irst time some of them were
ever in one. Early in the morning were again moving.

Every one that we now met, reported that a battle was going on at the
river just beyond Somerset. In a short time we distinctly heard
cannonading, and pushed on as fast as possible, at noon arriving at
Somerset. We were here informed that a regular battle was being fought at
the river, five miles distant. The Seventeenth and Thirty-eighth Ohio
Infantry were close on our rear, and all possible dispatch was made to
reach the river, as the men were anxious to have a hand in the fun, as
they called it.

At two o'clock we reached the river. It was snowing quite hard, and the
firing had ceased. This was on Monday, December 2nd.

We here found Lieutenant Baldwin, and his command. It appears that the
firing had all been done by the Rebels, who were on the opposite side of
the river. They had been throwing shot and shell into the camp of the
Twelfth Kentucky, but without execution, only causing the Twelfth to move
further back from the river, and out of reach of their guns.

Occasionally the Rebels would march forward in regiments, fire a volley,
and then fall back. Our guns made no reply, we not firing a shot. There
had been some slight skirmishing between the enemy and the Twelfth
Kentucky a day or two previous to our arrival. Colonel Hoskins had a small
mountain howitzer, with which he now and then sent them a shell. No more
firing took place that night after our arrival.

The following morning, after vainly endeavoring to make some discovery of
the enemy, but seeing nothing of them, it was concluded that they had gone
down the river about sixteen miles, to what is called Mill Springs, and
that they would there make an attempt to cross, as at that place the river
is sometimes fordable. Accordingly, Lieutenant Sypher was directed to take
part of the Battery and proceed to that point, to prevent their crossing.
The Seventeenth Ohio Infantry had previously gone on as far as Fishing
Creek, and there Lieutenant Sypher joined them. They then proceeded on
towards the river, Lieutenant Sypher having the front. On enquiring of
people living along the road, they were informed that none of the enemy
had crossed the river; and when they had arrived to within six miles of
the ford, a halt was ordered.

After some consultation, Colonel Connel, and Captain Rickards, of the
Seventeenth Ohio, and Lieutenant Sypher, concluded to go forward, by
themselves, a