Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-10-22
,rnn BATHS OF pExRYsrLLn'
GENERAL BRACES OFFICIAL REroF

GENERAL BRA6GS UfFlUlAL hhio"
TIE folio wing is a copy Of k.jos General Brags's ON
cjsl report Of the ta.tls Of Perry vile, Ky:
HEADQUARTERS DrrARrxEST. NJ.
Bryanisvile, Ky, 0cs l2h.
Sin: Ending the enemy pres5iug heavily in aus rear
near Pe~rryyilIe, hsjor General Haydse, oil fots cgm-
m,nh WA obliged 20 hsl, aud check him at ,hN PPM.
Having arrived a. Hirrod.burg from Frsnktort, ds'er-
mined TO give him battle there, and accord'ney ooncsn
trated three divisions Of my eli command the army OF
the hissi ssippi, now under htj,r General Polk0oneAt
ham,, B lokasr's, and Anderson's-aud directed esnsfti
sreny The mkt morning. tWithers' division had gone
the day before to support Smith. Hesring on the nisat
Of the Tn ,ha. the force in front OF smith naa rsP,ty
retrsattd, l moved early nsxs morning 70 DO Pressnth
he operations of Poke forces.
The two srmies we're formed confronting each otpef
nm oppo.ite rides of the town Of Perryvile. After coz
sultirg tbs General and accommodating the ground eno
an amininr his dispositions, / declined 70 assrme we
command. but suggested some csanges and mouncsnons
Of bis Arrangemsnts, which be promptly sdoPsea. ~
action opened at l2t P. n, between the skirmisseie 1ne
artilery on both sides. Finding the enemy indispoaso
70 advances upon Us, and knowing he was receiving nee1
r.inforcsmens, / dssmsd it bes: 10 as.ail him vigorously
aud 30 directed. - -
The en- Engagement became general soon thereafter, ano
vas continued ~furiousy from that time 10 eak. ~
| troops never falteripg and nsyer failing In their ensre'
For the tine engaged IL was the severest and mos
| desperately contested engagement within my knowie,ge
Fearfolly o~utnumbered, our troops did not hesitate y
| engage at any odds, aud though checked at times, heJ
eyenTuslly carried every position, and drove the enemy
sbout two miles. But for the Intervention OF might, 4e
should hEve completed The work. We bad captured "
| teen pieces OF artillery by the most during charges,
| killed one and wounded two Brigadier Generals, and &
| ysry largo number Of inferior officers and meo, estima
ted a, no less than 1000, aud captured 400 prisoners,
| including three staff officers, with servants, carriage and
| baggage of Mi. Gen. hc0ock. ,
Toe prcuud was literally covered With his dead and
vonndsd. Ia such q contest our own loss was necessarily
severe. probably not less than z, 800 killed. wounded and
! missing. Iucluied in the wounded are Bfigadier Gen
| erals Wood, Uleburn and Brown, gs,eut and noble sol
dlers. whose less will be severely felt by their commando
70 Major General Polk, commanding the forces, hSjor
| General HArdee, commanding the left wing, two d.
| visions, and Mejor Generals CAesthsu, Buckner and An
| dersos, commanding divisions, is mAiniJ due the bril-
| liant achievements Of this memorable Aeld. Eooisr
troops were never m ,rs CALAMITY led. The country owes
them a debt Of gratitude, which an sure viii De
acknowledged. u,
AsoertAiniug that the enemy was heavily reinforced
| jurirg the night, l withdrew hJ force early the next
/ morning 10 Hlrrodsburg, and thence 10 this point. hj
| Gan. Smith arrived AZ HirrcdsburS with most Of he
torce.. and Uithsss' division the next day, l0ta, and
YESTERDAY withdrew TIE whole to this p~oint-ths enem!
| folio wing slowly, but not pressing u.
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedishi %aervaut,
sgled) BRAxroS BRAes,
General Commanding.
p, Ici ,,snt GanerL Richmond. Va.