Book contains the follewing de- Savanwan, Jan. 22,1862. ‘The Republican of this morning learns from a gentle- manfrom Florida that Cedar Keys was captured by the federals on Thursday. Heavy firing was heard in that direction on the same day. {Cedar Keys are a group of small islands on the west const of Florida, near the entrance of the Wacca-sassa Hay, and about eighteen miles south of the mouth of the Suwanveriver. They are at the western terminus of the Flo- rida Railroad connecting with Fernandina, and their poases- sion by the Union forces cuts off one of the most important routes the rebels enjoyed betweon the Atlantic and the Gulf.—Eprron Henan.) . Mose, Jan. 22, 1862. ‘The schooner Wilder, from Havana, was captured on the 20th, three miles below Fort Morgan. Moan, Jan. 21, 1862. Cottrell’s company hada sharp contest yeater- No loss of life on our ig and @ number of the achooner Wilder. side. The enemy lost the ship’s men, but succeeded in taking possession of the schooner THE CAPTURE OF BILOX. Additional Particulars of the Naval Ex- pedition to the Bay of Biloxi, Missis- Wasmxaton, Jan. 24, 1862. Tho Navy Department has received despatches from Flag Officer McKean, dated Ship Island, January 8, in which he reports the agrival at that place of the United States steamer Mercedita and United States gunboats Winona and Sagamore. By the first named he had re- ceived the communication of the Secretary of the Navy, and says, in accordance therewith, he shall despatch the frigate Potomac to Vera Cruz. Having been informed on the 31st of December that a Rebel steamer was at anchor near Biloxi, he despatched Smith, with tho steamers Water Witch, New London and Henry Lewis, to endeavor to capture he ‘but upon reaching Biloxi it was found she had been re- moved. Commander Smith demanded the surrender of the town, which was complied with, and a detachment of seamen and marines was landed, a small sand battery de- stroyed, and two guns, a nine and six pounder, brought off. ‘The place was found to be almost deserted by the male population, but it was crowded with women and children, ‘Tho schooner Captain Spedden, loaded with lumber, was also captured and brought out by the Henry Lewis. She Heapquarrers, Missouri StaTe GUARD, Spauwavie.p, Jan. 12, 1862. Guverat—I have received information that you, as Major General, commanding this department, have either ordered or allowed the arrest of citizens in pursuit of their usual and peaceful avocations,and that men, off cers and privates, belonging to this army, havi taken prisoners on the Farsas border and conveyed to Fort Leavenworth, an’ as such, and for no other estab- lished offence or criaue, have been shot. been In some cases i have learned that my discharged sol- to the same thing whonever and wherever they have shown themscives,and that in others they have been by military coercion forced into a servitude unknown to international and civilized usages ip such cases. Thave obtaimed information that individuals and par- ties of men specially appointed by me to destroy rail- Toads, culverts and bridges, by tearing them up, burn- ing, &c., have been arrested and subjected to general court martial for alleged crimes, which all the laws of warfare heretofore recognized by the civilized world have regarded as distinctly proper and lawful. Ihave learned thatsuch persons, when tried victed of the offence or offences as stated, as lawful subjects for capital punishment. ‘These statements I cannot believe to be correct. But Jet us understand each other on the subject. Do you in- ordinary peseefal parsuts, and to treat themn as taitors ‘and to treat them as 18 and rebels? If 20, will you make exchanges with me for such as I may or will make for similar cases? intend to regard meinbers of this army ny sons ing of death whenever and wherever they may be captured? or will you extend to them the recog- sed aug oe prisoners of war by the code of civilized war! Do you regara the destruction of important roads for the transportation of facilities for military purposes as the legal right of a belligerent? Do you intend to regard men whom I have specially de- " to destroy roads, burn bridges, tear up cul- verts, &c., asamenabdle to an enemy’s court martial, or will you have them tried as usual, by the proper civil authorities, Lei po of the State? iG PRICK, Major General, Commanding the Department of Missouri. ‘The following is General Halleck’s reply: Heapquanrens, DaraRruent or Missouri, ‘Sr. Lour, a. 22, 1862. ‘our letter, dated Springfield, January 12, ig received. The troops of which you complain, on the Kansas frentier and at Fort Leavenworth, are not under if con- viewed to Major David . the mr algo complain thst individuals abd parties of tes ‘You also compiain ividuals and parties of men