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Assistant Surgeon Geanson, who, while devo- | Welschbellich, were the first who took their tedly attending to his duty on the battle-field, places in the line of battle of the regiment. was struck senseless by a heavy branch of a tree, which had been cut down by a cannon ball. Fortunately for him and us he soon recovered.

While this was going on upon our left wing, the fight on the right was no less severe. The Second, Sixth, and Tenth companies were scattered as skirmishers, while the Seventh was drawn up in company column for their support. The Sixth company had taken position behind a fence. The Rangers galloped up to them in close line, and commenced firing from rifles and revolvers. Their fire was steadily returned by the Sixth company, which held them in check till a part of them got behind the fence, when our skirmishers fell back behind the Seventh company, drawn up in a square. Now a conflict ensued such as has perhaps seldom before taken place. A whole battalion of Rangers, fully two hundred strong, rushed upon the little band of not more than fifty. Upon the front and left flank of the square, they rushed, no doubt thinking that they would easily trample down the squad before them.

Capt. Welschbellich allowed them to come within a distance of seventy yards, and then gave them a volley, which not only staggered them, but sent them back, not, however, till a part of them had returned the fire. But immediately afterward they reformed and again they rushed fiercely upon the front and both flanks of the square. They seemed frantic with rage over the successful resistance offered to them, and this time a number of them rode up to the point of the bayonet. But another well-aimed volley emptied a number of saddles, and sent back the whole mass which but a moment before had seemed to threaten certain destruction to Capt. Welschbellich's company. A few bayonet thrusts and scattering shots brought down those who had ventured to our very teeth. This second repulse seemed to have a marked effect. Yet a third attack was made; however, it was much less determined and fierce than the two first, though it was more disastrous to them. During this third attack it was that Col. Terry, the commander of the Rangers, was killed. Upon his fall the whole column broke and fled in wild dismay from the field of battle.

In their place a whole regiment of infantry, accompanied by their band of music, marched against the "invincible square." Before this overpowering force Capt. Welschbellich deemed it prudent to retire, and united with the Second, Sixth, and Tenth companies again,

About this time it was that Col. Willich, with foaming horse, had arrived upon the field of battle. He saw the right wing retiring, and the entire infantry of the enemy, two regiments, advancing, thus endangering the line of retreat of the left wing. He therefore ordered the signal for "retiring slowly" to be given, and collected the companies. The Second company, under Capt. Glass, and the Seventh, under Capt.

About this time a manœuvre was executed by the First company, under Capt. Erdemeyer, which decided the day. When the battle commenced, and the impression prevailed that we were fighting only cavalry, Lieutenant-Colonel Trebra had detached this company, to take a position in the flank of the enemy, and from there to attack them. When the First company arrived at the place of destination, Capt. E. found that the enemy had likewise a large force of infantry and artillery, to attack which would have been certain destruction for his company. He therefore kept his covered position until the time mentioned. Then, finding the larger part of the infantry drawn to another part of the field, he ordered an advance. His appearance was the signal of a general retreat of the enemy. The rest of the cavalry fled precipitately, the artillery retired hastily, and the infantry followed just as quickly.

Then followed the sad business of collecting the dead and wounded. Our loss was eleven killed and twenty wounded, and five missing. Of the wounded, several, according to the reports of the surgeons, may possibly die. The missing will probably turn up. The loss of the enemy is much larger. They left a large num-. ber of killed on the field, and the First company saw them, on their retreat, throw about thirty dead bodies into a wagon which was brought off. Among the dead left in our hands was the body of Col. Terry. But his body and several wounded soldiers of the enemy were delivered up to a flag of truce sent by them. Some of their surgeons had humanely bound up the wounds and sent back three of our wounded who had fallen into their hands, and Col. Willich was glad of the opportunity which was allowed him to show his acknowledgment.

