Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-29
The Battle of Perryvil!c- Bragg's Of
fetal Report.

fetal Report.
The following copy of Major General Braggs official
report of the battle of Perryville, KY:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT No. z,
a Bryantsvile, KY, Oct, II, 1862. !
SIR-HFnding the enemy pressing heavily in bis
Perry vlle Major General Hardee of Poks com.nd.
was obliged to halt and check him that point Having
arrived Harrodsburg from Frankfort to give
visions of my old commandhe, army Of the Mississippi.
pow under Major General Polk -Cheatham's, Bucknrrs
and Andersonsand directed Gen. Polk to take command
the 7th, and attack the enemy next morning Wtbers
division had gone the day before to support Smith, Hear
ing, the night Of the7th, that the force in front Of
Smith had rapidly retreated moved early next morning.
to be present at the operations of Folks forces.
The armies were formed confronting each other
opposite sides of the OF Peryvle After consulting
the General and reconn0terng the ground and examining
bis dispositions, declined to the command buf
suggested changes and notifications Of bis arrange.
mens which he promptly adopted The action opened At
I215 p NJ between the skirmishers and artillery boh
sides Finding the enemy indsposed to advance upon
and knowing he was receiving heavy reinforcements,
deemed it best to assail him vigorously, and directed
The engagement became general soon thereafter, and
continued urousI from that time to dark our troops
never faltering and never failing in their Efforts.
For the time engaged it was the severst and most des
peraely contested engagement within my knowiedEs
fearfny outnunbered troops did not nestats to en-
at Odds and though checked at times they event
uay carried position, and drove the enemy about
two miles But for the Intervention OF night We should
have completed the work. We had captured fifteen pieces
of artillery by the most daring charges killed one ssA
wounded two Brigadisr Generals, and very large nun
ber of inferior officers and men, estimated at ess than
4oOo and captured 400 prisoners including tbrse stat
officers with servants, carriage snd baggage Of A.or
General McCook
The ground literally covered with his dead and
wounded In such contest own loss necessarily
severe probably mt less than $500 killed. wounded and
missing Included in wounded are Brigsdier Generals
Wood Claiborne and Brown-galant and noble SOLDIER
whose loss will be severely felt by their commands To
Major General Polk commanding the forces Major Gene
rs Hardee, commanding the left wing two dvisioss and
Msjsr Generals Cheatham Buckner and Andersoa,
mandng divisions mainly due the brilliant achie7
of this memorable field Nobler troops were never more
calamity led. The country them debt of graft.
tude, which am sure will be acknowledged
Ascertaining that the enemy heavily reinforced du
ing the night withdrew my force early the next morning
to Harrodsburg and thence to this point Major General
Smith arrived at Harrodsburg with most of bis forces asd
Wthers' division the next day, Ot,) and yesterday
withdrew the whole to this pont-the enemy following
slowly, but not pressing u.s..
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ISignedl BRkXTON BRAGG, Gen. Con'g
To Adutant General, Richmond, W.