The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-24

THE REBELS 0UTNUNBER Us TWO TO ONE.
THE ENEMY WHIPPED.
HEAVY LOSS ON BOTH SIDES
Special Correspondence of The Cincinnati Gazette.
Battlefield OF PERRYvIlI.E, KY.,(
October 8, 1862

Speclai Correspondence OF me CINCINNATI Gazette
BATrLr-FIFID OF PERRYvILIE, KY.,l
' October 8, 1862.
WHAT THE REBEL GENERALS INTENDED.
The enemy, thinking that he could beat
part of our army before the remainder
came up, skillflly amused our generals by
means of small parties Of his cavalry, in
ducing them to believe that they were inn
mediately upon his heels, while, in reality,
he was many miles away, selecting his po-
sitions and massing his men. He did not
fOrtify, it is true; he did not even throw
up slight entertainments This was no
part of his plan, because he expected to
be the assailing party himself, and to fall
with crushing weight upon the head of our
column His ground was most admirably
chosen. He had planted his batteries upon
range Of low wooded hills in front of
PeTyville, overlooking and completely
commanding a long line Of open ground
lying Immediately at the foot of the range
His infantry was massed behind and around
his artillery, and his cavalry were prepared
to charge down the easy slope of hills, and
sweep every living thing from the compar-
atively level ground below. Here was his
trap, and into this he expected the ad-
vanced portions Of the Union army to fall
Had they done so, scarcely know how
they could have been saved from utter an
initiation.
THE BRILLIANT ACTION WITH wHICH THE
DAY OPENED.
Our skirmishes had scarcely taken in
tervals before the enemy's pickets opened
sharp fire, especially upon the S5th Hi
nois. Although the first fight in which
they had ever been engaged, the troops
moved forward at the word of command,
and continued to advance firmly and stead
lily up the hill until they had driven the
rebels from the crest, inhicting upon them
q loss so severe that in their irritation they
determined at all hazards to recover the
position.
The peaceful moonlight was still SUM
bering upon the hill when the rebels APP
peared both upon the right and left in
great numbers, planted a battery in front,
and commenced pouring a shower of shrap-
mel upon the Seth. For an hour the shot
went whizzing overhead and crashing
through the trees, but not a man fiinched
from his post.
As soon as the position of the rebel bat
terry was ascertained, a section of Captain
Barnet's artillery, consisting of two 10
FOUNDER PARROTS, was brought to the top
of the hill, and by few well directed
shots the rebel battery was silenced. But
the rebel artillerymen were again rallied
around their guns, again opened fire, and
again were driven off by the two formda-
BILE PARROTS. A second time they return
ed to their pieces, only to meet with the
same fate, and then the firing from the
rebel battery ceased entirely.
Meanwhile the right wing of the 125th
Illinois had been ordered up to support the
battery, and performed their duty hand
somely. The silencing the rebel battery
seemed to check the ardor Of the butter
nuts, and they retired into the woods
fronting the position, the 36th remaining
in undisputed possession of the contested
ground.
Brigadier General Gay, inspector of cav
airy upon General Buell's staff, came up
after the enemy had ceased their efforts to
dislodge the seth brigade, and, advancing
with cavalry force in the direction the
enemy had taken, was soon furiously
attacked. A battalion of the I'd Michigan
cavalry, Col A. P. Campbell, was at once
dismounted, while the other two were
thrown under cover of the woods. The
dismounted battalion advanced upon the
enemy, assisted by the skirmishers of the
SD Ohio, and, after sharp skirmish,
drove them from the woods. They soon
rallied, however, and, receiving some rein
forcements, they forced our skirmishers
and cavalry to retire, contesting every inch
of ground
The fight now became deeply interesting.
On came the enemy, pouring heavy volleys
into the ranks Of the I'd Michigan and other
cavalry, and pushing it gradually back,
until it occupied the position from which il
| first advanced toward the woods Tie
situation was critical If the enemy was
not Immediately checked, he would advance
with his fresh forces and with renewed
courage up the hill, assaulting once more
the gallant seth brigade, which had beer
under arms ever since two O'Clock in the
morning, and engaged during the greater
portion of the time Gen. r. 3. Mitchell
with his division was about getting int,
line of battle on the right of the hill, ant
it was now of more importance than eve
that the hill itself should be held As i
was in the very centre of our intended line
and commanded the ground for a grea
distance upon both sides of the road, it
possession by the enemy might be ATTENDED
with the most serious consequences
1t was Just thens that the I'd Missouri
Capt. Walter Hoppe commanding, regi
ment which distinguished itself at Pc
Ridge, came CALAMITY up to the rescue
and with deafening cheers advanced upol
the enemy. The I'd Michigan cavalry, re
animated by this assistance advanced a
skirmishers before the I'd Missouri, an
the 18th Missouri came after as support
| In vain the enemy opened upon the advan
/ cling line a ,murderous fire. a continue
storm of leaden hail ragged round their ears
| the Cd Missouri steadily moved forwars
I until the disnlayed and conquered rebe