The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-01-03
CAMP WooD, MUMFoRDvILLE, KY, !
Dec. Goth, 1861.

Dec. goth, 1861.
To the Editor of the Pioneer and Democrat:
There has been rapid concentration OF
forces at this point since Munsonville was
first occupied, and now the fields and hill.
sides on the north bank of Green river are
dotted with camps as far as the eye can
reach, and our forces are only awaiting the
completion of the Railroad bridge over
Green river to move forward and drive the
rebels out of Kentucky. This is being
pushed forward with vigor; workmen are
engaged day and night, and it is expected
in few days, rail communication will be
re- established with the country south of
Green river. We have full regiment on
picket, constantly on the south bank Of the
river, to protect our workmen and hold in
check the rowing bands of rebels who infest
the whole country between here and Bowl
ing Green.
Only few days since, conflict took
place between about 300 of the 32d Indi.
ana, under the command of Lieut.. Col.
Won Trebra, and portion of the brigade
of Gen. Hindman, of Arkansas. The adj
vanced guard of the rebels made ten at
tacks upon our pickets, but were driven
back with some loss, and retreated. As
our forces were following up their success,
regiment of Texas Rangers came up and
attempted to cut off their retreat our re.
serve of two or three companies was then
ordered up, and desperate hand-to hand
conflict took place which resulted in the
total route of the rebels, with a loss of
forty killed, including Col. Perry in com.
mand of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers
fought like devils incarnate, but no troops
could stand against charge OF the gallant
32d. 1t was the good fortune of your cor>
respondent to be the bearer of flag of
truce to the rebel lines some days before the
late battle, and accompanied by our old
Minnesota friend, brother Long, and an es-
cort of ten men, we pushed forward for
Di@ie, and after travelling a short distance,
we met with these same Texas Rangers who
were so severely handled in the late
fight. Colonel Terry received US very
courteously, and after concluding our bust.
ness, and as I was bidding him adieu and
expressing the hope that we might always
meet under as pleasant circumstance, be
said to me, Captain, hope we may, but
if it should be otherwise, we must both lay
heart aside" Two days afterwards he was
shot dead on the field, within a few yards OF
the place where we had been conversing.
These Texas Rangers are rough, lawIess
set of fellows, who have very little respect
for their officers. About half of them are
armed with English carbines, and the rest
have shot guns.
In company with an Indiana Colonel,
rode all over the battle feld-which was
about a mile outside of our pickets-a few
hours after the fight occurred. The wound-
ed had been removed, but the dead lay scat
tered in every direction. Each of US bore
off tropy in the shape OF a rebel shot gun.
Mine had the name of its .ormer owner
roughly cut in the stock" Z. 81. Lewis,
Bastrop, Texas" 1t was lying by his side
just as it dropped from his nerveless grasp
as the fatal bullet pierced bis heart.
By the way, I notice in the PIONEER of
the 9th instant, an item to the effect that
Bro. Long left Minnesota with the intention
of joining the rebel army. Bro. assured
your correspondent, that our friend. the
l." Local" was in error he left st. Paul in
August to assist in raising cavalry com.
pany near Indianapolis, his company was
not accepted by Governor Morton, and Bro.
determined to have hand in the fight, en-.
listed in an accepted company and has been
doing good service in Kentucky for months.