especially appointed and by you to de- individuals and parties of men violate the laws of war, they will be tried, and, if found guilty, will certainly be punished, whether acting under your special appoint- ment and instructions or not. You must be aware, Gene- ral, that no order of yours can save from puvishment spies, marauders, robbers, incendiaries, guerrilla bands, &c., who violate the laws of war. You cannot give im- munity tocrimes. But let us fully understaud each other on this point. If you send armed forces, wearing the garb of soldiers, and duly organized and enrolled as le- gitimate beliigerents, to destroy railroad bi , &e., asa military act, we shall kill them {f possible in open warfare; or, if we capture them, we shull treat them as prisoners of war. But it is weil understood that you . peaceful citizens and under false pretences through our lines into Northern Missouri to rob and deatroy property of Union men, and burn and destroy railroad bridges, thus endangering the lives of thousands; and this, too, without military necessity or possible milit advan- tage. Moreover, peaceful citizens of Missouri, quietly working on their farms, have been instigated by your emissaries to take up arms as insurgents, and rob, plun- der and commit arson and murder. do not even act under the garb of soldiers, but under pretences and in the guise of private citizens. You certainly will not Pretend that men guilty of such crimes, although spe- cially appointed and instructed by you, are entitled to she rights and immunities of ordinary prisoners of war. It you do, will you refer me to a single authority on the laws of war which reeognises suchaciaim. Iam daily expecting instructions respecting the exchange of prison- THE THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. Speculations and Surmises of the Rebel Newspapers. weer Annan GENERAL WISE AT ROANOKE ISLAND. THE LATEST TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES, &e., &e., &e. Baurmors, Jan. 24, 1862. ‘The boat from Fortress Monroe has arrived at this port. ‘There had been no arrival from the Burnside expedi- tion. ‘The Norfolk Day Book of yesterday discredits the ac- counts of the Burnside expedition being in Pamlico Sound? and says that @ reconnoissance from Roancke Island on Monday last made no such report. ‘This appears to be the Iatest advices they have. Sinee then a storm has cut off all communication with the coast. ‘The Charlotte (N. C.) Democrat of the 2ist inst. says:—‘'In anticipation of an invasion of the North Ca- rolina coast, it is contemplated to call out the militia of the several eastern counties. The call is not yet made; but the Raleigh Jowrnal says that it will embrace thirty- three counties. P. S.—We learn that the militia have ‘been ordered out since the arrival of the Burnside expe- dition at Hatteras; and it appearas from the Raleigh Register of Saturday that a draft has been made in ‘Wake county. ‘The Raleigh Register says there is quite an excitement in that city in regard to a draft which has been made for one-third of the enrolled militia, Substitutes, it expects, will be in demand. TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCHES TO THE REBEL PRESS. ‘Wiuauincron, Jan. 21, 1862. A special express has arrived from Goldsbore’, and States that there were at’ Hatteras, at four P. M.,one hun- dred and twenty-five sail of the enemy's vessels—one hundred inside and twenty-five large steamers outside thebar. Private information says the ememy intend to attack Newbern, Hyde county, and Roanoke Island simuita- neously. Confidence is expressed in the ability of our forces to maintain their position. ANOTHER DESPATCH. ‘Witaancton, Jan. 21, 1862. A despatch from Goldsboro’, at four P. M., says that @ yarge number of women and children arrived from bern by a train this afternoon. No other news. Fight expected. OPINIONS OF THE REBEL PRESS. ‘We publish below interesting artictes from the rebel newspapers relative to the Burnside expedition: — [from the Wilmington (N.C.) Journal, Ja. 20.) ‘What course the Lincoinites have adop' since Thurs- day waare unable to say. The Norfolk Day Bool: asserts, as though with know! that they are destined for Elizabeth City. Probably this point is suggested or in- dicated as being at or near the southern terminus of the two lines of water communication between Albemarle Sound and Norfolk harbor—the )isma! Swamp Canal and the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal. The oumber of canal boats would appear to give some shadow of plausi- bility to this. It might be an object to seal up tle navi- gation through these works and thus cut off two im- Portant lines of transport and communication between , rebels fought well, and were overcome only by superior | plain view of their