People's voice., 1895-10-17

n 4. southwark. The
y pickets at the
bridge belonged to the Thirty.second
IKVana They we're on the enemy's side
Of Green river, while the reserves were
On the other. Forward and back over
the plain the infantry pickets and
mounted rangers skirmished, the pick
els finally retiring upon the line Of the
regiment, which had been formed across
the bridge. Meantime two regiments Of
Confederate infantry had taken position
facing the river, the rangers behind
out Of view. The Indianians attacked
the line and drove it back. In order to
cover the retreat the dashing rangers
oHce more swept forward, yelling like
Oemanohes, until they were within 10
PAGES Of the enemy. As the lines met
there was crash Of carbine and mus
ket, and when the smoke cleared the
rangers were speeding away. In these
maneuvers Company G Of the Indiani-
ans had become separated and gone far
in advance Of the remaining companies.
It's gallant captain challenged the rang
CPS to combat in open field. He was
killed, and ten men fell with him.
The commander of the Thirty second
at that time was Lieutenant Colonel
Won Treba. He found the odds against
him heavily increased when the Con-
federates opened with a battery from a
ridge some distance back, and rearranged
his line for defense. Three companies
were deployed as skirmishers, and a
fourth, Company G, placed in rear Of
the center as support. Scarcely had the
new line been formed when the rangers
dashed down again, striking the center
company and gaining its rear. The bro
ken company rallied and fell behind
Company G. The latter, adopting old
continental tactics, which were popular
on the drill ground in 1861, formed a
square to resist cavalry. About 200
rangers threw themselves against the
square at one corner. The Indianians
held their fire until the Texans closed
in, then gave them a whitening volley.
The plucky rangers rallied and tried to
break through another angle, but the
same result awaited them, although
they advanced until sabers and bayonets
crossed. A third and last time the horse
men drew back-then, taking headway,
galloped madly upon the unbroken
square. The leader, Colonel Terry, fell
close to the serTied line, and his men
scattered never to reform that day. The
killed In this desperate affair numbered,
on both sides, more than half the wound
ed,
Rowlett's Station was only a skir-
n,isb, and had the glorious pluck Of the
Thirty-seoond Indiana been confined to
that field Its history could be brief. But
1851 was the year Of preparation. That
there was good stuff In the regiment is
shown by the result Of Its first encoun-
ter. Colonel August Which organized
the Thirty-second from German volun-
teers gathered at large throughout the
state Of Indiana. Willich had helped Or
gsnize and drill the Ninth Ohio, the
ndted "Russian regiment. he was an
old officer Of the Prussian army, and,
like many Of bis countrymen who served
the Union. had sided with the German
people in their liberty war of 1S4S. The
msh Of the regiment were of that class,
and not few had run away from their
adopted homes in Dixie to serve under
the banner which represented union.
Colonel Which reached the scene at
Rowlett's Station in time to give the
enemy parting shot. Shiloh was the
next battle and the first serious one for
the regiment. Itbelonged to Rousseau's
brigade Of Nelson's division. Rousseau
fought his way step by step on the sec
ond day through the Confederate biv-
oSacs to the old Union camps of the
Sunday morning before. Approaching
the church, the Union leaders saw
Confederate column advancing to flank
0ittenden's division, which followed
Nelson's on its right. The Confederate
movement, if successful, would cut the
Union line in two. In the crisis Will
lich led out his regiment to clear the
front Of the line of battle, one of the
most daring exploits in war. He formed
the ranks in double columns, with two
companies deployed as skirmishers.
Ehe enemy was concealed in an oak
grove near the old church. In advanc-
ing Willich's line would at times disap-
pear for moments among the woods and
thickets between the lines, then emerge,
marching with bold front upon the ene-
my's stronghold. Gradually the column
grew thin, and finally remnants came
streaming back seeking cover in disor-
der. Not cowardice, however, drove
them back. They had marched into the
woods in which the enemy was massed,
and while engaging their foe in front
had received CALLING fire on the right
and left f1anKs and rear from their own
comrades. The Oldest troops cannot
stand a fire in the rear, and the Ger
mans retreated. There was no disorder
in the brigade which they Struck or
passed on the retrograde march. The
whole line was moving, and the pace
was forward Which soon rallied his
men, reformed the column and plunged
once more into the fatal wood. A slight