galling fire, pressing our troops at all points. General Thomas's
command returned the fire with spirit, and holding their position
the contest was maintained for half an hour on both sides most
obstinately.

At this time, General Zollicoffer, being in the rear of the Nineteenth
Tennessee regiment of his command, became convinced that the Fourth
Kentucky (Federal) regiment was a part of his brigade, ordered the
Tennessee regiment to cease firing, as they were shooting their
own troops. He then rode to the front, where he met Colonel Fry,
the commanding officer of the Fourth Kentucky. Zollicoffer stated
to Fry that both commands belonged to the same side, and that firing
should stop. To this Fry assented and started to order the Fourth
Kentucky to cease firing, when one of Zollicoffer's aids coming up,
seeing that Fry was a Federal officer, opened fire upon him with
a revolver, wounding his horse. Fry returned the fire, shooting
Zollicoffer through the heart.

Shortly after, the First and Second East Tennessee regiments of
Carter's brigade and Hoskins's Kentucky regiment were placed on
the left of the Second Minnesota regiment, and opening a heavy fire
on the right flank of the rebel line caused it to give way. The
Second Minnesota regiment kept up a galling fire in the centre,
while the Ninth Ohio charged the enemy with fixed bayonets on the
left, turned that flank, and drove them from the field. The whole
rebel line then gave way, retreating in the utmost confusion and
disorder to their intrenchments at Beech Grove. Thomas ordered
an immediate advance, after supplying his troops with ammunition,
driving the rebels into their intrenchments. As these were approached
they were invested by the division deployed in the line of battle.