Thus our first fight has gloriously ended. The force of the enemy was at least four times as large as ours, and consisted of their best troops, picked for this purpose. Everybody in our regiment has, on this occasion, done his entire duty. Our officers have all acted with coolness and bravery, and did exactly the right thing in the right place. For this reason it would he unjust to name any one especially. I will merely add what I have above omitted, that the Second and Tenth companies, on the right wing, were engaged with the infantry of the enemy, and prevented their attempt to turn our flank. Their engagement became particularly brisk during the cavalry attack upon the Seventh company. We all think we have done justice to our reputation.

To-day we paid the last honors to our dead. The funeral was a very impressive one. Col. Willich, in a touching address, paid a beautiful tribute to the memory of those who have fallen, and at the close of his address every man went up and threw a handful of earth upon the last abode of his fallen comrades. May they rest in peace!

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

CAMP GEORGE WOOD, MUNFORDSVILLE,
December 17.

At about half past one this afternoon our camp was startled by the sharp rattle of musketry, which seemed to come from the south bank of Green River. It was known that a part of Colonel Willich's magnificent regiment, the Thirty-second Indiana, was doing picket duty on that side, and the inference at once was that the lusty Germans had either attacked the enemy or been attacked by them-most likely the former. General Johnson well knew the sound to be that of fight-the direction of the firing and the hour of the day told plainly that at least a skirmish was actually going on-probably a grand battle pending. So he ordered the signal gun to sound, and for the first time our regiments formed in line of battle.

December 18.

This morning they sent in a flag of truce, under which they are interring their dead. Willich's entire forces only numbered four hundred and fourteen, including commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates.

The following is a list of our killed and wounded:

as adamant, the square remained unbroken, while many of the Texans, equally brave, but less successful because they were the attacking party, bit the dust. The cavalrymen retired, discomfited, and then an entire regiment of rebel infantry darkened the hill and came marching down toward the brave men composing Company G, but a galling fire from our front and right scattered their forces and gave them something else to think about. Colonel Willich had been ordered on duty at head-quarters, and consequently did not get to his regiment until the heat of the battle was over. The regiment was forced to fall back a short distance, not being able to stand against the artillery. The rebels did not pursue. They carried off their wounded, and then beat a hasty retreat. It is known that the rebel force consisted of Terry's regiment of cavalry, two regiments of infantry and A messenger shortly came over with the in-three pieces of cannon. The rebels lost fortytelligence that Willich's pickets had espied rebel nine killed. Their number of wounded is not soldiers in the woods beyond them, and im- Known, but is undoubtedly large. mediately their lion-hearted Lieutenant-Colonel, Henry von Trebra, had ordered two companies to advance, and, if possible, effect their dislodgment. The enemy retreated half a mile to his main body without firing a shot, and the two companies pursued him, stealthily advancing as skirmishers. Suddenly and unexpectedly a troop of rebel cavalry came dashing over the hill, and a careless volley from their shot-guns told our boys that they were near falling into an ambuscade, and that the enemy was actually in their front in considerable force. But, nothing daunted, the brave Germans, veteran like, returned the volley with a galling fire, slowly retreating so as to bring the enemy out from the Wounded.-Sergeant Wm. Straubs, Company woods, and into a level, open field. The enemy, F, mortally; Corporal John Rice, Corporal Auconfident in his numbers, was not slow to accept gus Faufer; Antoine Rittey, Dominick Phleim, the invitation. In the mean time, the two com- Sigmund Mudoerfer, all of Company G; Serpanies being hard pressed, the bugle was sound-geant Sigmund Sulig, John P. Zimmerman and ed to bring up the remaining companies of the regiment. They came on right gallantly, part of them having to cross Green River, and fell in upon the right and left flank with as much apparent coolness as if this had been their hundredth battle instead of their first. Then followed an almost hand-to-hand conflict, lasting fully an hour. The enemy strove in vain to draw the Germans up the hill by feigned retreats; a masked battery was so planted as to have swept our brave fellows fore and aft, had they for a moment permitted their valor to get the better of their discretion; but, knowing the fearful odds arrayed againt them, they were content to hold their ground. Finally, when the enemy despaired of getting them into the ambush, they unmasked their battery and opened fire. The first ball passed between the adjutant and major of the regiment, who occupied positions not many feet apart. The belching cannon was the signal of another onset by the Texan cavalrymen, and right well did they perform the work. Captain Welschbellich, Company G, formed his men in hollow square and the cavalrymen charged their front, their right, and their left, but they were

Killed.--Theodore Smith, Christopher Renter, Ernest Schimean, Garry Keifer, all of Company F; Max. Sachs, First Lieut. Company C, (six shots;) Frederick Shoemaker, Henry Lohst, B Weke, all of Company C; Daniel Smith and George Burkhardt, of Company G.

