19 January 1862, Kentucky, War Between the
States
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W. W. Etter, 19th Tennessee
Infantry, to Harvey Galbraith, December 29, 1861 Camp Beech Grove Ky. Mr. Harvey ---- Believing that you are deeply interested in the cause in which we are engaged and would be glad to learn what Zolicoffer’s Brigade is doing, its whereabouts & etc. I have concluded & addressed to you a short note, in which I will give the whole proceedings of Zolicoffer since he left Tennessee. The Brigade didn’t go to Russelville, Ky, as reported when I was at home, nor did it start there, but only to the bank of the Cumberland River where it is at present, and likely to remain till spring. The enemy had crossed the river and were advancing towards Monticello. They declared that Zolicoffer shouldn’t cross the Kentucky line, but when he reached there, nobody said halt and he moved on unmolested to Monticello. As our pickets went in one end of town the enemys went out the other end never halted until they reached the north bank of the Cumberland sinking the boats after them. Here they pitched their tents, planted some artillery and defyed Zolicoffer to cross. When he moved down to the river they rallied upon the beach and fired on our men, though without any effect. The general ordered up some artillery and dropped a few bumls in among them (and as the fellow ses) they advanced back a little, and before our men could procure means of crossing they had fallen back 12 miles, beyond Fishers Creek. Here they took another stand, and having a very strong position could have given us a pretty hard fight, but the cowardly scoundrels hadn’t the courage to stand long enough. So soon as two battalions of our cavalry could cross the river, they went in persuit, and ran upon them there, cut them up pretty smartly and took ten or fifteen prisoners, and this gave them another fright, and they fell back as far as Summerset, and from the best information that we could get, they reinforced to [unreadable]. However they came back to Fisher’s Creek, or rather advanced back I might say, and fired on our pickets. They came in to camp and reported, and the brigade was ordered forward at twelve o’clock that night with two days rations. We marched all night and reached Fisher’s Creek about day light the following morning. Being informed there that the enemy was in camps just four mile beyond the creek, we plunged the creek, and the boys were really so anxious for a fight they declared the water was warmer than they had ever felt it, although their bare feet would freeze to the rocks before they could get their shoes on. We moved on a mile or so farther and sent the cavalry ahead. They returned in an hour or so and reported that the enemy were expecting to go in to winter quarters down about Lexington and had concluded to go back and prepare. The boys hung their heads in disgust and returned to camps wered in spirits and also in body. They say now if we will follow them across the Ohio River they will give us Hell. If they will just hold on till warm weather we will do it with great pleasure. We are still entrenching at river and also building huts. We are not likely to leave here before spring, that is if we can keep the river open. Boats have never ventured up farther that Carthage yet. There some troops at James Town Ky. We will have to go down rout them before they can come farther. I must close for the present. Pardon this hastily written note and I will do better in my next. Yours very respectfully (Co. H 19th Regt Tennessee Volr) W. W. Etter I will expect to hear from you soon
Private collection of George E. Webb, Jr., Rogersville, TN; copy provided courtesy Kevin Mason.
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