from Gen. Terrell or myself, the battery had been taken by the enemy, and the troops driven back from the open ground on the knob to the skirt of woods, thus extending our left; and it was impossible to then recover the body of our fallen General. E. E. Kennon, Acting Adjutant to the Thirtyfourth brigade, and to Lieutenant John Collins, of the Ninety-eighth Ohio, Aid to Col. Webster. It would be hard to conceive of two young officers performing their duties with more unflinching courage than they showed. Captain Starling, who staid with me during the whole engagement, rendered most valuable assistance. He joined the service only when the division was formed in Louisville, yet appreciated at a glance the importance of many positions, and aided personally in maintaining them. His coolness and courage are unsurpassed. From this time up to five P.M. the battle raged With the exception of Captain S. M. Starling, with great fury and with varied success on both Inspector-General of Infantry and Ordnance, all sides. Two regiments, the Second and Ninety- the staff-officers left me and I believe reported to fourth Ohio, belonging to Gen. Rousseau's divi- General McCook. On the decease of our General, sion, had come into our lines between the two Captain B. D. Williams, Division Quartermaster, batteries, and behaved most gallantly. Finding knowing well the topography of the country, was no enemy in front of Colonel Webster's brigade, detailed before the engagement on General Mcwhich never lost a foot of ground up to this time, Cook's staff; and of him and of the other staffCol. Webster rode off with me a little to the rear, officers I have no doubt high praise will be where we found Gen. McCook. He rode with us awarded by the General commanding the corps. up to Colonel Webster's command, and reported At one time I found Lewis Craig, a volunteer that his right was being heavily pressed and fall-aid, bravely rallying a regiment then in disorder. ing back. He and all of us then saw the progress of the enemy on Colonel Webster's right, as evidenced by the steady approach through the corn of a flag with a black ball in the centre of a white ground, and he had scarcely time to change the front of Colonel Webster's command, which was then all on exposed ground, when the enemy's infantry, arriving on the edge of the corn, opened Nor was the courage of the troops at all at fire upon them. The regiments moved down at fault. It must be remembered that the position a double-quick to the right-face and formed in the of the two batteries, forming our right and left, woods, when they opened a deadly volley on the was taken without regard to the line of infantry enemy, who were found in large numbers on the battle, yet our entire force, with the exception of ground the next morning, (they were killed, I two regiments, was formed between the two. believe, mostly by the rifles of the Ninety-eighth And from the contracted space, and from the fact Ohio.) They however still advanced, preventing that all the men and most of the officers being of Capt. Harris from getting the whole of his battery the last and recent call, were without experience off. Heavy firing all along this changed front in such matters, many times the men went up in still continued. The line, so far as was observa- line of battle and delivered their fire four, five, ble from this division, was then at a right angle and six deep. Many of the officers, whose names with the main road, instead of parallel with it as I never knew, did their whole duty. Some failbefore, when fresh troops from the extreme righted, and amongst them I regret to report Colonel rushed in with rapidity and gallantry, checking J. R. Taylor, of the Fiftieth Ohio. He, although the further advance of the enemy, and closing the fight at dark. At about half-past five P.M. Colonel George Webster fell from his horse mortally wounded. No man on that battle-field displayed more of the characteristics of the soldier than he. He fully understood and most faithfully discharged his duty. Of General Terrell's fatal wound I was not apprised until the battle closed, when I found him lying prostrate and receiving every aid and comfort from his devoted staff. Up to the time of the loss of Lieutenant Parsons's battery, both he and his Adjutant-General, Capta:n William P. Anderson, displayed such courage and persistent energy as is not to be surpassed. on the field, and in sight of his men, was of no service to them. The first position that I saw him in, was lying on his face, crouching behind a stump, and twice subsequently I saw him far to the rear of his regiment, whilst his men were in line of battle, apparently trying to rally some half a dozen stragglers. I annex a statement of killed, wounded, and missing, amounting