19 January 1862, Kentucky, War Between the
States
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THE BATTLE OF FISHING CREEK Reported in the Memphis Daily Avalanche, 28 January 1862, page 2, from the Knoxville Register, 26 January 1862. A few additional details have reached us of the battle of Fishing Creek. No estimate of our loss can be formed by our own officers. Our dead being all left on the field of battle, the Yankees in the flush of their victory perhaps overestimated them, and their account says 275. An intelligent officer, who was in the battle, thinks that half that number is a fair estimate. Col. Sam Powell, who, with part of his regiment was in the warmest of the fight, and was seriously wounded in the arm, reached Knoxville yesterday morning. A musket ball, grazing his left breast, shattered his left arm near the shoulder. He reports that Col. Battle's 20th Tennessee regiment, Col. Statham's 15th Mississippi, and Col. Cumming's 19th Tennessee regiments, bore the brunt of the battle. The engagement lasted over two hours, when the troops were thrown into disorder by the death of Gen. Zollicoffer, which occurred early in the action, and retreated. Gens. Crittenden and Carroll occupied a position on a hill overlooking the field. Col. Powell was not aware of being wounded until some time after, when, on attempting to draw his pistol, he found his arm hanging powerless at his side. But for the untimely fall of Zollicoffer, or had another officer commanding the same confidence of his men been in the field to take his place, he is confident the Yankees would have been whipped. Col. Powell is an accomplished gentleman, and has proved himself a brave and cool soldier. We trust that his early restoration may again lend his country the services of his arms, nerved to renewed strength, by the recollection of Fishing Creek, and the memory of his gallant brother, Lieut. Robert Powell, whose blood was the first that bedewed our cause in the advance on Barbourville. Col. Powell thinks about ten of his men were killed and ten wounded, some of them severely. Colonels Walthall, Staunton and Murray were each wounded in the right arm. Among the dead mentioned, the Nashville Patriot bears the names of the following: Captain Dodson, of the Hermitage Guards, Lieut. Peyton, of the Hickory Guards, Sergeant Gray, of the Sewanee Rifles, and Lieutenant Colonel Carter. Major Fogg, aid to General Zollicoffer, who was severely wounded in the hip, has been taken to McMinnville. Our latest advices from Gen. Crittenden is, that he has rallied his forces and is falling back on Carthage, Smith county, on the Cumberland river. The number of troops reported to be on the route to Knoxville, was either exaggerated, or they have become ashamed of their panic, and have turned back to join their regiments. They will yet wipe out the stigma of Fishing Creek, or we are no prophet. NOTES -- Capt. Timothy Dodson of Co. I, 20th Tennessee Infantry, was not killed. He was in command of his company at Shiloh. 1st Sgt. E. E. Grey (Co. C) and Lt.Col. Moscow Carter of the 20th Tennessee were wounded and captured, not killed (see entries in Lt.Col. Carter's diary). Sgt. Grey died later in Federal captivity. All other accounts that mention Capt. (Acting Maj.) Fogg say he was killed on the field, at the same time as Gen. Zollicoffer. His name is listed on the Confederate monument as having been killed in the battle.
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