Phillip Drohn, of Company K; Orderly H. Hausher, Company I; Wm. Mielick, Louis Linkenheld, G. Wolf, Fronk Neth, all of Company G; Sergeant Henry Eisenbiess, Corporal Gustave Hochstetter, Corporal Louis Schuttendeube, Charles Knapp, August Wolters, Charles Thum, Henry Schapneyer, Herman Milyers, all of Company C; making ten killed and twentytwo wounded.

A SECESSION ACCOUNT.

At dawn on Tuesday morning, Nov. 17th, a body of men consisting in part of Severt's artillery and a fragment of Col. Terry's Rangers was ordered forward from Cave City, near which they were encamped. They proceeded toward Woodsonville, and after they had passed the deep cut on this side of the dirt road bridge, they found a part of the enemy. It was in the outskirts of Woodsonville. They had learned that the enemy had boasted that they intended cutting off "Terry and his d-d Wildcats." This Col. Terry endeavored to defeat, by turning a gap in an adjacent fence and outflanking them. But this attempt was unsuccessful, as was also

DOCUMENTS.

an effort to plant Severt's battery. Before | halted the column and ordered forward Col.
other preparation could be made, the fight Terry's Rangers, to occupy the heights of my
became general along the fence. The enemy right, left, and front; and Major Phifer's Caval-
were on both sides of it, extending in a line ry to watch the crossings of Green River, still
These orders having been executed, and no
from one hundred and fifty to two hundred further to my left.
yards in length, and numbering six hundred
the column till the right reached the railroad.
strong. Our forces did not exceed two hun- force of the enemy or pickets seen, I advanced
dred and seventy-five. Col. Terry dashed on
in advance, having shouted to Capt. Walker, This brought me within three-quarters of a mile
"Come, John, let's charge on them and risk of the river and the enemy, but still concealed,
." Capt. Walker, Dr. Cowan, except a small body of cavalry upon the extreme
the consequences."
to observe the enemy from Rowlett's Knob,
Capt. Evans Paulding Anderson, the orderly left. Here a company of rangers was detached
of Capt. W.'s company, (whose name has es-
caped us.) followed after in a group, firing their which was to my right, across the railroad. A
six-shooters with great effect as they proceeded, strip of timber bordered the river parallel to
killing numbers on either side of the fence, and the line held by my cavalry. Fields were be-
scattering to the right and left. They did not tween a body of the enemy's infantry, as skir-
retreat, however. They stood up with intrepid mishers moved through the timber, by their right,
firmness and courage. The fight lasted in this on my left. They were fired upon by a small
way along the fence for fifteen minutes, when body of my cavalry, and retired. The firing
our boys had reached the extreme end of it. ceased for about half an hour, and I went in
Just here Col. Terry-always in the front-dis-person to select a suitable place for camp, leav-
covered a nest of five of the enemy. He leaped
in his saddle, waved his hat, and said, "Come
He fired
on, boys, here's another bird's nest."
and killed two of them. The other three fired
One shot killed his
at him simultaneously.
charger; another shot killed him. He fell head-
long from his horse without a groan or a moan..
He was killed instantly, the ball piercing his
windpipe and penetrating the lower part of the
brain. At the same time, Paulding Anderson
and Dr. Cowan rode up and despatched the re-
maining three of the enemy. The man who
killed Col. Terry was a huge, raw-boned Ger-
mau, well dressed, and armed with a fine Bel-
gian musket. The fight ended here

