Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-11-04
Letter from 1t. Col. Mckee, Fifteenth Rsgt.
HEADQUARTERS 18TH WIS. vol. !,
Camp near Panesyille XIV. Def IN I

enemy here and my impression is that we
have whipped them handsomely, although
not so completely and thoroughly as We
had it in power to have done. Buell's ar
my left Louisville on the first of Oct. in
pursuit of Bragg and his army. | must
confess that, personally, / had not so much
confidence IN the commander of our forces
as some men have IN their wives; nor have
seen much more yet to change my opin-
ion or restore my shaken confidence than
is generally adduced from the evidence
elected in divorce cases for Auditory to re-
store the confidence Of an injured husband
or wife, and bring return Of first love.
However am not disposed, even were
permitted by military regulation, to enter
into the discussion of the merits or demer-
its of our army officers-such discussion
could result in no go ID at the present time.
We need the services Of all men now.
You were aware, | suppose, of course
that battle could hardly be avoided in
Kentucky with Bragg's army. From the
time we left Louisville we were within the
hearing of field artillery every day at some
time, when our advance were skirui3hing
heavily with Bragg's rear guard. We fol
lowed him from within few miles Of
Louisville through Washington, Frederick
town, Bardstown and Springfield, to with
in six miles of Perrysyille Lefore we halt
ed and formed line of battle. Here we
were informed that the rebel forces had
halted and were determined TO give us bat
tie. The ground chosen by them was
most excellent for defence. Our army
was camped where water was extremely
scarce, and we could get none good until
We reached Perryvile. Our men would
travel off one, two and three miles, to
either side Of our encampment for the
privilege to fill their canteens with water
taken from mud holes, and which the
horses in Graut county would not drink.
Our horses and mules were in a suffering
condition, and if we were defeated in such
a country the consequences would Of course
have been terrible and disastrous. Our
wiley enemy was fully aware of all this.
But am convinced they were deceived in
one national point. Bragg supposed we
had but one division of our army upon
this road. This | have from numerous
prisoners with whom | have conyersed,
and also Judge so from the many in
which their troops were disposed at the
time of the battle.
On Tuesday the 9TH diminishing be-
came SO brisk we formed 10 line Of battle
some four miles from the enemys front.
. The principal part Of the day was oocu-
pied in accommodating and discovering the
position Of the enemy. and the location Of
their batteries, ana no fighting of any con-
sequence was done on that day. Our men
occupied their positions during that night
and rested on their arms. On the follow
ing morning at eight o'clock pretty brisk
fire was opened on both sides and was
continued steadily until about one O'Clock
in the afternoon when the battle opened
with most terrible and fierce earnestness.
Gen. McCooks Corps de. arm occupied our
left. Gilbert the center and Crittenden the
RIGHT. The heavy fighting was done al
most exclusively by Gen. McCook's corps,
no other troops being engaged except Sher-
4 iden's division and potions,of MitchelPs
division in Gilbert's corps. Only two brig
AIDES Of Gen. Mitchell's division were en-
oaoed, the 3Oth brigade, commanded by
Col. Gooding, consisting Of the 58th, 74th
and 75lh Illinois, the 22d Indiana, and
Capt. PinneYs 5th Wisconsin Battery, the
3lst brigade commanded by Col. Carlin,
consstino of the 21st and 38th Illinois,
18th Wisconsin, 101 Ohio and Capt.
Hotchkin's Cd Minnesota Battery. Our
section Of Pinney's battery had been en-
. gagged all the afternoon OF the 7th, and
, the rebels say he done good work. Onthe
morning of the 9Th our section e II
pound howitzers) OF Hotchkins battery
was ordered forward to the McCook assist
anca, which left the 31st Brigade with
only four pieces Of six FOUNDER artillery,
all smooth bore brass pieces. Hotchkin's
it is said silenced two rebel batterl 4, with
the section sent forward in tie morning
The 3lst brigade was ordered forward
about one o'clock on the 9Th and took po-
stion In mediately on Sherliden's left. |
was in a position where | could see dis
tipctly, by the aid of a field glass, the
lines Of our own and the rebel troops for
nearly two miles. The ground was rolling
and mostly open. Skirts Of timber and
some cornfields O. structed the view some
what. But saw enough to convince me
that no harder or more earnest and desper-
ate fighting has been done any place dur
inr this war than took place upon this
| field. In Que or two instances there were
hand % hand conflicts between whole reg
iments. lines advanced and receded on
both sides it different times, and for
While the rest L would seem doubtful. ]
would nyolun lrly iaquite, Why are not
more troops snt rapidly . McCook's as
sistauce. Here we had brigades and di-
visions anxious in plain view and with
in thirty minutes, march of McCook's sui-
ferng aud exhausted men. We had no
use for them at any other point. They
were all anxious for the engagement, but
McCook did not receive the aid he should
t.r, b.1 I{A ael..,y .4a.,oa lt.s n Iil