Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-10-24

my's side Of Green river, while the reserves
were ON the other Forward and back
over the plain the infantry pickUts aud
mounted rangers skirmishcd. the pickcts
finally retiring upon the line of the regi-
ment which had been formed across the
bridge. Meantime tvu regiments of Con
fcdoratc infantry had taken position fac
ing tho river, the rangers behind out of
view The Indnuians attacked tie line
and drove il back. Ia order to cover the
retreat the dashng ranrers once more
swept forwasd. Yelling like Comanches.
until they Were within - PAGES of the
cuomv As the Hpe5 met there was a
crash of Carhine and muskel, ana when the
smoke cleared the rangers were speeding
away. In these mnncuvcrs Company G. Of
the lndianianS had become separated and
gone far in advance Of tho remaining
companies Its gallant captain challenged
the rangers TO combat in open field. lie
was killed, and ten mon fell with him
The commander of the lhuty-sccond at
that time was Lieutenant Colonel Won
1'reba He found the odds against him
heavily Increased. when the C0nlederatcs
opened with "A battery from ridge some
distance back, and rearranged his line for
defense. Three companies were deplovcd
placed in rear Of the center as support
Scarcely had the now line been formed
when the rangers dashed down again.
striking the center company and gaining
its rear. The broken company rallied ana
fell behind Company e. Tho latter, adopt
ing old continental tactics, which were
popular on the drill ground in 1861 formed
square to resist cavalry. About POO
rangers threw themselves against the
square at one corner. The 1ndianians held
their fire until the Texans closed in then
gave them whitening volloy. The piuCly
rangers rallied and tried to break through
another angle but the same result awaited
them, although they advanced until gahcrs
and bayonets crossed. y third amt las;
time the horsenpn drew back-thcn tax
ing Roadway, Qalloped madly upon The I'M
broken square. The leader Colonel Ferry
fell close to the sefTicd line and his mon
scattered never to reform that DAY The
killed in this desperate affair numbered.
on both sides, more than half the wounded
Rowlett's Station was only skirmi>h.
and had the glorious pluck Of the Thirty
second Indiana been confined TO that field
its history could be brief. But 1861 was
the year of preparation That there was
good stuff in the regiment is shown bv
INC result Ol us uESt tnHOultCF. Colonel
August Which organized the Thirtv-spc-
ond from German volunteers gathered at
large throughout the state of Indiana.
Which had helped organize aud drill the
Ninth Ohio, the noted "Prussian reQi-
ment.' He was an old officer of the Prr.s-
sian army and like many of his country
men who served the Union had sided with
the German people in their liberty war of
lS4S. The men of the regiment were of
that GLASS, and not a few had run away
from their adopted homes in Dixie to serve
under the Sanner which represented union.
Colonel Which reached the scene at
Rowlett's Station in time to give the enc
my parting shot. shiloh was the next
battle and the first serious one for the
regiment. 1t belonged to Ruusscau's bri-
Rade OF Nelson $ division. Rousseau fought
his way step by step on the second day
through the Confederate hivouaos to the
old Union camps of the Sunday morning
before Approaching the church. the
Union leaders saw u Confederate column
advancing to flank Crittcnden' 5 division.
which followed Nelson's on it. right The
Confederate movement, if successful
would cut the Union line in two In the
crisis Which 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 skiwnishers The
enemy was concealed in an oak grove near
the old church. In advancing Willich's