When Col. Terry's fall was announced, it at
once prostrated his men with grief. The enemy
had fled; sixty-six of their dead lay upon the
field; of ours, only five. Slowly these were
collected, and our troops fell back to a secure
position. All in all, this is one of the most
It was hand-to- |
desperate fights of the war.
hand from first to last. No men could have
fought more desperately than the enemy. The
The result,
Rangers were equally reckless.
mournful as it is, in the loss of a brave and gal-
lant soldier, a promising officer, the idol of his
It
men, a beloved and honored citizen, adds anoth-
er page to the glory of our invincible arms.
opens the ball in lower Kentucky. Stirring
scenes may be expected hourly in that quarter.

-Nashville Banner.

ing Col. Terry in command, with instructions to decoy the enemy up the hill, where I could use my infantry and artillery with effect, and Before returning to the column, the fire from be out of the range of the enemy's batteries. the skirmishers recommenced. The enemy appeared in force upon my right and centre. Col. Terry, at the head of seventy-five Rangers, charged about three hundred, routed and drove of the enemy, of about the same size, attacked them back, but fell mortally wounded. A body the Rangers, under Capt. Ferrell, upon the right of the turnpike, and were repulsed with heavy ments, and moving about on my right and left loss. The enemy now began crossing by regiflanks. Three companies of Col. Marmaduke's |(First Ark.) battalion were thrown out as skirmishers on my left, engaged the enemy's right, and drove them to the river. I now ordered The arforward Capt. Smith's battery and the Second Arkansas regiment to support it, holding the Sixth Arkansas regiment in reserve. tillery opened fire upon the enemy in the field adjacent to the railroad, and drove them to the bank of the river.

Firing now ceased on both sides. The enemy made no further attempt to advance, but knowmore than double my own, and had the means ing that he had already crossed the river in force of crossing additional forces, I withdrew my and a half, and took position to meet the enemy, command by way of the turnpike, two miles if disposed to advance. There being no indications of such an intention, I returned to my camp here, reaching this place at eight o'clock

P. M.

REBEL REPORT OF THE BATTLE. HEADQUARTERS ADVANCE GUARD, C. A.. KY., CAVE CITY, December 19, 1861. My loss in this affair was as follows:-KillSIR: At eight o'clock A. M., on the 17th inst., I moved toward Woodsonville for the purpose of ed, Col. Terry and three men of his regiment. breaking up the railroad from the vicinity of Dangerously Wounded, Lieut. Morris and My force consisted of three men, (Texas Rangers.)-Slightly_Woundthat place southward. one thousand one hundred infantry and foured, Capt. Walker and three men, (Texas Rangers,) pieces of artillery.

When within two and a half miles of Woodsonville, concealed from the enemy's view, I

and two men of the First Arkansas battalion.
I estimated the enemy's loss at seventy-five
killed and left on the ground; wounded, un-

known. I have eight prisoners; others taken, were too badly wounded to be moved, and were left at citizens' houses.

The troops under my command who were engaged, displayed courage in excess. The others were as steady as veterans.

Respectfully,

T. C. HINDMAN,
Brigadier-General.

To Lieut. D. C. WHITE,
Act. Assistant Adj't-Gen. First Division
Central Army of Kentucky.

Doc. 230.

SECRET HISTORY OF THE REBELLION.*
LETTER FROM EX-GOV. THOMAS, OF MARYLAND.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1861.

The instant this resolution was read, influenced by incidents that had prior to this come under my observation, I saw, or at least I thought I saw, one of the objects of the meeting, and asked permission to take part in the proceedings, which was granted.

