The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-12-26

destroy newly completed bridge over
Green river. Johnson's Union brigade
had recently occupied the region and
was preparing to advance southwark
The pickets at the bridge belonged III
the Thirty-second Indiana They were
on the enemy's side of Green river
while their reserves were OH the other
Forward and back over the plain ihe
infantry pickets and mounted ranger
skirmished. the pickets finally retiring
upon the line of the whole regiment.
which had been formed across the
bridge Meantime two regiments OF
Confederate infantry had taken posi-
tion facing the river. the rangers be-
hind it. out of view The Indianians
attacked the line and drove 1t back
In order to cover the retreat the dash
ing rangers once more swept forward.
yelling like Comanches. until they were
within fifteen PAGES of their enemy
As the lines met there was crash of
carbine and musket at close range.
and when the smoke cleared the
rangers were speeding away. In these
maneuvers Company G of the Indian
ians had become separated and gone
far in advance of the remaining com
panies. Its gallant captain challenged
the rangers 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 Confeder-
ates opened with a battery from a
ridge some distance back and rear
ranged his line for defense
The Hollow Square ito Resist Cav
airy"
Three companies were deployed as
skirmishers. and fourth, Company G..
placed in rear Of the center as sup
port. Scarcely had the new line been
formed when the rangers dashed down
again, striking the center company and
gaining it's rear. The broken company
rallied and fell behind Company G.
The latter. adopting old continental
tactics, which were popular on the drill
ground in 1861. formed square to
resist cavalry. About 200 rangers
threw themselves against the square
at one corner. The lndianians 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. al
thny1ob fhor xoooI ,rr%;l 90 hove, = "A
bayonets crossed. A third and last
time the horsemen drew back. then,
taking Roadway. galloped madly upon
the unbrOken square. The leader, Colo
mel Terry. fell close to the serried line.
and his men scattered never to reform
that day. The killed in this desperate
affair numbered. on both sides. more
than half the wounded. Colonel VIII
Itch had been absent at general head
quarters when the attack was sprung
upon his line. but he reached the scene
at Rowlett's Station in time to give the
enemy a parting shot So
The immediate object Of this move
ment by the Confederates at the cross
ings Of Green river was to break up
the Federal railroad communications
southwark. Morgan's Confederate cav
airy had previously destroyed the old
railroad bridge at that point. The dar-
Ing tactics of Colonel Terry were to
decoy his enemy uphill. where his re-
serve infantry and artillery could open
upon them with deadly effect. But
there was deeper purpose behind this
chance combat. The Federal general.
Don Carlos Buell.. commander of the
Kentucky and Tennessee line. was pre-
pairing for grand movement south
ward.
Accommodations of Federal troops
from the states north Of the Ohio riv-
er, with stores of vast army. had
been going on all the fall. On the part
of the Confederates the same course
was pursued By the LIST of December
the Federal troops in Kentucky were
estimated at 10000. Of which there
were nine regiments from Illinois. six
teen from Indiana. seventeen from
Ohio, three from Pennsylvania. one
from Michigan. three from Wisconsin.