The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-06
Southern News.
THE BATTLE OF PERRYvILLE GENERAL
BRACES OFFICIAL REPORT

THE BATTLE OF PERRYvILLE GENERAL
BRACES OFFICIAL REPORT
Headquarters Department M. a.
.BRYANT,vILLE, KY. Oct. H. 1862(
SIR: Finding the enemv pressing beav
lily in his rear. near Perryville. Major Gen.
eral Hardee. Of Pnlk's command, was obi
ged to hold and check him at that point
Having arrived at Harrodsburg from Frank
fort. determined to give him battle there
and accordingly concentrated three divisions
of nv command-'he Armv Of the Mississ
ippi. row under Maj'r General Polk. Cheat.
hams Buckner's and Anderson's-and d.
rected General Polk to take comm and on
the 7th. and attack the enemy next morn
ing. Wither's division had gone the day
before to support Smith. Hearing. on the
night of the 9TH, that the force in front OF
Smith had rapidly retreated, 1 moved early
next morning. to be present at the operations
Of Folks forces.
The two armies were formed confront ing
each other on opposite sides Of the town OF
Perryville. After consulting the General.
and recent offering the ground and examin-
ing his disposition, l declined to assume the
comm and. but suggested some changes and
notifications of his arrangements, which he
promptly adopted. The action opened at
half past twelve P. NJ, between the skir-
mishers and artillery on 10th sides. Fin
ding the enemy indisposed to advance Upon
us. and knowing he was receiving heavy re-
| Inducements. / deemed it best to assail him
vigorously, and so directed.
The engagement become general soon
thereafter, and was continued furiouslv from
that time to dark, our troops never falteriDS
and new er failing in their efforts.
For the time engaged it was the severest
and most desperately contested engagement
within my knowledge. Fearfully outnum
bered, our troops did not hesitate to engage
at any odds. and, though checked at times.
they eventually carried every position. and
drove the enemy about two miles. But Tor
the Intervention of night we should have
completed the work We had captured fiji
teen pieces of artillery by the most during
charges. killed one and wounded two Brig
ad Ter Generals. and a very large number of
inferior officers and men estimited at no
less than four thousand. and captured four
hundred prisoners, including three staff OH
GERS with servants, carriage and baggage OF
Nj n General McCook.
The ground was literally co7ared with
the dead and wounded. In such contest
our own loss WAS necessarily severe-proh-
ably not less than 2 $50 killed. wounded
aud missing Iucuied IN thu wounded are
Brisadier Generals Wood. Cieburn. and
Brown-gallant and noble soiiiers-whoSe
loss will be severely felt by their commands
To NJ irr General Polk, comm aiding the
forces; NJ l,r General HArdee. commanding
the left W .ng, two divisions, and MAJOR
Generals Cheatham. Buckner and Anderson.
commanding divisions, is manly due the
brilliant achievements OF this memorable
field. Nobler troops were never more gal
lantly led. The country owes them debt
of gratitude which l am sure will be &C
know lodged.
Ascertaining that the enemy was heavily
reinforced during the night. withdrew my
force early the next morning t" FURNISHING.
and thence to this point. .jor General
Smith arrived at Hsrrodshurg with most oil
his force and Wither's division the next da',
the 10Th, and yesterday | withdre" the
whole to this point, the enemy following
slowly but not pressing us.
l am sir, very respectfully, your obedlent
servant.
BRAXTON BRAGG,
General Commanding.