To unmask the objects of the meeting, I inquired whether, if the House did not gratify our demands, any one present was prepared to say what step was next to be taken? Were we Southern Representatives to retire from Congress and notify our constituents that the Government was a failure, and that a Southern convention ought to be called to form a new Constitution? Having asked these questions, I paused for replies, and as no one undertook to point out the path which we were to pursue, beyond the adoption of the resolution before the meetTo the Editors of the Baltimore Clipper: ing, I protested against its adoption, with great GENTLEMEN: A friend to-day directed my earnestness, as a measure leading, necessarily, attention to an article in which there are some to secession of the whole Southern representaerrors, which I beg permission to correct. tion-reminded the meeting that we were sevGov. Pickens, of South Carolina, at the meet-enty in number-if we deserted our seats in the ing of Southern members of Congress, held in House, the remaining members might not satisthe room of the Committee of Claims, in Feb- fy our demands on the subject of Slavery, and ruary, 1837, did not propose that resolutions we could not then, without dishonor, return. "should be offered to Congress, and if they I spoke against the authority of members of were not adopted, then every Southern man Congress to initiate measures of such revolushould leave the capitol," and I regret to dis- tionary character--announced my determination cover that I was understood to make such a to resume my seat in the House and hold it to declaration, recently, in the Front street Thea- the end of my term of service, and to leave to tre. That the occurrence referred to by me, in the people of the United States themselves to my remarks before the audience in the theatre, decide when measures ought to be adopted may not be misunderstood, please allow to with a view to change the old, and form a new me space for a brief explanation. Government.

In February, 1837, the day next succeeding that on which the votes for President and VicePresident had been counted, as I entered the Hall of the House of Representatives, I met Gen. McCoy, of North Carolina, who said to me: "Why are you not in the room of the Committee of Claims?" I inquired for what purpose ought I to be there? Gen. McCoy said: There is a meeting of all the members of the House from the slaveholding States." Without knowing by whom or for what purpose the meeting had been called, I proposed to go and hear what was to be done. When we entered the room together, we found from sixty to seventy members present, Gen. Chambers, of Kentucky, being in the chair, and Mr. Harrison, of Missouri, acting as Secretary. Gov. Pickens was speaking, and was urging the adoption of a resolution which had been submitted. Soon after he closed his remarks, I made inquiry of the Chair as to the object of the meeting, when the resolution was read. I could not now repeat, word for word, the whole resolution, but remember very distinctly its import. The resolution, in substance, declared that no gentleman who represented in Congress slaveholding constituents, ought again to take his seat in the House of Representatives until resolutions, satisfactory to the South on the subject of Slavery, had been adopted.

*See page 251, Documents, ante.

As no gentleman undertook either to answer my interrogatories or reply to my remonstrance against the proposed proceeding, I moved an adjournment, sine die, which motion was seconded by Mr. Craig, of Virginia, and the meeting was dissolved.

After adjourning, the members of the meeting resumed their seats in the House, where resolutions on the slavery question, which had been prepared by Mr. W. B. Shepherd, of North Carolina, and Mr. J. R. Ingersoll, of Philadelphia, were offered, and were voted for by every member of the House, excepting three or four of those who were then known as Nullifiers.

This, in substance, I think, was the statement made to the meeting at Front street Theatre. It is proper I should say now, if I did not then, that I have no reason to suppose that there were many persons in this meeting of the members of Congress, who were not trusted any further than I was in the purposes for which it was assembled. Looking to it then, as I did, in connection with many, very many other incidents which had come under my observation, I believed it to be one of the means relied upon to continue that agitation which had commenced with the nullification of the tariff laws, and is now shaking the very foundation of the Government. Very respectfully,

FRANCIS THOMAS.

Doo. 231.

BATTLE AT MILFORD, MO.

FOUGHT DECEMBER 18, 1861.

HEAD-QUARTERS ST. LOUIS, Dec. 20, 1861.

that he was encamped in force (about twentytwo hundred) six miles north of that town.

After resting the horses and men for a couple of hours, I threw forward ten companies of cavalry, and a section of artillery, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, Seventh Missouri regi

To Major-General G. B. McClellan, Major-Gen-ment, in pursuit, and followed with my whole eral Commanding Army:

A part of Gen. Pope's forces, under Col. J. C. Davis and Major Marshall, surprised another camp of the enemy on the afternoon of the 18th, at Milford, a little north of Warrensburg. A brisk skirmish ensued, when the enemy, finding himself surrounded, surrendered at discretion. We took thirteen hundred prisoners, including three colonels and seventeen captains, and one thousand stand of arms, one thousand horses, sixty-five wagons, and a large quantity of tents, baggage, and supplies. Our loss is two killed and eight wounded. The enemy's loss not yet known.

