The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-12-27
Brilliant Federal Victory.
CAMP GEORGE WooD,
MuNFoRDsvlLLE, December l7.}

MuNFoRDsvlLLE, December l7.}
AT about half pact one o'clock this
afternoon, our camp was startled by
the sharp rattle Of musketry, which
seemed TO como from the South
bank OF Green river. 1t was known
that a part Of Colonel Willich's
magnificent regiment, the 32I lndi.
ana, was doing picket duty on that
side, and the inference at once was
that the lusty Germans had either
attacked the enemy or been attacked
by them-most likely the former
General Johnson well knew the
sound tn be that Of fight the direct.
ION OF the firing and the hour Of the
day told plainly that at least a skir'
mish wes actually soing on-proba'
by a grand battle pending. So he
ordered the signal gun to be fired
and for the first time our regiments
formed in line OF battle.
A messenger shortly came over
with the intelligence that Willich's
picke's had espied reb>l Soldiers in
the woods beyond them, and inme'
dIately their lion hearted Lieuten-
,sn. Co,on,l. Henry Won Frehra, had
ordered two COMPANIES 10 nuvanur
ant, il ossibl", effect their dis
loigmcnt. The enemy re'reated
halt mile to his main boly with.
out firing n shot, and the two com
panies pursued him, s'eallhily al
vancing es skirmishers. Suddenly
nui unexpectedly, a troop Of rebel
cavalry,nen came dashing over the
hill, and a careless volley from their
shot guns told our boys that they
vr,e near falling into en- ambns
caac, and that the enemy was actu
ally in their front in considerabl,
Force. Bl., nothing dauutel, TIC
rave Germans, veteran like, re.
turned tie voiley with a gal ing fire
slowly retreating so as to bring Tho
enemy out from tie woods, and into
l level, open field. The enemy
conf lent in his numbers, was no
slow to accept the inv tation. |;
the meantime, the two companie
being hard pressed, the bugle wa
sounded to bring up the remaining
companies of the regiment. The,
came on right ga.lan!ly, psrt o
them having to cross Green river
and fell in upon the right and lei
flank with IA much appprent cool
ness rs if this had been their hun
tredth battle instead of their first
Then followed an almost hand t
hand conflict, lasting fully an hour
The enemy strove in vain to draw
the Germans up the hill by feigne'
c retreats, a masked battery was 8
planted as to have swept our brav
fellows fore and aft, had they for
u moment permitted their valor to &c
I the better Of their discretion; bu,
e knowing tho fearful odds arraye
against them, they we're content t
hold their ground. Finally, whe
he enemy despaired OF getting thel
n into an ambush, they unmaske
h. their battery and opened fire. Til
D frat ball passed between tho Adjr
tant an Major OF the regiment, VIII
J occupied positions not many fee
, apart. The belching cannon wa
: the signal OF another onset by tn
Texan cavalrymen. and right We
sid they perform the work. Cal
] tain Welschbellich, Company G
{ formed his men into a hollow squar
3 and the cavalrymel charged thej
= front, their right and their left, br
they were as adamant, the squar
q remained unbroken, while many {
y the Texans, equally brave, but lea
y successful because they were the al
tacking party, bit the dust. TIL
c cavalrymen retired, discounted, al
D then an entire regiment OF rebel il
o lantry darkened the hill and cam
4 marching down toward the BRAY
Q men composing Company Il, but
Calling fire from our front and rigt
: scattered their forces and gave ther
: something else to think about. 90
I onel Willich had been ordered O
. duty at headquarters, and, cons'
quently, did not get to his regimen
I. until tue heat Of the battle was owe
y The regiment was forced to ia
: back q short distance, not being ab
to stand against the artillery. I'll
rebels did not pursue. They ca
8 |ried off their wounded, aud the
= -lbeat n haatv retreat. II ia knou