Colonel Willich, with the Thirty-second Indiana, a regiment composed of Germans, occupying an advance post of General McCook’s division of the Federal army in Kentucky, was attacked on the 17th of December, by three regiments of Arkansas infantry, Colonel Terry’s Texan Rangers, and Major Phifer’s cavalry, and also an artillery company, with four pieces, the whole under the command of General T. C. Hindman. Colonel Willich’s regiment was guarding a new bridge built by the Federal troops over Green river, at Rowlett’s Station, on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, a temporary substitute for the handsome iron structure which had been destroyed by the rebels, in front of Mumfordsville. A picket guard of two companies had been thrown across the river on the south side, occupying a wide area of cleared ground, which was skirted by forests, from whence the rebels attempted to surprise and capture them. The second company, Captain Glass, was acting in detached squads as pickets in the woods on the right flank, and were attacked in detail by the enemy’s skirmishers. The pickets made a gallant defence, and fell back slowly and in good order on their supports. The alarm in the mean time having been given to the other companies on the north side of the river, they started in “double-quick” over the bridge, crossed the hill on the opposite side, and rushed with fierce haste into the woods whence the firing proceeded, led on by Lieutenant-Colonel Treba, Colonel Willich at the time being necessarily at headquarters. A portion of the third company, under Lieutenant Sachs, occupied a covered position on the left flank, where they were now attacked by the advancing enemy. Unable to restrain the ardor of his men, the Lieutenant boldly left his sheltered position and attacked the rebels in the open field; but fierce as his onset was, the disparity of numbers proved too greatly against him, and his little band would have inevitably been cut to pieces but for the timely arrival of Lieutenant-Colonel Treba, with the main body of the regiment. He sent the sixth, seventh and tenth companies to support the second company on the right, and the first, fifth, eighth and ninth companies to support the third company on the left flank. At the very first rush of the skirmishers, the enemy were thrown into confusion, and driven back at all points.