Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-14
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Correspondence Clevelznd Lesdsr,l
PERRTvTLLE, BoILE CoUSTT, KT.,l
November g. 1852

thought manhood would bring til would
visit some portion Of the older world, where
a grim-visaged wal" held reign supreme,
and on the spot where contending armies
had met the shock of battle, view the scene
where man met man in murderous strife.
In these day visions I always located the
battle afar of, never dreaming that our
own loved land wOuld be rent with war,
and American homes be bathed in blood
shed in fratricidsl strife,
Cast by fate in this region soon after
the sanguinary struggle Of the 8th of oo-
tober, when was fought the great Battle
of Chaplin Hills, in and around the village
Of Perryville, my bOyish dream was real
ized. So nesr to the village did the 6ght
rage that, on visiting a sick soldier a few
evenings since, was cautioned not to put
my foot in an open space in the floor at the
head of the stairs, where a cannon ball had
been and left its ugly mark. It passed
through the house, tore up the floor, and
passed out on the opposite side. Numer-
Gus other houses we're marked with can
non ball marks, and one or two persons
we're killed in the town. jElt, . -
First with q soldier Of the 126th Ohio,
mounted on the horse Of the Chaplain, the
Rev. Mr.. Drake, one Of those rare army
chaplains who not only shows the rosd to
Heaven, but leads the way, 1 visited the
battlefield to loek ct the carnage, and then
with some officers revisited it, and had
explained to me the different positions oc-
cnpled by the several commands, Federal
and secesh. G-g s-EE 'r---l5ia5 sEE .
The field is still covered with the debris
Of the fght,-dead horses, broken artillery
wagons, hsversaeks, csrtrldge-bo1es, hats,
shoes, remnants OF clothing, &C., Sc. In
every feld-snd there are. many, for the
line Of battle covered miles Of territory
fresh. made Vgrsves are abundant and
in places the clay soil assumes 8 dark
'er hue, red with The blood Of friend and
foe. Since, the fight, no rain has fallen,
and these dark stains are still diseernsble.
= To the honor Of human nature our own
dead are buried, mostly where they fell,
sufficiently deep to cover them from our
eye. To its dishonoTthe enemy are tum-
bled into shallow graves, and in many
cases parts Of the blaekened remains are
visible above the earth. Riding by where
the enemy fell in numbers, l saw a hand
black with exposure, but still as delicate as
that Of lady, resting en- the top. of the
parched earth while the body to which it
had thin covering Of earth
over it. The walnut colored cuff Of the
coat still around the wrist showed that it
was q secession soldier, and. q physician
present with US, pronounced the hand that
Of mere youth which had never been
hardened with labor.
A few moments after, I saw another
hand and part of the face protruding. In
another field an open one near BY; aswarm
Of long backed and long shouted hogs, COM
mon to this part Of Kentucky, had rooted
into the thinly covered graves, and were
making their horrid banquet upon human
flesh. .Aswe drove them away, they stood
sf short distance impstiently waiting,
and scarce had we turned the heads of our
6orses from this disgusting scene before
hey weraegain at the graves, furiously
tearing limb from limb and deTouring the
half corrupted flesh of those who, but 8
'eW days before stood in the pride Of man
lood battling for hotne and honor. Nsgr
oy these graves were the bodies Of horses,
ret these were scarce touched, the hogs
human flesh to that of animals.
sight more Horribly disgusting, human
,ye never looked upon ~
Occasionally we found grave with a
ooard at its head, giving the name, regi-
nent aBd company Of the dead occupant,
md these were generally protected by q
all fence, or covered with stones, with !
which every field aboGnds, to protect them |
rom the hogs, who, having tasted human |
iesh are more ravenous than the hyena |
u their taste for human gore. Around |
be graves thus covered, myfiads of flies, |
mailer it is true, yet resembling the green
iUttle-hy swarmed on the tops Of the
raves, and particularly the stones were
lack with them.
In traysrsi1g the scene Of the slsughtsr,s
len, women and children, on foot, on
orseback and in carriages, are met, and
o the honor Of womanhood be it said, that
saw a group Of them, with boards, and
Nth their own fair hands, dilligeRtly en-
sgsd in scooping up the dirt to cover the
xpoEed parts Of the victims of the great
laughter laid bare By shallow graves and
y the roofing Of hogs. The woods are
1ll of aoorns, Wsluuts and buckeye-nuts
nd corn is scattered oyer the fields, and
ct, fond as the hog is Of these, he scarce
1uehes them, the human banquet being
hosen sb0ye all vulgar and common food
he Bible teaches US that the hog is an un-
lean animal, unfit for the food Of man,
nd after the sight I saw on the field Of
attle, so far as pork In this region is con-
erned, adopted the Jewish faith in pro-
ibiting the eating Of hog.
4 deseFlPt Pti9n-of battle could not;
18th my feeble powers, be rendered in tel
gible to your readers. Il was terribly
and if victory did perch upon
ur banners, il was won at 8 fearful cost.
see the telegraph says General Buell. isl
rrested. and thAta Court of Inquiry Will
evelope the facts. trust this is true, for
very good point in our lines was covered
y the enemy, and We fought at q terrible i
isadvantsge, and although our troops 7
ever showed more determined courage,
ever were soldiers so badly offieered.
iuell's friends Claim that be ordered. Gen
raj McCook to march to within two and
HI OE-LALGoAl4Aee va SI4 fA4le e44N AuEIp
alt. The friends of McCook deny this. He
iarehed within mile or 80, and while
low rocky road, at the foot
f which was Doctors Greek, a fork Of
lhRplin Creek, he was attacked and had
. fall back, This was at Bottoms house,
Q oftened mentioned in the official re-
orts. The attack came from the opposite
i'll, lying between Doctors Greek and the
own. Forced back, the line Of battle was
ormed a quarter Of mile west, and near
.usselrs house, still more freqpetly men
loned, and facing the fire. !. While firing
hot afesrshep and shell after shell from.
heir hstteEiss, in order to dislodge the
Bragg led 3 mighty army down
be rocky bed Of the creek, completely con-
ealed ard protected byatbe high banks,
nd while our troops were plying with the