old battle ground. The First Wiscon- | 1 Very useful prize, the lumber being much needed by fighting on our site. According to théir own account, | Si took position in the-wooas ou the toft; the Seventy- ‘the army Quartermaster for the construction of store- the rebel force consisted of ten infantry regiments, three | Seventh und Beveniy-ninth Pennsylvania remained in the | houses, and the sehooner making & servicoable lighter. batteries and some cavalry, altogether about ten thou- | stretched from the bank of one brook to the bunk of the | Both have been transferred to the Quartermaster, at a sand men. They fought in bushwhacking style, from | “ther. ‘The mud was over ankle deep, and the banks | valuation fixed by a board of survey. ravines and behind trees, bushes and rocks. bg Eat Lota po ore ep Seng Te a resent ropert $0 Major General Butler, Rrigntior ‘The brunt of the battle devolved on the Fourth Ken- | alive with men—regiments held in reserve. The guns of | General Phelps writes that a French war ship had tucky, Second Minnesota, Ninth Ohio and Tenth Indiana, | Cotter’s Obio battery looked frowningly 7 over io ie di- | arrived at Ship Island, and he was preparing to send her : rection of Dixie, and every man seeme: at his post. mand For nearly three hours the roar of musketry was kept | Ina twinkling six. shots could, have gono forth on their beareany ior am Se way te Now Crinum weber 0 tag ereel war. ee See eneneh Reames eee ser Sernecaee: it ag soon as they are received. HH. W. HALLECK, would be madness for any “expedition” to alvempt to Major General, Commanding Department. force its way to Norfolk through either of these canals. pets SERIA Ne TET TRS a ' Very se Sry = note ine Cede 4 alarmed. Some injury. serious injury, in might Letters from Colonel Corcoran. Ue done to the dwellers 10 Hyde, Beaufort, Craven and Cnanuestoy, 8. C., Dec. 30,1861. | Jones counties by maraudin expeditions, but no strate- To Captain Jauns B. Kiner, 699 Broadway :— gic advantages could be secured to the enemy by any such course; and, if report speaks truth, General Burn- My Very Dear Frirvp—Your letters of the 26th and | side is not a man like Butlér and others who delight in 28th of Iast month have been duly received, also one | rapine without a military object. Of course we speak while at Richmond and one at Castle Pinckney. 1 re- | now of the country, and our remarks will not apply to Tho field of battle was, as thus shown, a roll ing tract, without being positively hilly—of a character to furnish advantages in the hands of a general who know how to use them. On this fleld General Thomas, Preparatory to crossing, encamped on Saturday evening, the 18th, with a force of which the following is a portion only:— Ninth Ohio regiment Volunteers. ‘Tenth Indiina regiment Volunteers. Second Minnesota regiment Vi Fourth Kentucky regiment Tenth Kentucky regiment Volunteers. Eighteenth regiment United States regulars. Two full batteries of artillery. While this movement was being made the two brigades of Generals Schoop’T and Carter,eucamped near Somerset, and commanded by General Schoep?, had not been idle. As early as the morning of the 17th ® movement on the part of General Schocpf was begun. Four regiments of infantry, as enumerated below, and Captain Stewart's battory of flying artillery, left their camp at Somerset, taking three days rations, and began the match for a point on Fishing creek, five miles north of Zollicoffer’s iatrenchments, and consequently near the mouth of the stream. Two regiments were left in camp as a reserve, Colonel Vanderveer in command. The force under Gen. Schoepff in the march to Fishing creek consisted of the following: — CHORPFE'S BRIGAI Schoep/f, commanding. rs. s h regiment Kentucky Volunt Twelfth regiment Kentucky Volunteers. GENERAL CARTRWS BRIGADE, Brigadier General Carter, commanding. First reciment Tennessee Volunteers. Second regiment Tennessee Volunteers. At the same time that this forward movement was made by General Schoepff reinforcements were forwarded from Harrodsburg. and the reserve was sirengthened by two regiments left at Somerset and a battery. This reserve then consisted of four regiments, under Colonel Vanderveer, of the Thirty-fifth Obie regiment. ‘The intention of General Buell—who, in his quarters at Louisville, aypears to have planned the whole affair—was, that the two forces of Thomas and Schoepff should attack Zollicoffer in his intrenchments at the game time. But, with a vigor of design aud execution worthy of being exercised with more success ina better cause, Gencral Zollicotfer, with a force of about 8,000 men, marched out on the night of the 18th imst.,and,at an early hour on Sunday, the 19th inst., attacked General Thomas’ force in his camp, at the point I have described, and