The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-10-22
rnr BATTLE or PKRRYvILLK-0ENEa
sRA06s OFFICIAL REPORT.

The following is a copy of Major. General Bragg's
,,,sl rspos, Of the battle Of Perryville, KY:
HsApauARrrRs DEPARTMENT No. Q, 4.
Bryan,sville. KY, Oct. H. ls6a
s,s-Finaug the enemy pressing heavily in his
r.sr near perryvls Major General Nardee of
Polk's command, wss Obliged to hsit and check
iIm Al n =, point. Having arrived at HArrodsburg
aom frankfort determined TO give him battle
,hars and accordingly concentrated three divisions
=. nv old csmmand--ihe army Of the Mississippi
now Under Msjor 6ensrsl Polk-Cheatham's Buck
nsr,s and Anderson's-and directed Gen. Polk to
,shs Tie command on the 7th, and attack the enemy
asxt nornipS Wiiherss division bad gone the
S.y before 20 support Smith. Hearing on the
nigh, of the 9ih, thsi the force in from, OF Smith
bsd rapidly retreaied, moved early next morniag
"a b. prsssat st the operations al Poke forces.
The Two armies were formed confronting each
o,her on opposite sides OF the town Of Psrryvi.le
AG,r consulting ths Gererai, ard reconnoiserpg
he ground and ex xsmiuing h dispositions declined
% sssune the commsnd, but suggested scne
changes and notifications Of his arrsngVmenss
which he promptly adopted The ac.ion opened at
lat p N between the skirmishers aud artillery on
both sides Finding tie enemy indisposed to ad
vsucs upon US and knowing he was receiving
lssyy reintcrcsmsnis, deemed il best 10 asssi him
vigorously, and So directed.
The engagement became general soon thereafter,
and wss continued furicusly from that time to dark,
our troops fa.s.ing and never failing in their
efforts
For the time engaged i: was the ssvercs: and
desperately contested engagement within my
knowledge. Eesrfuly ouinumbered, cur troops
did not hesitate to engage at n2y odds and though
checked a, t;res they eventually carried every
position aid drove the enemy about two miles
but 10. the intervention Of nigh, We should have
COMPLETED the work, We had captured hftean
pieces of artillery by the ,nost daring charges,
killed one and woun> ed tive Brigsdier Gerer,is
sod very large number Of Inferior officers AMI
men estimated at no less than 1 900. and captured
40 prisoners inclIdnC three Staff officers with
ard bapsrapa nj Major
McCook
snd wounded In suoh a contest our own loas
$500 killed. wounded and missing Included in
the wounded are Brigadier-G. nersls Wood, Gle.
burn and Br.wn--gailsa, and noble soldiers
whose loss viii be severely felt by their com
Dsnds. To Msjcr- General Polk, comm snding the
forces, hajor General Hardee comm handing the left
wing two divisions. ard Major Generals Chss =. im,
BuckGvr, and Anderson, commanding divisions, il
mainly due 5rili.sn. 81 l. evemen.s Of this mem
orsble De!d Noblec troops were never more gal.
laHtly led. the country owes them a debt OF graft
tads, which sm wiil be acknowledged
Aseertainirg that tbe enemy WAS heavily r:in-
iorced daricg the night withdrew my force early
Ihe next morning TO Hsrrodsburg, and thence to
this point Mejor- Gsre-al Smith arrived II. aar
roisbure ~th most OF lis forces and W;hers's d.
vision thetnss day lUth and yesterday withi, ew
the Httla 10 this point--iha enemy following stow.
y bnt not pressing
an, SIR. very respectfully,
Your obsdient servant,
Sgned BRAXToN BRAGG, Gen. Comg.
To idIttaai General, Richmond Va