The National tribune., 1903-06-04


10000 Confederates, was at Bowling
Green. A company Of Willich's regiment
was doing picket duty near the crossing
of the turnpike and the railroad about a
half mile beyond the south end of the
bridge, at point known as Rowlett's Sta
ton. Gen. Buckner learning that Wiliicl,
was at Munfordsville, sent Terry's Texas
Rangers, two regiments of infantry and n
battery of artillery to drive him away.
The hangers attacked the pickets, who
fought as skirmishers until they saw the
cavalry preparing to charge. They then
formed n hollow square and charged the
surrounding cavalry with the bayonet, fir
ing at close range. When they had re-
pulsed and scattered the reckless Texans.
the Indianians would again deploy as skir-
mishers and fight as such until they saw
the Texans were going to charge again.
and then, as before, they quickly rallied
in square, bayoneting the horses and pick
ing off the cavalrymen. who were riding
the phalanx. On the third charge Col.
Terry, commanding the Texans, was
killed. Just then Col. Which arrived to
reinforce the company that had so val
iantly stood their ground. The discour-
aged Confederatcs then gave up the fight
asked permission to care for their dead
and wounded. and returned TO Bowling
Green. In this engagement the COnfed-
crate loss was about so. while ours was
nine or 10 killed and 1S wounded. The
killed were buried on the top of hill
half way from the station to the river. a
picket fence being placed around the
graves. Subsequently Fort Which, inclos-
ing the little cemetery, was built.
WHAT BRAGG WENT UP AGAINST.
In 1862 an engineer sent to Munfords-
Vile built a four-sidcd, Fashioned fort on
a hill just back of the cemetery and about
midway between Woodsonville and the
south end of tie railroad bridge. There
was an embra sure on each side, providing
for four cannon. In the center, over the
magazine. there was an elevated platform,
upon which WAS mounted a pivot gun.
This was known as Fort GregS. In To-
eating it, however, the engineer ignored
Napoleon's maxim: Never fight 4 battle
with a river at your back"
Sept. s. 1862, Col. J. Il. Wilder took
command at Munfordsville, his force being
about $500. He proceeded to strengthen
Fort Gregg and to construct a strong in
fantry parapet, facing tie open fields to
the south and reaching from the fort to
near the railroad. Wilder's force fully gar
risoned all the defensive works.
THE CONFEDERATE ATTACK.
From Glasgow. Sept. 13. Gen. Chal-
mer's Division, 5000 or 5000 strong, was
sent forward in the advance of Bragg's
army. Chalmers arrived in the vicinity of
Woodsonville at nightfall and soon there
after sent in a flag demanding Wilder's
surrender. This was promptly refused.
Under cover Of night Chalmers planted his
batteries on the low hills south and south
west of Fort Gregg, and massed his in
fantry in the valleys behind the nearer
hills, covering the entire front. At day
light, Sept. "A. the Confederate batteries
opened and four guns from the fort an
swered. After a brief cannonade Chal-
mers's big guns became silent, and his in
fantry advanced upon the works. Our
6-pounders then roared necessarily, and as
the masses of infantry confidently neared
the fort canister was substituted for solid
shot. The COnfederates advanced stead
lily and gallantly and soon engaged our in
fantry. who kept the parapets ablaZe. The
Confederates, perceiving the havoc in their
ranks, soon withdrew. A second line then
charged with similar result, some of their
men falling at the brink of the bitches out
SIDE the parapets. After the Confederates
had made the third charge, their lines be-
ing broken as before, many of them sought
refuge behind the nearby rocks and trees
and the gravestones in the cemetery near
the southeast bastion. As early as S
o'clock the enemy abandoned the attack,
the remainder of that Sabbath day being
passed by both sides in burying the dead
and caring for the wounded, flags of truce
being much in evidence.
The Confederates changed their tactics,
not caring again to assault the fort and
parapets from that direction. During the
night cavalry and infantry moved up the
river some two miles. forded the stream,
the water being unusually low, and passed
down on the north side to MunfOrdsville.
They occupied Woods Hill and the bluffs
and hills opposite Fort Gregg, thus effec-
tually cutting off any avenue by which
the Federals could retreat.
On that day, Sept. Is, additional Con-
feGerate troops arrived and took position.