which is familiarly known as Webb's Cross Roads, and situated on Wolf Creek. Although |t cannot be said that General Thomas was taken by surprise, it is not definitely settled that he anticipated any attack. But, in the close prox imity in which be was to General Zollicofer, he took every precaution, and when, at an early hour, and before dawn of day, his pickets were driven in by the advancing force, the main body was aroused and prepared to re ceive the rebels, The cannonading began about four o'clock in the morn. tng, and the engagement became generai ehortly after- wards. Instead of succeeding in bie design of surprising Genoral Thomas in his camp, General Zollicoffer found the whole foree, fresh from a long night's rest, prepared to receive the weary colamns he bad rapidly marched to abe fcld. in numbers he was indoed superior, Fis force of cavalry and his artillery wore of superior numbers and character to our own, but the sequel shows that they were not managed with more tact and judg. ment. bat the conflict on both sides was terrifie is evinced by the casunitios reported. That the robelr fought gallantly there is no reason to doubt, and the long continuance of so desperate a fight evinces fully the Pluck and epirit of the troops composing both armies. ‘The fun did not deign to shine upon the scene, and the clouds above threatened a heavy rain, But throughou, the dismal Sabbath morning, ond until baif of the after up. Shortly after eleven o'clock Colonel Haskin suc- coeded in flanking the enemy on the extreme right, when the Ninth Ohio and Second Minnesota charged with the bayonet, with triumphant yells, which broke the rebel ranks, and the rout began. They fled pellmell to their camp, strewing the road with muskets, blankets , ‘overcoats and knapsacks,and abandoned two guns and caissont Genera! Zollicoffer was shot through the heart at the head of his staff, by Colonel Fry, of the Fourth Kentucky. It appears that Genoral Zollicoffer lost his way in the bushes, and suddenly emerged before Colonel Frye, who was accompanied by some staff officers. The two parties mistook each other for friends, and approached within a few yards of cach other, when, finding their mutual mis- take, both halted and prepared for a hand to hand con- flict. One of General Zollicoffer’s aids shot at Colonel Fry, but only brought his horse down. The Uuion Colonel immediately drew his six-shooter and brought General Zollicoffer from his saddle at the first fire. The rebel staf deserted their chief's body, which was taken to Somerset the day after the battle. An Fast Tennessecan writer. to the Commercial says All the credit and honor of this battle are due to the Tenth Indiana, the Ninth Ohio, the Fourth Kentucky and the Second Minnesota regiments; for they did all the fighting single handed, with the exception of what sup- port they recsived from the artillery. They all fought nobly, and never wavered from their fixed determination togain tho victory. The combatants were go near each other that (he powder from the discharged pieces burned their faces. The Flight of the Rehels and Parsuit by the Loyal Tennesseean [From the Louiswilie Jour jan. 21.) Additional despatches, received at headquarters last evening, confirm to the fullest extent the important news whieh we published yesterday afternoon ia the bulletin. General The * followed up the retreating re. bels to their intrenchments, and his men, after night closed upon their victory, slept on their arms untikday- light to complete their work; but the rebels took advan tage of the dirkness to cross to the southern side of ahe river, and upon reaching a place of supposed safety they seattored intelli directions. But we do net think they can escape. Th on which were * into squads and find rented paths, they must ali be eutrapped, and the loyal Tennesseenns are like an avenging Nomess upon their tracks, knowing every road aud every mountain defile by which escape is _ possible. ‘Their retreat was so complete a panic that they did not attempt to destroy anything, or they were fearful of burning their stores lest the blaze of conflagration should light the federal forces to @ renewed attack, and they quaiied before the hailstorm of aud iron which they know that act would bring dow them. All their artillery, twelve pieces, and ammunition, upward of eighty wagons and harness, all their commissary and quartermaster's stores aud camp equipage fell into our hands. General Thomas certifies to the good conduct of our men, and the whole nation will re-eclo its plaudite to General Thomas, who has given to the federal arms the most brilliant success since the rebellion broke out The evacuation of tho enemys iutrenchments took place on Sunday night, avd yesterday morning General Thomas advanced to