Battle of Woodsonville Summary - Online Archive of Terry's Texas Rangers

Woodsonville

December 17, 1861

After Brig. Gen. Don Carlos Buell took command of the Department of the Ohio in early November, he attempted to consolidate control by organizing and sending troops into the field. He ordered Brig. Gen. Alexander McD. McCook, commanding the 2nd Division, to Nolin, Kentucky. In the meantime, the Confederates had established a defensive line along the Green River near Munfordville. McCook launched a movement towards the enemy lines on December 10, which the Rebels countered by partially destroying the Louisville & Nashville Railroad bridge over the Green River. As a result, the Union sent two companies of the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment across the river to prevent a surprise and began constructing a pontoon bridge for the passage of trains and artillery. When the bridge was completed on December 17, four more of the 32nd Indiana companies crossed the river. The combined force advanced to a hill south of Woodsonville where, in the afternoon, they spotted enemy troops in the woods fronting them. Two companies advanced toward the enemy in the woods, which fell back until Confederate cavalry attacked. A general engagement ensued as eight Yankee companies fought a much larger Confederate force. Fearing that the enemy might roll up his right flank, Col. August Willich, commanding the regiment, ordered a withdrawal to a stronger position in the rear. Knowing of McCook’s approach, the Rebels also withdrew from the field. Although the results of the battle were indecisive, Union troops did occupy the area and insured the movement of their men and supplies on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.

Other Names:
	Rowlett's Station, Green River
Location:
	Hart County, Kentucky
Campaign:
	Confederate Kentucky Offensive (1861)
Principle Commanders:
	CS: Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman US: Lt. Col. Von Trebra / Col. August Willich
Forces Engaged:
	CS: (1,100 infantry, 250 cavalry, and four pieces of artillery) Hindman's Brigade - Brig. Gen. Thomas C. Hindman 1st Battalion of Arkansas Infantry - Lt. Col. John S. Marmaduke Company L - Company O - Company P - Company Q - Company R - Company S - Company T - 2nd Arkansas Infantry Regiment - Col. Daniel S. Govan Company A - Company B - Company C - Company D - Company E - Company F - Company G - Company H - Company I - 6th Arkansas Cavalry Battalion - Maj. C. W. Phifer Company A Company B Company C Company D Company E Company F 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment - Col. A. T. Hawthorn Company A Company B Company C Company D Company E Company F Company G Company H Company I Company K Swett's Battery brass six-pounder brass six-pounder brass six-pounder brass six-pounder Detached 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment - Col. Benjamin F. Terry Killed - Col. Benjamin F. Terry Company A Company B "One or two slightly wounded" Company C Company D Killed - W.W. Beal Killed - Frank Loftin Wounded Mortally - L.L. Giles Wounded Slightly - L.B. Giles Wounded Slightly - John R. Henry Wounded Slightly - Sam Friedberger Company E Company F Company G Company H - 2nd Lt. Robert J. Calder Company I Company K - Capt. John G. Walker Killed - Cpl. Michael Dunn Mortally Wounded - Lt. A. W. Morris Wounded and Discharged - Page B. Bloodgood Wounded Severly - John A. Jackson Wounded Slightly - Capt. John G. Walker US: 32nd Indiana Infantry - Lt. Col. Von Trebra Company A - Capt. Francis Erdelmeyer Company B - Capt. Jacob Glass Company C - 1st Lt. Max Sachs Killed - 1st Lt. Max Sachs Killed - Henry Lohse Killed - Frederick Schumacher Killed - Richard Wehe Wounded - Charles Knab (Died within a month) Wounded - 1 Wounded - 2 Wounded - 3 Wounded - 4 Wounded - 5 Wounded - 6 Company D - Capt. John Schwartz Company E - Capt. Philip H. Monninger Company F - Capt. Frederick August Muller Mortally Wounded - Sgt. William Staats Wounded and Captured - 1st Sgt. John Helmkamp Captured - John Wiesinger Captured - Philip Bleistien "Struck Down" - 1 "Struck Down" - 2 "Struck Down" - 3 "Struck Down" - 4 "Struck Down" - 5 "Struck Down" - 6 "Struck Down" - 7 "Struck Down" - 8 "Struck Down" - 9 "Struck Down" - 10 Company G - Capt. Peter J. Welschbillig Mortally Wounded - Cpl. John Reis Wounded - Cpl. August Taufer Killed or seriously wounded - 1 Killed or seriously wounded - 2 Killed or seriously wounded - 3 Killed or seriously wounded - 4 Killed or seriously wounded - 5 Killed or seriously wounded - 6 Company H - Lt. Peter Cappel Company I - Capt. William Seivers Company K - Capt. Andreas Winter 49th Ohio Company B Kentucky Light Artillery Battery A - Capt. David C. Stone 1st Ohio Artillery Battery A - Capt. S. Cotter
Estimated Casualties:
	CS: 91 US: 40
Results:
	Inconclusive