to near twenty per cent of the force engaged. The loss of our General, crushing as it is to this young division, falling as he did so early in the fight, will be felt more deeply by many of his brother commanders whose friend he had been, and whose friends they were. But none will Lieut. Parsons, whom I met passing through miss him more, or mourn his death more sincereour lines after the loss of his battery, appeared ly than I, who have been so near him during perfectly unmanned and broken-hearted. His this unhappy war. only remark was: "I could not help it, Captain; Your obedient servant, it was not my fault." Captain Harris, commanding the battery on the right, is, with his men, entitled to all praise for their steady fire, continued for three and a half hours. I cannot conceive a battery to be better served than his was. Too high praise cannot be given to Lieutenant PERCIVAL P. OLDENHAW, A.A.G. and Chief of Staff. LOSS IN TENTH DIVISION. General Officers killed.-Brigadier-Gen. James S. Jackson, commanding division; Brig.-General W. R. Terrell, commanding Thirty-third brigade; Prisoners of war,.. Col. George Webster, Ninety-eighth Ohio volunteers, commanding Thirty-fourth brigade. LOSS IN THIRTY-THIRD BRIGADE. One Hundred and Fifth Ohio, Colonel Hall.-— Officers killed, two captains; wounded, two captains, one lieutenant; enlisted men killed, fortyone; wounded, one hundred and forty-four; wounded and prisoners, twenty; missing, thirteen-total, two hundred and twenty-three. One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois, Col. Monroe. Officers killed, none; wounded, one lieutenant-colonel, one adjutant; enlisted men killed, thirty-five; wounded, one hundred and seventeen; missing, thirty-five-total, one hundred and eighty-nine. Eightieth Illinois, Colonel Allen.-Officers killed, one lieutenant; wounded, none; enlisted men killed, ten; wounded, thirty-two; missing, thirteen-total, fifty-six. One Hundred and First Indiana.-Not in ac tion. Parsons's Battery.-Not reported. LOSS IN THIRTY-FOURTH BRIGADE. Fiftieth Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Strickland. Officers killed, two captains; wounded, none; enlisted men killed, nineteen; wounded, thirtythree; missing, seventy-nine-total, one hundred and thirty-three. Ninety-eighth Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel Poorman.Officers killed, one lieutenant; wounded none; enlisted men killed, twenty-eight; wounded, one hundred and fifteen; missing, thirty-eight-total, one hundred and eighty-two. 47 .216 GENERAL SHERIDAN'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE OHIO, CAMP ON ROLLING FORK, SIX MILES SOUTH OF LEBANON, KY., October 23, 1862. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my division in the action of the eighth instant, near Perryville, Kentucky. In accordance with the instructions of the General Commanding, I directed Colonel Dan McCook, with his brigade and Barnett's battery, to occupy the heights in front on Doctor's Creek, so as to secure that water for our men. This was done very handsomely after a sharp skirmish at daylight in the morning, giving us full possession of the heights. In about two hours afterwards the enemy advanced in considerable force through a line of heavy timber on the eastern slope, to drive us from this position. I had, however, in the mean time, ordered forward Colonel Laiboldt's brigade, and Hescock's battery, so that I felt myself well prepared and strong enough to receive them. I then directed Col. Laiboldt to advance two of his old regiments and drive the enemy from the tim ber, at the same time putting the batteries in po sition. Colonel Laiboldt drove the enemy back down the hill and across Chaplin Creek, after an obstinate contest, in which the loss was severe on both sides. Captain Barnett, with one section of his battery, and Lieutenant Taliaferro, with one section of Hescock's battery, driving the enemy's batteries from every position they took. One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio, Colonel Reid.-Officers killed, one captain, one lieutenant; wounded, two; missing, one; prisoners, two; enlisted men killed, none; wounded, twentyone; prisoners, seven; missing, six-total, forty-made their appearance on my left, and the enemy one. Eightieth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Brooks. -Officers killed, none; wounded, none; enlisted men killed, twenty-six; wounded, one hundred and sixteen; prisoners, thirteen; missing, three-total, one hundred and fifty-seven. About this time General McCook with his corps opened on him. I then advanced Captain Hescock's battery to a very good position in front of the belt of timber, where he had an enfilading fire on the enemy's batteries on the opposite side of the valley of Chaplin Creek; advancing at the same time six regiments to support him. The fire of Captain Hescock was here very severely felt by the enemy, who attempted to dislodge him by establishing a battery at short-range; but Col. Garrard's Detachment.-Wounded, six; the firing of Hescock's battery was still so severe, missing, twenty-six; prisoners, seven total, thirty-nine. Nineteenth Indiana Battery, Captain Harris.Officers killed, none; wounded, none; enlisted men killed, two; wounded, thirteen; missing, three-total, eighteen. RECAPITULATION. and his shots so well directed and effective, as to force the enemy's batteries to abandon their new position in ten minutes. The enemy then placed two batteries on my right flank and commenced massing troops behind them, with the apparent intention of making an attack on that point. 1 then, by direction of Major-General Gilbert, re occupied the crest of the hill. I had no soone got into position than the enemy attacked me fiercely, advancing with great determination to my very line, notwithstanding a large portion of the ground over which they were advancing was exposed to a heavy fire of canister from both batteries. I then directed a general advance of my whole line, bringing up the reserve regiments occupying the crest of the hill. On our advance the enemy began to retire, but in good order. I could not follow up this advantage to any great extent, as the enemy were advancing on our left, General McCook's right having been driven back some distance. I then directed the fire of my artillery across the valley on this advance of the enemy, forcing them to retire, thus very much relieving General McCook. This ended the operations of the day, it being then dark, and the enemy having retired from the field. I cannot speak with too much praise of the good conduct of the officers and men of my whole division-all of whom were engaged. The new troops vied with the old troops of the division in their coolness and steadiness. My brigade commanders, Colonel Greisel, Colonel Dan McCook, and Lieut.-Colonel Laiboldt, behaved with great gallantry, leading their troops at all times. Neither can I speak too highly of Captains Hescock and Barnett, and the officers and men of their batteries. I respectfully bring to the notice of the General Commanding the excellent conduct of Surgeon Griffiths, Medical Director of the division, who was untiring in his care for the wounded on all parts of the field. Also the following officers of my staff: Captain Beck, A.D.C.; Lieut. George Lee, Acting A.A.G.; Lieut. Van Pelt, Division Commander, and Lieuts. Denning and Burton, for their alacrity in bearing orders and other valuable assistance rendered me during the day. The total casualties in my division were as follows: of artillery to our right and front was heard, and Gen. McCook ordered me to advance my cavalry and infantry in reconnoissance, leaving the artillery on an eminence in the road. I moved on with the infantry, preceded by six companies of the Second Kentucky cavalry, Colonel Buckner Board, and when near the field of battle, Colonel Board reported the enemy in sight. I halted the command, sent back for General McCook, and he and I rode forward to the front, examined the ground, and chose a line of battle to be adopted if the enemy advanced upon us, and soon afterwards moved up to Russell's house on the hill overlooking the field and there halted the head of the column. Whilst there the artillery (two pieces) of Capt. Harris's battery, with Gay's cavalry, continued to fire, and small arms were also heard. Gay addressed a note to me, saying he had been pressing the enemy all the morning, was pressing him then, and much needed a regiment of infantry to support his pieces. I ordered the Forty-second Indiana regiment to do so, and rode forward to his pieces and found him and Capt. Harris there. The enemy was just disappearing in the woods, far to the front, and out of range of Harris's ordinary brass pieces. I then ordered up Loomis with two of his Parrott guns, and he shelled the woods, the enemy now and then appearing, until finally he was no longer to be seen, and the firing was ordered to be ceased. Every thing indicated that the enemy had retired, and it was so believed. Gen. McCook rode off to see General Buell, understood to be two or three miles on our right. Waiting, perhaps, an hour, I concluded to resume the march to Chaplin Creek, then probably a mile to our front, to get water for my men, who were suffering intensely for want of it. There was a small pool in the bed of the little stream to the right of Loomis's two pieces, to which the Forty-second Indiana main column was then ordered forward; but was directed in order to obtain a supply, and the when the head of the column was within a hundred or two yards of Loomis's pieces, I halted it and went forward to see what was reported to be the enemy reappearing in the woods beyond, and in a few minutes I could see him plainly; and the discharge of shell from three batteries (masked) gave unmistakable evidence of his presence in force. I ordered Loomis to reply and bring up the remainder of his guns, and sent an order to Capt. Simonson, Fifth Indiana artillery, to join Loomis, all of which was promptly done. I then sent an order to Col. Lytle to form his brigade on the right in good position, and galloped back to placed Harris's brigade in position to resist the advance of the enemy, which I was just informed by a messenger from Capt. Wickliffe, of Col. Board's cavalry, was being made in On the morning of the eighth, on the march, that direction in great force of cavalry, infantry, General McCook showed me an order of General and artillery. I aided Col. Harris, commanding Buell's, in which it was said he should move cau- the Ninth brigade, to form his brigade in two tiously on approaching Perryville, as the enemy lines-the Second Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel Kell; the would probably make resistance in that vicinity. Tenth Wisconsin, Col. Chapin, and the ThirtyWhen near Chaplin Hills, battle-ground, and third Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Moore, being in the front perhaps three miles from Perryville, the report line. Soon after this, by a messenger, Colonel Killed, Total,...... I enclose herewith a list of the names, rank, company and regiment. is also accompanied by the reports of battery commanders. 44 .274 12 .330 same, giving I am, sir, your obedient servant, P. H. SHERIDAN, To Captain J. EDWARD STACY, GENERAL ROUSSEAU'S REPORT. Captain J. A. Campbell, A.A.A. G. First Corps SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Third division, Army of the Ohio, in the battle of Chaplin Hills, fought on the eighth instant: under a most terrific fire of the enemy, who was moving in the direction of my extreme left. Gen. Jackson was killed, the support to Parsons's battery giving away, the guns were captured, but the gallant Captain brought off his horses and company. Seeing the enemy moving toward our left in great force, with the apparent view of turning it, driving some broken and disordered regiments before them, I galloped around to Col. Starkweather, on the left, and directed him to open his batteries-Stone and Bush-upon the enemy. The order was promptly and effectively executed. The firing was admirable, and the heavy musketry of the advancing enemy was received by the gallant First Wisconsin with shouts of defiance, then supporting these batteries, placing their caps on their bayonets. I ordered the regiment to lie down under cover and await the nearer approach of the enemy. But the artillery repulsed the enemy again and again, and held him in check for several hours, until finally a fresh and overwhelming force moved to ward the guns. I should have stated that the Twenty-first Wisconsin, Col. Sweet, was to the front of these batteries, in a corn-field, lying down, awaiting the approach of the enemy, and when he approached with his overwhelming force, this new regiment poured into his ranks a most withering fire. The steady advance and heavy fire of the enemy, however, caused a portion of this regiment to break in confusion; but the most of it, under its gallant officers, stood manfully to its work until forced to retire, which it did in pretty good order. The enemy were then in reach of the First Wisconsin and Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania. I had great confidence in the gallantry of these two regiments, and was not disappointed when their time of trial came. They drove back the enemy several times with great loss, and, until their ammunition was exhausted, bravely maintained their position, and then quiet Starkweather, commanding the Twenty-eighth brigade, announced his arrival on the left, his brigade having been unfortunately cut off and separated from my division by General Jackson's column that morning at Maxville, but he had the good sense, when he heard firing in front, to abandon the road, move around Jackson's column, and by going through the fields to fall in on the left; and I found his brigade on the very spot where it was most needed-a large body of the enemy's cavalry appearing that moment a mile and a half to the front, was admirably shelled and dispersed in great disorder, by Capt. Stone's First Kentucky artillery. I then directed Col. Starkweather to place Stone's battery and that of Capt. Bush's Fourth Indiana artillery on a high ridge on the extreme left, and extending diagonally to the front, and to support those batteries with the First Wisconsin, Lieut.-Col. Bingham, placed on that ridge, and by the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania, Col. Hambright, placed on another ridge running at almost right angles to the one on which the batteries were planted. This formation gave a cross-fire, and proved of infinite value in maintaining that all-important position during the day. These formations were made in great haste, and in a few moments, but without the least confusion or disorder, the men moving into line as if on parade. I then returned to Harris's brigade, hearing that the enemy was close upon him, and found that the Thirty-third Ohio had been ordered further to the front by Gen. McCook, and was then engaged with the enemy and needed support. Gen. McCook, in person, ordered the Second Ohio to its support, and sent directions to me to order up the Twenty-fourth Illinois, also, Captain Mauf commanding. I led the Twenty-fourth Illinois in line of battle immediately forward, and it was promptly deployed as skirmishers by its commander, and went gallantly into action on the left of the Thirty-third Ohio. The Second Ohio moving up to support the Thir-ly (not under fire) returned under orders to the ty-third Ohio, was engaged before it arrived on the ground where the Thirty-third was fighting. The Thirty-eighth Indiana, Colonel B. F. Scribner commanding, then went gallantly into action on the right of the Second Ohio; then followed in support the Ninety-fourth Ohio, Col. Frizell. I wish here to say this regiment, although new and but a few weeks in the service, behaved most gallantly, under the steady lead of its brave Colonel Frizell. Col. Harris's whole brigade, Simonson's battery on its right, was repeatedly assailed by overwhelming numbers, but gallantly held its Lytle's brigade, had an hour before been drawn position. The Thirty-eighth Indiana and Second in, thus contracting and rendering more compact Ohio, after exhausting their ammunition and that the lines so thinned and depleted by our loss in taken from the boxes of the dead and wounded killed and wounded. Before this final struggle on the field, still held their position, as did also, on the left, I had heard that Lytle's brigade was I believe, the Tenth Wisconsin and Thirty-third outflanked on the right by an overwhelming force Ohio. For this gallant conduct these brave men of the enemy, and was falling back. During the are entitled to the gratitude of the country, and I day I was so hard pressed on the left and centre thank them here as I did on the field of battle. by the continuous and persistent assaults of the After the Twenty-fourth Illinois went into action, enemy, and knowing if our left was turned our I saw the undisciplined troops of Gen. Jackson position was lost, and a total rout of the army in front, in support of Parsons's battery of Jack-corps would follow, I felt the importance of my son's division, yielding the field in great confusion, presence there, and could not look after the in line of battle originally selected by Gen. McCook and myself, when they got a supply of ammunition, and were again ready for action. Their loss was very heavy. The fire of musketry on them and the batteries was terrific, Capt. Bush, at that place, losing thirty-five horses, but he and Stone, taking all their pieces, fell back with their support, and at once renewed the conflict, and continued it until after dark. At the time this retrograde movement was ordered, I sent an order to Col. Harris to fall back also. The right, Col Jones, and Lieut. J. A. Grover, Assistant Adjutant-General Seventeenth brigade, were captured by the enemy. I regretted the capture of these young gentlemen deeply. They had behaved most gallantly during the day, and I can truly say deserve well of their country. Major Hopkins, with three companies of the First Michigan engineers and mechanics, remained on the field during the day, and late in the evening formed a line of battle on line with the portion of the Seventeenth brigade on the left of the road. Their force was too small to oppose the advancing column of the enemy. They took shelter behind Clarke's house, but were forced to retire with the Seventeenth brigade, which was done in good order. They lost quite a number in wounded and missing. terests of the Seventeenth brigade; and besides, we still held the woods. It was in this way that Lieut. F. J. Jones, my Assistant Adjutant-Gene- my Assistant Adjutant-General, Lieutenant F. J. ral, was often sent to learn its condition, and reported to me that, though severely assailed, it had triumphantly repulsed the enemy in several attacks, and that Col. Lytle felt that he could easily maintain position; but late in the afternoon an immense force of fresh troops of the enemy moving around to his right, concealed by the undulation of the ground, turned his right flank and fell upon the right and rear of his brigade, and drove it and forced it to retire, which it did under the orders of Col. Lytle, who was at the same moment wounded, as he thought fatally, and, refusing to be taken from the field, was taken prisoner by the enemy. Hearing of this condition of things, I galloped over toward the right and found the brigade re-formed in line of battle, the right (the Fifteenth Kentucky volunteers, Col. Pope) resting on the hill at Clark's house, with Loomis's battery immediately in the rear on an eminence. The Tenth Ohio, Lieut.Col. Burke, and the Third Ohio, Col. Beatty, on the left of the road. These regiments had, without support, struggled hard to hold their line of battle for several hours, and were only forced to retire after immense loss, and the movement above referred to. Whilst near the Fifteenth Kentucky, I saw a heavy force of the enemy advancing upon our right, the same that had turned Lytle's right| flank. It was moving steadily up in full view of where Gen. Gilbert's army corps had been during the day, the left flank of which was not more than four hundred yards from it. On approaching, the Fifteenth Kentucky, though broken and shattered, rose to its feet and cheered, and as one man moved to the top of the hill where it could see the enemy, and I ordered it to lie down. I then rode up to Loomis's battery, and directed him to open upon the enemy. He replied he was ordered by Gen. McCook to reserve what ammunition he had for close work. Pointing to the enemy advancing, I said it was close enough and would be closer in a moment. He at once opened fire with alacrity, and made fearful havoc upon the ranks of the enemy. It was admirably done, but the enemy moved straight ahead; his ranks were raked by the battery, and terribly thinned by the musketry of the Seventeenth brigade, but he scarcely faltered, and finally hearing that reënforcements were approaching, the brigade was ordered to retire and give place to them, which it did in good order. The reenforcements were from Mitchell's division, as I understood, and were "Pea Ridge men." I wish I knew who commanded the brigade, that I might do him justice; I can only say that the brigade moved directly into the fight like true soldiers, and opened a terrific fire and drove back the enemy. It was a gallant body of men. After repulsing the enemy they retired a few hundred yards to a piece of woods to encamp in, and during the night the enemy advanced his pickets in the woods on our left front, and during the night captured a good many of our men, who went there believing The conduct of the officers and men under the fire of the rebels was admirable. The Eightyeighth Indiana, Col. Humphrey, was in the Seventeenth brigade, on the right. It was not under my eye, but I was informed, though a new regiment, behaved well. I have thus given a general statement of this battle and such incidents as occur to me. It was a hard and gallantly fought field, and the country is called upon to mourn the loss of many brave men who fell in it. My division fought it under many disadvantages. It was attacked on ground well known to the enemy, and fixed upon by him as the battle-field, and while it was on the march; and it was impossible for us to know much of the nature of the ground on which we fought. My men, too, were suffering intensely for want of water, having been scantily supplied for a day or two, but they fought it bravely and against three or four times their number of the best soldiers of the rebel army, and under the direction and eye of Bragg, Buckner, Polk, Cheatham, and other prominent Generals of the rebel army. If of the old troops any man flinched, I do not know it, and have not heard of it, and very few men of the undisciplined new regiments behaved badly. I had an opportunity of seeing and knowing the conduct of Colonel Starkweather, of the Twentyeighth brigade, Col. Harris, of the Ninth brigade, and of the officers and men under their command, and I cannot speak too highly of their bravery and gallantry on that occasion. They did cheerfully and with alacrity all that men could do. Col. Lytle, of the Seventeenth brigade, fell severely wounded, while gallantly maintaining his position on the right, and doubtless he is as much indebted to him and the brave men of his brigade, as to those whose conduct I witnessed. To the whole division I tender my sincere thanks for their gallantry on that bloody field. I also acknowledge my indebtedness to Lieut. F. J. Jones, my Assistant Adjutant-General, and to Lieut. W. P. McDowell, S. L. Hartman, D. Q. Rousseau, and Harrison Millard, my regular Aids, and to W. F. G. Shanks, my volunteer Aid, for gallant bearing and efficient services rendered on |