Captain Welschbellich allowed them to come within a distance of seventy yards, then fired a volley, which staggered and sent them back. But immediately afterward they reformed and again 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 many of their band rode up to the points of the bayonets. But another well-aimed volley emptied a number of saddles, and sent back the whole mass which a moment before had threatened certain destruction to Captain Welschbellich’s company. A few bayonet thrusts and scattering shots brought down those who had ventured to the front. This second repulse had a marked effect. Yet a third attack was made, much less determined and fierce than the two first, though it was more disastrous to the enemy. During this third attack it was that Colonel Terry, the commander of the Rangers, was killed. Upon his fall, the whole column broke and fled in wild dismay.
But in place of the Rangers, a whole regiment of infantry, accompanied by their band of music, now marched against the “invincible square.” Before this overpowering force Captain Welschbellich deemed it prudent to retire, and united with the second, sixth and tenth companies again.
About this time it was that Colonel Willich, with his battle horse in a foam, arrived upon the field. He saw the right wing retiring, and the entire infantry of the enemy, two regiments, coming on, thus endangering the retreat of the left wing. He therefore ordered the signal for “retiring slowly” to be given, and collected the companies. The second company, under Captain Glass, and the seventh, under Captain Welschbellich, were the first who took their places in the line of battle of the regiment.
About this time a manœuvre was executed by the first company, under Captain Erdemeyer, which decided the day. When the battle commenced, and the impression prevailed that the Unionists were fighting cavalry alone, Lieutenant-Colonel Treba had detached this company to take a position and attack the flank of the enemy. When the first company arrived at the place of destination, Captain Erdemeyer found that the enemy had likewise a large force of infantry and artillery, to attack which would have been certain destruction to 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, the artillery retired in haste, and the infantry followed as quickly.
The Union loss was eleven killed, twenty wounded, and five missing. The enemy left a large number of killed on the field, and among their dead was the body of Colonel Terry. The rebel loss was thirty-three killed and sixty wounded.
CAPTURE OF REBEL RECRUITS AT MILFORD, MO.
On the eighteenth of December, Brigadier-General Pope, commanding the Federal troops in the central district of Missouri, made a brilliant and successful movement, which resulted in the capture of a considerable number of the enemy.
It will be recollected that the withdrawal of the Federal troops from Springfield and the leading points of both central and southern Missouri, had given free scope to the action of the enemy. Seditious proclamations had been issued by Ex-Governor Jackson and General Price, and had been thoroughly circulated. Enlisting agents, also, had been very active, and some two thousand recruits, mostly drawn from the northern counties, were proceeding by slow stages southward, to unite with the main body under General Price.
A well laid plan was matured by Generals Halleck and Pope to capture these reinforcements; and two brigades of General Pope’s division were dispatched without exciting any suspicion as to their destination, to intercept the enemy on their march. The brigades were constituted as follows: