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Battle of Perryville
New York Times Articles

The following is transcribed from the New York Times, dated October 13, 1862:

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THE WAR IN KENTUCKY.; Gen. Buell's Report of the Battle of Perryville. THE ENEMY EVERYWHERE REPULSED. Our Loss Estimated at 1,500 Killed and Wounded. Another Battle Expected Yesterday. CAPTURE Of SUPPLIES BY THE REBELS.GEN. BUELL'S REPORT. OUR DISPATCHES FROM LOUISVILLE.

 

PERRYVILLE, Ky., via BARDSTOWN, Oct. 10, 1862.

 

To Maj-Gen. Hallack, General-in-Chief:

 

          I have already advised you of the movements of the army under my command from Louisville. More or less skirmishing has occurred daily with the enemy's cavalry. Since then it was supposed the enemy would give battle at Bardstown. My troops reached that point on the 4th inst., driving out the enemy's rear guard of cavalry and artillery. The main body retired toward Springfield, whither the pursuit was continued. The centre corps, under Gen. GILBERT, moved on the direct road from Springfield to Perryville, and arrived on the 7th instant within two miles of the town, where the enemy was found to be in force. The left column, under Gen. MCCOOK, came upon the Nashville road about 1 o'clock yesterday, the 8th instant. It was ordered into position to attack, and a strong reconnoissance directed. At 4 o'clock I received a request from Gen. MCCOOK for reinforcements, and learned that the left had been severely engaged for several hours, and that the right and left of that corps were being turned and severely pressed. Reinforcements were immediately sent forward from the centre. Orders were also sent to the right column, under Gen. GRITTENDEN, which was advancing by the Lebanon road, to push forward and attack the enemy's left, but it was impossible for it to get in position in time to procure any decisive result. The action continued until dark. Some fighting also occurred on the centre. The enemy were everywhere repulsed, but not without some momentary advantage on the left. The several corps were put in position during the night, and moved to the attack at 6 o'clock this morning. Some skirmishing occurred with the enemy's rear guard. The main body had fallen back in the direction of Harrodsburgh. I have no accurate report of our loss yet. It is probably pretty heavy, including valuable officers. Gens. JACKSON and TERRILL, I regret to say, are among the killed. D.C. BUELL, Major-General Commanding. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Saturday, Oct. 11. It is reported by intelligent army officers that Gens. CHEATHAM and POLK were killed, and that the loss of the rebels at Perryville exceeded ours by three to one. The Louisville Democrat learns that Capt. BOWLES' Quartermaster's train was attacked on the morning of the 8th inst. by a party of rebels, whom Maj. BRADFORD held in check, near Frankfort, when Gen. KIRBY SMITH's whole force appeared on the opposite side of the river, and necessitated a surrender of seventeen National Government wagons and ten or fifteen sutlers' wagons. The rebels also captured five hundred and fifty of Gen. SILL's stragglers, whom they sent off with the train. Among the National officers captured were: Major BRADFORD; Lieut. CASSELL, of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania; Capt. BOWLES, Quartermaster; Lieut. BAILEY, of the Thirtieth Indiana, and Lieut. GOLDSMITH, of the Thirty-ninth Ohio. The Louisville Journal says that Grayson was taken by the rebels on the 30th of September. LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sunday, Oct. 12. Squads of DUMONT's men, under Col. MILLER, captured two pieces of artillery and 150 rebels at Versailles yesterday. A portion of DUMONT's command drove the enemy Saturday night from Lawrenceburgh toward Nicholasville, wounding several, and capturing sixteen prisoners. National loss none. The Maysville Eagle says a dispatch was received by JOHN C. BRECKENRIDGE's wife, to meet him at Danville on Monday next. Further particulars of Wednesday's (Perrysville) fight state that the Federal force was 16,000, and the rebel force sixty-two [regiments -- the aggregate unknown. The National loss was from 500 to 600 killed, and 2,300 wounded, and 440 prisoners. The latter were paroled by BUCKNER. The rebel loss was 1,300 killed, including one General unnamed, and 14 Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels. This number of killed and wounded is admitted by the rebel Medical Director of Gen. CHEATHAM's Division. A dispatch from a member of the First Wisconsin says that regiment lost 58 killed, and 124 wounded. Among the wounded are Major MITCHELL and Capt. GREEN. Dispatches received at headquarters state that Col. LYTLE's wounds were very slight. He had been paroled, and will arrive to-morrow evening. It is reported that WOLFORD's Cavalry captured over one hundred rebel wagons, one thousand prisoners and one battery, on Friday, between Perryville and Harrodsburgh. Gen. DUMONT is at Frankfort. MARSHALL, it is said, left Lexington on Sunday last, with his whole force of 2,000 infantry and 450 cavalry. It is believed that MARSHALL, and the forces driven from Versailles, are at Nicholasville. LOUISVILLE, Sunday, Oct. 12. Dr. HEAD, Medical Director here, has been required to prepare for the reception of 3,000 of the Perryville wounded. Col. RICHARD J. JACOB, of the Ninth Kentucky Cavalry, has arrived here, suffering from an extensive but not serious flesh wound. KIRBY SMITH left Lawrenceburgh with his whole command on Friday morning, and effected a junction with BRAGG on Friday afternoon. Our forces were massed, on Friday, between Perryville and Harrodsburgh. They are reported to have formed in line of battle about six miles from Perryville. Capt. WATSON, of Co. G, Eightieth Indiana, wounded somewhat severely, has arrived here. He left Perryville on Saturday and was overtaken by a messenger who left Perryville two hours later. The messenger reports the rebel force about 75,00. They heard heavy and constant firing for many miles after they left. Rumors prevail that a general engagement between the whole of each army was progressing yesterday on the Harrodsburgh road wherein BUELL drove the rebels towards Camp Dick Robinson. Paroled prisoners say the rebels are making for the camp at Perryville. The rebels were so crippled on Wednesday that they could not carry away seven pieces of artiltery they had captured. We captured 160,000 rounds of their ammunition. They buried their dead, and their wounded were cared for. LOUISVILLE, Sunday, Oct. 12. A skirmish took place on Thursday, near Lawrenceburgh, Bowen County, of 19 Regulars and First Ohio Cavalry, against Col. SCOTT's rebel cavalry, Col. SCOTT was wounded, and now is a prisoner at Bardstown. One hundred and thirty rebel prisoners from Perrysville, including ten Lieutenants, arrived here to-night.

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