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Posted on 12/24/2001 9:20:42 AM PST by shuckmaster

The War Between the States has been cast as a fight over slavery, taxes, preservation of the Union and states' rights. A small episode in the war occurred [1] on the fields of Kentucky along the Green River which presents the war in a different light. On that field, two commanders led their men into a deadly conflict on December 17, 1861. Their ideologies represented separate world views. Their battle foreshadowed many future struggles. The battle eventually concluded, yet the war of the ideas they represented and believed continues being acted out.

Both commanders experienced battles earlier in their lives. They fought for political independence. Each of their families was steeped in previous military experiences. Although both believed in fighting for principles and were willing to pay the price for it, the vision for which each man strove took them in different directions. The two commanders were Augustus von Willich and Benjamin Franklin Terry.

Augustus von Willich was the son of a Prussian military officer born in Braunsburg, Prussia in 1810. Since he belonged to the elite Junker class in Prussian society, he was allowed admittance to the military academy at Potsdam. He entered the academy at the age of 12. By the time he was fifteen, he served as an ensign in the Prussian army. This was an exciting time to be in the Prussian army, in the aftermath years of Napoleon Bonaparte's defeat and increasing influence of Prussia. Many military experts considered the Prussian army one of the best in the world at that time.

By the time he was 21, Augustus served as a captain in the artillery. His military career looked promising at that time. Willich then took initiative and led a group of officers in unapproved activities. His activities involved the study and discussion of books considered dangerous and forbidden. The books dealt with communism and communistic thinking. These new ideas found fertile ground in young Willich's mind. He began sharing his ideas with others. These activities led to increased scrutiny by his superiors who considered court-martialing the young officer.[2]

Willich then resigned his commission, and worked as a carpenter. He believed his labor in that field would help him identify with the proletariat. Eventually, he joined the League of Communists.

By the mid-1840's Europe experienced increasing political turmoil. Communistic and socialistic ideas were spread across the continent. Willich actively involved himself in the political turmoil churning in Europe. In 1848, many separate groups attempted turning Europe into a communistic territory through revolution. Willich did his part by organizing workers in Baden. The workers were then armed, and openly fought against Prussian government forces. Willich's force managed to slow the movement of the Prussian troops during the uprising.[3] His force gained notoriety as being the first to fly the red flag of the workers revolution. His force also gained notoriety for having as an aide-de-camp, Fredrick Engels. In the previous year, Engels published a book with Karl Marx entitled the Communist Manifesto. Willich's force was eventually overwhelmed, and he sought exile in Switzerland. After Switzerland, he went to London. While in London, he became a member of the Executive of the 'Bund der Kommunistin.'

In 1853, Willich came to the United States, settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. He felt at home, being that the city contained a large German population. Eventually, he became editor of a German language newspaper, known as the Republikanner. From the position of editor, he once more promoted his ideas of socialism. He also criticized organized religions, especially Catholicism and democracy. The Republikanner openly supported efforts of the Republican party including the candidates John Fremont and Abraham Lincoln. Willich considered himself a 'militant proletarian communist.' Others considered him a 'communist with a heart.'[4]

As the sectional conflicts escalated between the United States, Willich continued his inflammatory rhetoric. When John Brown was executed, he exclaimed "Whet your sabers and nerve your arms for the day of retribution when slavery and democracy will be crushed in a common grave." His rhetoric escalated as war neared.

When war broke out, many of the German immigrants volunteered for service. Willich, a known communist, was commissioned as a colonel and chosen to lead a German unit formed in Indiana.[5] He proceeded training them in Prussian military tactics, even to the point of responding to Prussian bugle calls.

Such was the background of August Willich, who fought against Benjamin Franklin Terry and his regiment on 17 December 1861 near Woodsonville, Kentucky.

Willich's counterpart, Benjamin Franklin Terry was born February 18, 1826 in Russelville, Kentucky. His father, Joseph Terry, served in the War of 1812. Both his grandfathers had served as officers in the American Revolution. One of them also served in the War of 1812 under Andrew Jackson. His maternal uncle served with Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. One of his grandfathers served as a member of the House of Burgesses in Virginia, alongside Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.

