of our Battery were doing fearful execution among the
fleeing Rebels. Many of the shells exploded in their very midst. We still
kept up the pursuit, the rain all the time falling heavily, which rendered
the roads almost impassable; but on we went, through woods, over logs and
stumps, through brush and mud. At times it was all our horses could do to
pull through, and our progress was consequently slow. The roads and woods
were scattered with the dead and wounded of both armies. The track of the
fleeing Rebels was strewn with muskets, swords, knapsacks, overcoats, &c.,
which they had thrown away to facilitate their flight.

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 for