assault them and the prey flown. The robel loss is estimated by diffe Feut persons at from two to four hundred; but no official intelligence has yet been obtained on that po: ‘The on the part of our friends ia not stated @ but we cannot expect such a brilliant success without the less of come valuable lives. Knowing how many anxious eyes will be turned toward our columns to learn the fate of relatives and friends, we havo made every exertion to ascertain the extent of our killed and wounded, but without success Zollicoffer's Intrenched Position. [From the Chicago Tribu Tolicotiar left two reg: deriand Gap, and brought to his position three Tennessee terward rein. eon. and etill more recantly by some 1,500 Virginia troops from hi ville. Thiet gare him all’ told over 10,000 men, A very effective portion of his force was a boy of cavalry, from, 2,000 to #,000 strong, an important arm in which he superior te General Thomas. And. this inay have beon bie rnin, detaile received are | yet too meagre to fully » tho morale of the | | fight, but one thing i# certain, from a position well nigh | Un errand of destruction and death; for it was plain to be seen that the guns pointing directly where the ene- my must como, if at all, up the Louisville and Nashvill railroad; other batteries were coming up, and the battle, if battle there was to be, mnst be near at hand; many wore disposed to doubt the approach of the enemy from the beginning, and as inoment after moment passed by and no firtog was heard, doubts became convictions; but little, however, was said. All felt that it might beso, and all knew that we were amp; opared to mect m. It was at this junction, Willicl jolding the advance on the right of the railroad, the First Wisconsin on tlie left, the long bow of regiments c jag from bank to bank, the reserve force on the north side of the river, the gunners at their post—it was at this juncture that your correspondent met that noble speci- men of the man, Gen. Johuston, on his way back to order his brigade to about face and return to their quarters, und from him he learned the CAUSE OF TRE ALARM. Four companies of the Seventy-pinth Pennsylvania wore seut out to make @ reconnoissauce. They proceeded down the turnpike to Horse Cave. Arriving at that point they heard firing, which seemed.to come from their rear, wheu they suddenly conceived the idea that it was the y, and that they were getting behind them, and that re likely to be cut oi. ‘This was enough. it is that the Peansylvanians became panic stricken. Horse Cave is on the line of the Louisville and Nas ville Rajlread, as well os om the Louisvil and Nashville turnpike. Part wok the turnpike and part of the railroad, which diverges here, coming to- gether again at Rewlett's Station. Each party on tts re- turn continued to hear the firing, and each party imagined the other had engaged theenemy. Which party it was that despatched the courier to headquarters is not clear— most likely the party which returned by the pike. Judge of the mulual surprise when they came together again at Rowlett’s,and learned that neither bad been fired at or had seen a foo. firing still remained 4 mystery, and is yet one. It was fighting on our nd that, owing to the arrangement of the hills in tl ion, the sound played the “ will-o’-the wisp” capers which so frightened the l'ennsylvanians. Certain it is, that there was no enemy tear us. Jam sorry that it is not in my power togive any satisfactory rolution@f this strange mystery. It may soon transpire, and then I will gladly lay it before your readers. RURNING WOOD. Tho Pennsylvanians say that there were large quant ties of wood belonging to the railroad, aud piled up along eof Horse , which had been set on fire the day previous. It was mostly destroyed. It was soned to be the work of secessionists of the neighbor- CONTRABANDS FLEKING TO CAM In the hurried retroat of the Pennsylvanians, they scattered the report that the enemy was approachiug to attack us. Thi was not doubted by the former, and some of (hem sent off them siaves tn the wake of our retiring force, with instructions not to stop until they had cressed Green river and got into the Union camp, They, moreover, loaded them down with packages of household valuables, that is the male portica of them, Nearly every fernale carried a baby. At least Ofiy, of all ages and sexes, came stringing down the railroad track, and so frightened and excited were most of them, at they crossed over on the railroad bridge, which spans the river at the dizzy height of over a hundred feet. What a commentary ix this, Slave masters send. ing their slaves for protection into of the Lincoln army ALL, QUIET AGAIN. In two hours after the first alarm, all the regiments had returned to their quarters, save the Forty-ninth