While still a child, his parents moved to Mississippi. Benjamin was the oldest of five brothers born to his parents. While in Mississippi, his parents separated. His father wished to open a place for gambling. His mother found Joseph Terry's ideas unacceptable, and left him for religious convictions on the issue. She took the Terry boys to the Texas region of Mexico in 1833 or 1834. In Texas, they lived with her brother, Benjamin Fort Smith, who owned land in Brazoria County as part of Stephen F. Austin's new colony in the territory of Texas. His mother died shortly after coming to Texas.

B. F. Terry was then raised by his uncle, and taught them on the plantation. The impetuous 15 year old wished to join General Sam Houston. He and his 13 year old brother set out to find General Houston and his army of Texians. Unfortunately, the Battle of San Jacinto ended the war before they found him. His uncle died in 1842, leaving B. F. Terry [who preferred being called ‘Frank'] to run his plantation. Later that year, he married Mary Bingham, the daughter of one of Stephen F. Austin's 'old three hundred.'[6]

In 1849, he went to California to partake in the gold rush. He and his party overcame many obstacles and met with success. Frank returned after having partnered with William J. Kyle in purchasing more acreage for the sugar plantation. He changed the name from Oakland to Sugarland.

With the success of the plantation, he then ventured to construct the first railroad in Texas. The contract to build the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway was awarded to Terry and Kyle. The railroad allowed greater development and growth. His business successes brought him notoriety in Texas. His home was a center of entertainment and socializing for the area around Richmond, Texas. He was later awarded the contract to build a second railroad, 'The Houston Tap.'

When the Mexican leader Juan Cortina incited difficulties in south Texas, Frank Terry volunteered his service to track Cortina down. While on the expedition, he met Robert E. Lee, who led the mission.

As the political situation between the states worsened, Frank Terry became increasingly outspoken. Terry was a fiery secessionist. After the election of Lincoln, Terry was elected a representative to the secessionist convention in Austin, Texas. At the convention, he presented the case for secession based largely on the deficiencies of the Federal government in fulfilling its responsibilities toward Texas.

Terry not only supported secession verbally, he volunteered his services. He participated in the seizure of Federal facilities at Ft. Brown after the sovereign citizens of Texas voted to secede.

He and his friends actively sought the authority to raise a regiment of troops. Terry was an excellent horseman and the cavalry was his choice of regiment. The initial attempts were rebuffed. He and his friends then voluntarily served as scouts for James Longstreet's unit at the Battle of First Manassas. During the battle, he shot the Federal flag from the Fairfax County courthouse, by severing its lanyard. His actions earned him the attention and approval he sought concerning raising a regiment.[7]

The regiment mustered in Houston, Texas. From there they traveled to Kentucky. Once in Kentucky, they joined fellow Texan, Albert Sidney Johnston. General Johnston used them in a scouting role as his forces sought to maintain the independence of their nation. In December of 1861, he sent Terry's Texas Rangers as part of a force to reconnoiter Green River near Woodsonville.[8]

The situation at Woodsonville escalated from a skirmish into a small battle, Augustus von Willich and B. F. Terry each fighting for heart felt beliefs. Communism and democracy clashed that day. German born troops found themselves fighting on American soil and the Texans fighting to enforce the will of the people on Kentucky soil. In the short, intense action, Terry died. A little over a year later, Terry's Texas Rangers captured Augustus von Willich, then a general. After his capture he questioned who caught him, when informed, he said, "I would rather be a private in that outfit than a General in the Federal army."

This 'War Between The States' contained many thought-provoking incidents. Some, such as Terry and Willich have been lost to history books, but on closer scrutiny, allow us to see the struggle differently. The lives of these two men portray two distinct ideas about government, world view, liberty and freedom. Those two views continue struggle for dominance far away from where this drama played out on the fields of Kentucky. The drama takes on even darker aspects when President Clinton announced to the world that he identified with the 'forty-eighters' [the groups of socialists revolting in Europe.] For most Americans the reference was ignored or not understood. To a student of history, the implications are far reaching as effects of Lincoln's War continue through the present day.

An alternative link to neo-Confederate lost cause ideology.

God saved the South ...

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