Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-23


The Louisville Denocrcf gives the following
additional particulars of the brilliant exploit of
the s2nd Indiana, Col Which, at MumfOrdsville:
Eight companies of the 32nd Indiana regiment,
Col Which, were sent across the river as pick
ct guard. On the south bank of The riveris
large field, which extended back from the river
about half mile, and then the timber begins
The 32nd, not suspectng any danger, we're scat
tered in squads of fifteen and twenty, with their
Sayonets in their belts. On arriving near the
timber. the enemy made an attack.
They numbered two regiments Of infantry,
regiment of cavalry, the Texan Rangers, and
battery of six guns. IL is worder that that the
whole force was not cut 10 pieces. At the com
mand they began to rally I'LL they had gathered
some three hundred and fifty in one body. Upon
this body the cavalry made DASH but they held
their ground, and, drawing their bayonets from
their belts. managed 10 kill number ofhorses and
men, Without falling back one foot the entire
force of eight COMPANIES succeeded in rallying,
and stood their ground bravely, fighting Ike IL
gers. At one point in the field was haystack,
where twelve Of the SIND were stationed In COM
mand of Lieut. SAKE, of Cincinnati. A company
of cavalry surrounded them and ordered Lieut..
SAKE to surrender His reply was, "Never."
He was armed with two revovers, and il is stated
that he shot eight OF the cavaiy, when he was
pierced with eight or size shots and fell. OF the
twelve men, ten were lilled, while fourteen of
the cavalry, with the.r horses, were completely
rddled.
Captain Stones Louisville battery, on the north
bank Of the river fred three shells at the enemy.
One went over another fell short but the third
went directly to the mark. The 3bth Indiana
and 10th Ohio regiments were sent TO their re-
lief but the battle was ended and the enemy in
full retreat before their arrival To the glorious
32nd belongs all the honor of this brilliant en-
gagement. except much as was done by Cap
tain Stones battery. The result of the engage
ment is as follows
The 32d Indiana lost thirteen in killed, thirteen
wounded and fifteen missing; the latter sup
posed to have become mixed up with the Seth
Indiana or 10Th Ohio; of the thirteen reported
killed two were alive when the train left, but the
surgeon thought they could not live, and conse-
quently we report them as killed.
The loss on the enemy's side was sixty-two
killed. besides Col Terry, of the Texas Rangers,
and three prisoners taken. The number of
wounded is not known, and they we're carried off
at the time Of the retreat.
Fourteen horses we're found dead on the field.
The sixty-twO killed. as well as Colonel Terry,
were buried yesterday morning by our forces.
The Texas Rangers are reported as being su-
perb riders, well armed, with Enfield rifle, one
pair of receivers and saber to each man.
The firing by the infantry and artillery is rep
resented as being very poor, often falling wide of
the mark Had it not been for the ten killed by
the cavalry at the hay-stack, where they were
completely surrounded, there would have been
but three deaths in the 32d.