Onsite Links
	ORs - Dispatch of Gen. Buell (US) Dated December 17, 1861 - Midnight ORs - Report of Col. Willich (US) Undated (Forwarded on December 18, 1861) ORs - Indorsement by Gen. Johnson (US) Dated December 18, 1861 Letter - C. W. Love ( Dated December 18, 1861 - Rumors of battle. Letter - B. F. Batchelor (8th Texas Cavalry, Co. C) Dated December 19 - 1st hand account of battle. Letter - J. W. Hill (8th Texas Cavalry, Co. D) Dated December 19 - 1st hand account of battle. ORs - Report of Gen. Hindman (CS) Dated December 19, 1861 Letter - I. Fulkerson (8th Texas Cavalry, Co. B) Dated December 20 - 1st hand account of battle. Letter - J. C. Bowersox (49th Ohio Vollunteer Infantry) Dated December 21, 1861 - Describes battle and its after effects. ORs - Central Army of Kentucky: Special Orders #46 (CS) Dated December 21, 1861 Letter - R. E. Hill (8th Texas Cavalry, Co. D) Dated December 22 - 1st hand account of battle. ORs - Report of Gen. Johnston to the Secretary of War (CS) Dated December 25, 1861 ORs- Indorsement by Gen. McCook (US) Dated December 25, 1861 ORs - Department of the Ohio: General Orders No. 23. (US) Dated December 27, 1861 Letter - B. F. Burke (8th Texas Cavalry, Co. F) Dated December 31 - 1st hand account of battle. ORs - Report of Gen. Buell (US) Dated February 8, 1862 The Texas Ranger War Song The Death of Terry at Woodsonville is mentioned in this song. New Birmingham Times, 1891, "First Pitched Battle" J.M. Claiborne of Terry's Rangers. Confederate Veteran, 1895, "Presentation of Bonnie Blue Flag" William Fort Smith of Terry's Rangers briefly mentions Terry's Death at Woodsonville. Confederate Veteran, 1895, "Letters From Veterans" R. J. Cook of the 2nd Arkansas Infantry assert that Col. Terry was killed at Mumfordville. Confederate Veteran, 1895, "Letters From Veterans" A. L. Steele of Terry's Rangers writes to correct R. J. Steel on Terry's Death. Confederate Veteran, 1897, "Sketch of the Famous Eighth Texas Cavalry" Unknown Ranger author mentions Woodsonville. Confederate Veteran, 1897, "Terry's Texas Rangers" Unknown Ranger author mentions Woodsonville. Confederate Veteran, 1897, "Maj. Gen John A. Wharton" Judge James Wharton states that Col. Terry was Killed at Shiloh. Confederate Veteran, 1897, "Death of Judge Gustave Cook " Gustave Cook of Terry's Rangers was present At Woodsonville. Comprehensive History of Texas, Vol. 2, 1898 - "Terry's Texas Rangers" Kate Scurry Terrell mentions the battle. Confederate Military History: 6th Arkansas Infantry (1899) Brief regimental history Confederate Military History: Woodsonville (1899) Brief account of the battle Dallas Morning News, 1901, "The Terry Brothers" A. M. Shannon recounts the death of Col. Terry. Confederate Veteran, 1901, "Dallas Veteran: Maj. H. W. Graber" Henry Graber of Terry's Rangers was present At Woodsonville. Confederate Veteran, 1905, "Woman's Memories of the Sixties" Includes a Dec 19, 1861 letter by M. L. Evans of Terry's Rangers. Terry's Texas Rangers, 1910 - Introduction D. S. Combs of Terry's Rangers mentions in a letter that he was at Woodsonville. Terry's Texas Rangers, 1911 - Chapter 2 L. B. Giles of Terry's Texas Rangers. Confederate Veteran, 1911, "Brave George Barnhart Zimpelman" Ranger J. M. Claiborne recalls Ranger Zimpleman's actions at Woodsonville. Reminiscences of the Terry Rangers, 1918 - Part 1 J. K. P. Blackburn of Terry's Texas Rangers. Confederate Veteran, 1924, "A Story of Terry's Texas Rangers" G. W. Littlefild's account of the battle. Confederate Veteran, 1924, "The Last Roll: George R. Allen" George Allen of Terry's Rangers was present At Woodsonville. John A Wharton: The Forgotten General (1981) Paul Scott gives a brief description of the engagement.
Offsite Links:
	Battle of Rowlett's Station Battle for the Bridge Historic Preserve summary. Indiana's German Sons, Baptism of Fire: Rowlett's Station 1861 Online Book about the battle and the 32nd Indiana Infantry. Rowlett's Station CWSAC battle summary. Rowlett's Station, Woodsonville, Green River Kentucky Civil War Battles by State - battle summary. 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry "First German" Regiment Regimental history.
Bibliography:
	Nationanl Park Service."Rowlett's Station." CWSAC Battle Summries. Reference No: KY004. Website. Peake, Michael A. Indiana's German Sons. Indianapolis: Deutsches Haus-Athenaeum, 1999.