Information was received last night from Glasgow that our troops at that place had taken about two tons of powder, in kegs, buried on Jackson's farm. This effectually cuts off their supply of ammunition. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General.

GENERAL POPE'S REPORT.

HEAD-QUARTERS

OTTERVILLE, December 23, 1861. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state that, having replaced by troops from Lamine the garrison of Sedalia, I marched from that place on Sunday the 15th instant, with a column of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, numbering about four thousand men. The first brigade was commanded by Colonel J. C. Davis, Indiana Volunteers; the second by Colonel F. Steele, Eighth Iowa regiment. The object of the movement was to interpose between Price's army on the Osage and the recruits, escort, and supplies on their way south from the Mississippi River. This body of the enemy was represented to be between four and six thousand strong, with a large train of supplies.

force, posting the main body between Warrensburg and Rose Hill, to support the pursuing column. I, at the same time, reinforced Major Hubbard with two companies of Merrill's Horse, and directed him, in order to secure our flank in the pursuit, to push forward as far as possible toward Osceola. This officer executed his duty with distinguished ability and vigor, driving back and capturing the pickets, and one entire company of the enemy's cavalry, with tents, baggage, and wagons. One of the pickets and two wagons were captured within the lines of Rains' division, encamped north of the Osage

River.

The column under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown continued the pursuit vigorously all night of the 16th, all day of the 17th, and part of the night of the same day, his advance guard consisting of Foster's company of Ohio Cavalry, and a detachment of thirty men of the Fourth regular cavalry, occupying Johnstown in the course of the night. The enemy began to scatter as soon as the pursuit grew close, disappearing in every direction in the bushes, and by every by-path, driving their wagons into farm-yards remote from the road, and throwing out their loads. As these wagons were all two-horse wagons of the country, and had been in fact taken by force from the farm-houses, it was impossible to identify them. When our pursuit reached Johnstown, about midnight on the 17th, the enemy, reduced to about five hundred, scattered completely, one portion fleeing precipitately toward Butler, and the other toward Papinsville.

hood of Clinton. In these operations sixteen wagons, loaded with tents and supplies, and one hundred and fifty prisoners, were captured. The enemy's force was thoroughly dispersed. On the morning of the 18th Lieut.-Colonel Brown's force rejoined the command. Know

The main body of my cominand moved slowly toward Warrensburg, awaiting the return of the force under Lieut.-Colonel Brown, which proceeded from Johnstown to scour the I encamped on the 15th eleven miles south-country south of Grand River to the neighborwest of Sedalia. That the enemy might be thoroughly misled as to the destination of the expedition, it was given out that the movement was upon Warsaw, and the troops pursued the road to that place several miles beyond Sedalia. I threw forward on Clinton four companies of the First Missouri Cavalry, under Major Hub-ing that there must still be a large force of the bard, with orders to watch any movement from Osceola, to prevent any reconnoissance of our main column, and to intercept any messengers to the enemy at Osceola. On the 16th I pushed forward by forced march twenty-seven miles, and with my whole force, occupied at sunset a position between the direct road from Warrensburg to Clinton, and the road by Chilhowee, which latter is the road heretofore pursued by returning soldiers and by recruits. Shortly after sunset, the advance consisting of four companies of Iowa Cavalry, under Major Torrence, captured the enemy's pickets at Chilhowee, and learned VOL. III.-Doc. 89

enemy north of us, I moved forward slowly, on the 18th, toward Warrensburg, and, when near that town, the spies and scouts I had sent out before marching from Sedalia, in the direction of Lexington, Waverly, and Arrow Rock, reported to me that a large force was moving from the two latter places, and would encamp that night at the mouth of Clear Creek, just south of Milford.

I posted the main body of my command between Warrensburg and Knob Noster, to close all outlet to the south between those two points, and despatched seven companies of cavalry,

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