Olio and Thirty-nivth Indiana, who were detailed for picket duty on the south bank—the Forty-ninth Ohio being on the outposts, with the Thirty-nioth Indiana in res CAMP JuFVEREON, BACON CREEK, Ky 19, 186; Jam very much inclined to think that ‘mud pursves an army, and, still wor: thought that Western V in the known world, but I am now short experience at this place, to yi m my Id the pain to Ken. tucky. Many of the regiments at Bret occupied the grounds about here, now they are nearly all situated apon the hills, to which they resorted in order to escape sub mergence, but, alas! the hilif,aiso, are rapidly being ground info mortar, which there wow seems absolutely no thas rained almost incessantly for the last thirty-six | hours, #0 that | have been induced to think that rain, too, is @ regular army accompaniment. Last night the giltier ing lightning iluminated «1 ou camps, and the thaader llowed as if it were midsummer. You may judge fron this that it is not cod. bi Tam writing, there i# a pro break away end the sun eh) ax warm aga mornirg in her ‘here is. an important matter, ug it, (0 @ considernl e extent, modi- fiee and controls every projected operation There is absolucely nothing new {rot any quarter, un Joss the hundred ramors eirevlating (rough the camps ‘These r ace new in jerent sb KU Inch prima facie IMPORTANT FR Another Inundation of the Valley—Immense Loss of Stock—Proba- ble Effect of the Floods on the Yield of (OM CALIFORNIA. jacramento Sax Francrsco, Jan. 17, 1862. During the last fifty hours it has rained nard, almost incessantly. The storm still continues. Yesterday noon the water at Sacramento commenced rising again. The third complete inundation of that city is unavoidable. The area of land now overflowed in the State is twenty miles broad, and 250 long, taking upwards of 3,000,000 of acres, mostly arable, a considerable portion being actually It is estimated that 4,500 cattle and ehosp have been drowned siuce the winter commenced. ‘The unprecedented succession of tremendous storms has washed the mining regions, where the ground was Previously upturned ana dug over, producing great changes, and rendering probable a large increase in the gold product from the plaeer diggings for the ensuing fenced and tilled. Arrived ships Gladiator, Now York; Reconnoissance, News from Western Virginia. Camp ar Comumntann, Jan. 21, 1862. General Kelley has returned to his home sick, and Gen. Lander is in command of tho forces of the ‘Railroad District.’’ Ho is at Patterson’s creek, with @ strong force, and daily strengthening his position, Reinforcements are pouring in upon him from the West: General Jackson is reported to be at Romney, with 6,000 The Potomac is now falling rapidly from All quiet here now. w YORK Acapemy.—Mr. y ‘41 announces “Martha,”” with Miss Kellogg in the role of Lady Henrietta, for Wernesday evening next. brilliant success which this talented young artist hag obtained in the “Traviata,” will naturally create con- siderable curiosity to see how see will acquit herself in this new part. excited by the BROORLYN ACADEMY —GeRMAN Orm@Ra.—Tho first, as it is announced, of a series of representations of German Opera was given last night at this establishment, houso was densely threnged, a large proportion of the audionce consisting of German residents of New York. ‘The piece was ‘Der Freisehutz,”’ cast —Ottokar, with the following Herr Bergstein; Cano, Herr Oerhlein; Max, Herr Rudolphi; Casper, Herr We Herr Reinhard: Killian, Herr Kronfeld; Agatha, Madame Acunchen, Madame Schreinor It will not do to criticise the performance by andard of musical taste to which the Italian Opera uperior class of singers bay It is sufficient to say of it that it pleased the au dienes passingly well, but whether the experiment will bear repetition is a different matter Schroeder Duemmler; ecustomed our pub- Miss Nixa Foster's Reavixas.—This talented young lady gives several of hor popular recitation lyn Athenaum on Monday evening next. Jerome Horsivs’ Mativee.—This gentioman gives his second matinee at the reception rooms of the Brooklyn Academy of Music this afterneon, Tne New Hawrsnine € A. W, Rollins, of Dover, ayy F', under the eaptaincy of H., has secepted the kind in Dan Rive to visit Stickney’s National Circus ‘The Dover boys are in good condition, and xiour lo reach the land of Dixie. MOLLRNHAURR'S first of these select chamber concerts takes place this Broadway, opposite Eleventh is the programme:—Quartet in E the works of evening at bodworth’s, lavhauer, Mr. Heary | ginese whatever ceived my trunk and find allright. The trunks, &c., &c., sent to Lieutenants Connolly and Dempsey arrived safe and in good order. We arc all in good health. Ihope Major Bagley, Cap" tain Breslin and the officers, as well as my other