Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-26

destroy newly completed bridge over
Green river. Johnson's Union brigade II
had recently occupied the region and II
was preparing TO advance southwark /
The pickets ut the bridge belonged to
the Thirty Indiann. They were i
on the enemy's side of Green river. |
while their reserves were on the other. |
Forward and back over the plain the
infantry pickets and mounted rangers
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- |
ton facing the river. the rangers be- |
hind II. out of view. The Indianians
attacked the line and drove it 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 a 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 battery from
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 its 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 a 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
though they advanced until sabers and
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
B, upon his line. but he reached the scene
at Rowlett's Station in time to give the
enemy a parting shot.
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
D railroad bridge at that point The dar
| ing tdCllCS VI SOiOIel eTry were &c
] decoy his enemy uphill. where his re
I serve infantry and artillery could open
J upon them with deadly effect But
l. there was a deeper purpose behind this
: chance combat. The Federnl general
= Don Carlos Buell.. commander of the
I Kentucky and Tennessee line. was pre-
< pairing for grand movement south
r ward.
Accommodations Of Federal troops
from the states north of the Ohio riv
!, er, with stores of a vast army. had
i been going on all the fall. On the par
! 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
u were nine regiments from Illinois. six
teen from Indiana. seventeen from
!, Ohio. three from Pennsylvania. on,
= from Michigan. three from Wisconsin