Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1862-10-31

vile, Kentucky
4 Headquarters, Department No. 2,
Bryantsville, KY, Oct. 18th.
Finding the enemy pressing heavily in his
roar near Perryyille, Mai Cen. Hardee, of
Il |polk's 20 nlnand was Obliged to halt and check
hrn at that point Having arrived at Har-l
rodsburs from Frankfort, determined to give
bIn battle there and accordingly concentrated
three divisions of my old command-the ar
nv of the Missssippi-now under MAJ. Gen.
Np.lk-Cheathan' 3. Bnckner's AID Andprsons
and directed Ger,. Polk to take cnmmand on
the 7th, and attack the enemy next morning.
w lthers division had gone the day before TO
. support Smith. Hearing on the night OF the
7th that the force IN front of Smith mad rapidly
rrtreated, | moved early next ncrning to be
present at the operations OF Folk forces.
The two armies were formed confronting
each other on opposite sides Of the town of
I Perrvville. After consulting the General and
i recnnnoitering the ground and examining his
n dispostions | declined tn assume command, but
suggested some change and modlhcatlons, OF
II his arrangements, which he promptly adopted
The action opened at l2h D. M, b"tW cen the
skrmisters aud artillery on both sides. Find
ing the enemy iudsposed TO advance upon US,
and knowing he was receiving heavy reinforce
ments deemed it best to assail him vigorous
IY. AID so QlrecGe0.
The engagement became general soon there
E after, and was continued furiously from that
S time to dark, our troops never fa!teiing aud
never failing in tEeir efforts. .aas zssF
For the time engaged it was the severest
Z aud m.,st desperately contested engagement
Y within my knowledge Fearfully outnumber-
+ ed our troops Gid 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 for the inter-
vention Of night wo would have completed the
work. We had ca ptured fifteen pieces OF ar
+ tlery by the most daring charges, killed one,
and wounded two Brlgadier Generals, and
very large number of inferior officers and men.
estimated at no less than 900, aud captured
400 prisoners includirg three staff officers, with
servants carriage and baggage of Maj. Gen.
The ground was literally covered with p his
" dead aud wounded. In such a contest our own
\ loss was necessarily severe, probably not less
\ than $500 killed, wounded and missing. In
cluded in the wounded are Brigadier Generals
Wood, Cleourn and Brown, gallant and noble
soldiers, whose loss will be severely n felt by
their commands. To Major Gen. Polk, com
mandirg the forces, Major Gen. Hardee,, com
marding the left wing, two divisions, and MAJ
\ Gems. Cheathan, Buckher and Anderson, i com
manding divisions, is mainly duesto the bril-
\ liant achievements of shis memorable held.-
Noblera troops werebs never more gallant
ly led.s The country owessthen a debt Of graf
titude, 1hichI am sure viii be ackphwledhed
Ascertaining that the enemy 1was heavily7re
inforced during the night, withdrew my forct
early the next morning to ) Harredsburg / rane
thence to this point. Maj Gen. Smith arrives
at Harrodsburg with, most of his forces ane
Wither,s division the next day, 10th. and yes
terday I5withdrew the1whole to- this point
the enemy following slowly but not Pressin
us. II ann sir, very respectfully, your yobedien
servant, gDss yfsaj i. 3adt fssg goaa1 ii d bsoas
II (Signed. )s,suD sfBRAXTON sBRAGG,eo +
- soraf Iaaaaa so ssser47 Gen. sComdfg, s
70 Adjutant General. Richmond, Na.szt sas
.ps9sIt8s st % D0ifzoq 10 nossoasoq ~
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