good friends, will excuse me for not writing to them individu- ally. It is not practicable, and I must only ask you to be the medium of conveying my warm regards to them all. This day I have written to Judge Daly and Richard O'Gorman, I feel most deeply indebted to the most Reverend Arcli- bishop for his kindness and the groat exertions he has been pleased to make to obtain my release. As all who have taken an interest in my case are too numerous to receive. in the short space allowed me to write, a sepa- rate recognition, will you thank them all most kindly in my name. will write to Mrs. Corcoran by next opportunity. Remember me to Mrs. Henry, cousin Eliza and Mrs. Kane, ‘and present to all other friends the sentiments of my most profound esteem. Biehop Lynch. I und late conflagration abor New York to give him a helping fully, MICHAEL CORCORAN, Colonel Sixty-ninth regiment N. Y.S. M. Corumpra, 8. ©., Jan. 7, 1862. To Captain James B. Kinxsr, 599 Broadway :— My Very lear Frinxp—I have written to you, Hon. C, P. Daly and Richard O'Gorman, Esq.,on the 30th ult. I have also written to Mre. Corcoran this day. We arrived here on the ning of the Ist where our condition is much superior to that which we anticipated, Captain Shiver, who commands here, and his lieutenants are strict, but most courteous and obliging, and are ever ready to procure euch articles as we feol disposed and are able to purchase, He docs everything that can reasonably be expected with the means at his disposal to make the condition of all the prisoners comfortable. I found four of my regiment here, viz:—Corporal John Jackson, of Company 1); privates, Thomas K. Hughes, Company K; James DP. Ryan and Michael Keating Company E. " They bave been wounded, and were in hor pital at Richmond when our men were gent to New Or- leans. They are perfectly recovered. On my arrival here I rent a remittance to New Orleans, and { regret my means are not such as to enable me to relieve their wants sufl.ciently. ‘You are aware that I have always been most devotedly attached to my native countrymen, but since my arrival in the South I have received such marked tokens of their aifeetion that my love for them has (if possible), in creased. It proves conclusively that their attachment to and fond remembrance of the Old Land has undergone no change, and anid tho turmoil that now exists they can rympathize with a suffering countryman, Captain Sprague, of Ohin, who has been a fellow prisoner for the past five months, has been exchanged, and will call on you and give you many particulars. Your letter of the 10th ultimo has just reached m Lieutenant Boyle. Be pl expression of my warmest thanks to Judge ily, Hiram Barney, Richard O'Gorman and Jobn Savage, Esqrs., and the other friends who have so kindly devoted so much time, labor and expense in their endeavors to obtain my reloase, and assure them 1 feel just pride in the knowledge of having such friends, and ifashace of gloom shall at avy time darken the hours of my captivity, ® recollection of their services shall be sufficient to dispel it, [have never yet been heard to utter @ single word of complaint against any action of my government, nor do Tnow wish to be ad amon, faultinde whi e many of those tle field, and ran offfrom the face of danger to a p! si been rewarded with almost unprecedented promotion, I think it is due to the officers and men who remained in the performance of duty faithfully to the last, and thus fell victims to @ long imp they #houl'l receive at least sufficient consideration to re- lieve them from the most disagreeable position that men can possibly be placed in To the men who took advantage of my absence to vreak up the old Sixty-ninth for the advancement of their own sordid interest, under the mask of patriotism, I shali have something to say on & moro favorable occasior Lietitenants Connolly and Dempeey join in kindest r meinbrauce to you. Prosent my kindest regards to Ma. jor Bagley, Captains Breslin, P. Kelly, T. Lynch, P. T. Clarke and all the other officers and good friends, and believe me, your most devoted friend MICHAET, CORCORAN, Colonel Sixty-ninth regiment, New York State Militia. P. .—if the friends of any of the New York officers hand you any money, you will let me know the names and amounts, and,givé yourself no further trouble. 