The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-10-21
~ tFrOn the Washington Telegraph
The Battle of Perryville.
REBELS BADLY WHIPPED.
THE FORTY-sEC0ND INDIANA REG'T.
BATTLEFIELD, NEAR PERRYvILLE,
FoKrY-sECoSD REG'T /. ".
- October 10th. 1862

OCtOpeI 1Olu, AOO>-
MEssRs EDrroRs:-I embrace the ear
hest opportunity of giving you sketch
of the battle near Perrysville, KY, which
commenced on the evening of the Sth
inst, near one o'clock P. NJ. Of what
occurred outside of the 18th brigade, /
am not able to inform you, nor can I
particulafize about any regiment but the
AID. However, this do know from per
sonal observation: that never can troops
fight more bravely than did the 10th
Ohio, led by the gallant Lieut. Colonel
Burke, on whom too much honor and
praise cannot be bestowed. OF the 18th
Kentucky, led by Col Pope, who receiv-
ed wound in the shoulder, the same
may be said, and of the Sd Ohio, led by
Col. Beatty, and the SSth Indiana, led by
Col Humphreys, the same may be said !:
. for all did honor to the cause of the I'm
ion and liberty But as / can only speak
in general terms of those noble regiments
and their brave officers, will hasten to
speak in particular of the part played in
the fearful drama by the 42d, in which
your readers are more particularly inter
ested.
About 10 o'clock the 42d was ordered
to take position in dry creek, at the
foot ofa rugged hill, about three hun
dred yards in advance, and one hundred
to the right of Loomis battery. There
we remained till the fight began, which
was commenced by the rebels with ar.
tillery upon LOOMS. ..
Shot and shell flew thick and fast over
our heads. Very many of the enemy s
shell burst over the heads of our men,
while grape fell thick all around. Loud
thundered the rebelartillery, and prompt.
ly was it replied to by that brave officer,
Captain Loomis, whose battery did terri.
BILE execution on the enemy's ranks.
For about one hour or perhaps longer
this fight between the mighty engines Of
death was kept up, when it was discov
cred that the enemy was advancing, in
solid compact column, beginning the
fight with small arms upon our right,
consequently the 42d was the first regi
ment in our division to receive the fire
of the enemy, and promptly did its noble
boys answer the traitor guns
For fifteen or twenty minutes the reg
iment stood against much fearful odds
and not a man faltered We were ther
ordered to fall back, as it was impossible
for us to stand against such superio
numbers. This we did, taking position
obliquely on the left of the 18th Ohio
Capt Loomis' battery, and though W,
were compelled to climb rugged elf
of rock, we fell back in good order, un
der most terrible fire of the enemy
small arms, shot and she'll Strange al
it may appear, but three or four of ou
men were hurt, and-twenty-one takel
prisoners, including Capt Myler, till W,
had taken position on a hill obliquely t,
the left of Loomis' battery, but then ther,
took place terrible scene of death an,
carnage which I hope and pray the lik
may never appear again, but bravely di,
our men stand and fight the enemy, lik
old veteran soldiers.
By way of remark, this is the first ger
eral engagement in which the regimen
has participated. = The forces tha
marched against us were vastly superio
to ours, ,beingithe flower of the rebel army
But the AID held its position and drov
/ the enemy before it, fearfully strewin
/ the field with the dead and wounded
Just about the hour of sunset we receive
orders to charge on rebel regiment
which was done in splendid order, W
driving the enemy at least three hundre
| yards down the hill into a ravine. /
this last fight, where our ammunitio
gave out, our brave, gallant and believe
Lieut. Col. Denby received shot whic
passed directly between his lips, cuttin
part of the upper lip away. 1t was
| courage inspiring scene to see that brav
officer, with the sauguinary tide stream
ing from his mouth, cheering, huzza hing
brandishing his sword, and urging an
encouraging the men on. Once he rod
in front of our lines, pointing to the ens
my and urging the men on to victory, Q
glorious grave. Calm and collecte
rode Col. Jones upon his horse, cheerin
the men, urging them on, and sharin
with us all the dangers of the fielt
Many of the enemy's balls were aimed a
him, but miraculously he escaped bein
hurt himself, but his horse was wounded
All the while the brave and gallant Col,
mel led us on, and nobly did he do homo
to the AID, it to him, and all to our b,
loved State. Early in the engagement
Major Shanklin fell on the field of
wound in the back part of the head by
Mimic ball, aad was carried from th
field, but as soon as he had recovered s
as to do so, he rejoined us, saying. 9.
am ready for fight tomorrow Maio
Shanklins fighting qualities were honors
bly, and triumphantly tried at war trace i
Tennessee and south Indiana, all Hoo
ierdom may jnstly feel proud that SO ga
liant an officer holds a commission t
| fight secession.
Whilst making our last fight, an
when we were charging the enemy
line, Adjutant Evans, with hat in on
hand and sword in the other, rode u
and down the line, waving his sword an
hat, and cheering us on with all the er
thusiasm of soldier and patriot who's
heart is fully welded to the cause W
fight for.
AS twilight was setting in, our ammu