1 will arrange it as you may understand, and have no unes out Iny being in any want, or Liew (onants Connolly or Dempsey s friends either, Wecan get wong well. They also write to their friends to-day Newbern or Washington, or to an attempt to seize upon some point on the Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad, with the view of obtaining control of that work, either for the purpose of isolating Fort Macon or of advancing into the interior. These things are only conjectural, but as they are neither impossibie nor improbable, they na- turalfy create no small anxiety in the minds of the people of Newbern and Beaufort incidentally. In order to go to Elizabeth City it would be oi for the flotilla to force its way into ‘Albemsario Gound, which is connected with Pamlico Sound bya narrow strait some twenty miles long, which divides the m: land of Tyrrell county from the banks, Nearly iu middie of this strait lies Roanoke Isiand, which is proba- bly about twelve miles in length and three in breadth. Roanoke Island divides the strait into two parts, that between it and the mainland being called Croaisn Sound, ‘and that between the island and the bauks being called Roanoke Sound. The former, Croatan Sound, will possi- bly admit the passage of vessels drawing eight and a half to nine feet water—eight and three-quarters is marked on the Coast Survey at the shailowest point. This channed app-oaches gt one part of its course within eusy range of the island, from which batteries might command it. It could not be so easily commanded from the mainland. It is thus evident that Croatan Sound will allow the pas. sage of vessels of ag large a draught of water as can proach it from the sea, whether they enter by Hatteras or Ocracoke Inlet channel, however, is intricate d narrow, and capable of being’ readily obstructed we should think. ‘The same narrowness of the channel would evidently preclude the possibility of any mananvring by gun- boats or other vessels attacking any batteries on the island, and it seems to us they would be forced to pass certain points in single file, Once in Albema:le Sound the ore cen be approached with safety in twelve fe water, within three-fourths of a mile of the shore, 8a at two or three points. Any vessel that can cuter Al marie Sound can ascend the Pasquotank river to Eliza- beth City. The Dismal Swamp canal emptics inte the Pasquotank river, the mouth of which divided from North river, the mouth of which i the southern terminus of the Albemarle and Chesapeake navigation, by a narrow neck of land known as North Point, The water between Roanoke Island and the banks is known as Roanoke Sound, aud ts not navigabie. There are no lunar tides, and any rise or fall in Albemarle and Croatau Sounds is due to the winds or the state of the rivers. As for our moans of resistance and defence we can only trust that they may be adequai Of course wi would not now state what they are nm if we kne which we do but partially. Roanoke Island is about fifteen miles from Hatteras Inlet rom the Petersburg Express, Jan. 21.) Wo think it highly probable that the great Bu expedition intends to make its demonstrations on Ne Orleans, in order to agsist the movements of the armada which is threatening the Mississippi Valley from Cairo. (From the Norfolk Day Book, Jan. 22.) Arumor reached the city yesterday that as many as one hundred and twenty five versels and steamers wei at Hatteras, inside and outside the bar. We are not prepared to say but what there is some truth in this ru mor, aud that these are mostly the veesels of the Burn- side expedition, those recently from the North and those also from Port Royal that have gone thore to join in the great marauding expedition. How many of those that passed through the late gale are there we are un- able to say, but, judging from the tone of the Northern papers that they wore already to make an onward move- Ment as soon as they arrived, and their not having done so as xet, convinces us that they have not ail ar- rived, and that many of them are lost, while others are #0 disabled from the gale as to be worthiess to the pedition. Move when they will, we have only to they will find much warmer work than what they ha’ bagained for. {From the same paper. } We are positively assured that intelligence was received: at the military headquarters here on Saturday that a fleet of over forty steamers were iuside the bar at Hatteras on 16th, Wednesday last. This information is from an | source, and General Branch gives it full credence. This of course is (he Burnside expedition. Whether it is destined to attack Newbern, = Roanoke Inland, or go further South, uo one can tell. GENERAL WISE AT ROANOKE I8LAND, [From the Richmond Enquirer, Jan. 22.) General Wise, who has been assi to duty at Roan. oke Island, departinent of General this city in connection with the inter of his post. It will gratify his fellow citizens to learn, as it gratifies us to state, that not only bas be recovered from his late "jliness, but his healt for twenty year duties with bis acourtomed indomitab| onerg: Movements of General Stargis. Prrrenena, Jan. 24, 1862. S. D. Sturgis paeved through this city for , via Philadelphia. He gives @ hopeful ac- count of affuire in the West