The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-22

Jtn DIVISION ARMY OF The OHIO, L
DANv1LLE, Ky, Oct. Ii, 1922
Gen. n. b. MitcheU, Commanding Decision
SIN: In obedience to your order re-
curing me to furnish a report of the part
taken by my brigade in the late battle of
| Perryville, l have the honor herewith to
submit the following;
AS ordered / had massed my brigade
| in the edge of dense wood, joining Gen.
Rousseaus right, to await your orders.
Precisely at 81 o'clock, Pm, received
orders, directly from Maj. Gen. Gilbert,
Commanding 3rd Corps de Army, to pro-
coed Immediately to the support of Gen.
McCook on my left l then proceed
ed at double quick, in the direction of
where General McCoob's forces were
engaged. On reaching the field l
found the forces badly cut up, and re-
treating (they then having fallen back
near one mile), and were heirgs aotlT
pressed by the enemy. After receiving
instructions from General McC0ok, or
dered my brigade forward into the fight;
the 22d Indiana taking position on the
right the 59th Illinois on the left, and
18th Illinois in the centre, and the bate
ny took position on an eminence in our
, rear, which was bordered by a dense
woods. / again ordered the brigade to
J the support Of brigade fighting on my
left, which, as soon as / had become en-
gagged, retreated and fell back in confu-
sion. The battle now ragged furiously, one
> after one my men were cut down, but still
> with unyielding hearts, they severely
pressed the enemy and in many instances
forced them to give way. Here w
, fought alone and unsupported for tive
% hours and twenty minutes, opposed to thu
If rebel Gen. Wood S entire division, compOs
IF ed of fifteen regiments and batterl
10 of ten guns. F'iercer and tiercer grew
the contest, and more dreadful becam
the onslaught Almost hand to hano
they fought at least five times their ow
number, often charging upon them wit
such fearlessness and impetuOsity q
would force them 70 reel and give way
so but as fast as they were cut down thet
50 ranks were filed with fresh ones. a
90 one time the 22d Indiana charged o
so them with fixed bayonets, and succeede
"a in completely routing and throwing thel
90 from their position on our right, but
the same time they brought in reser,
l. force on our left. now ordered the %
Indiana as quickly as possible to the Al
90 of the seth Illinois, on the left, whit
90 order was promptly Obeyed.
az The impetuosity of the firing ne
90 ceased for a moment, and advanced
GO ascertain, if possible, the position of q
90 enemy. AS advanced down the line '
90 were greeted with a heavy volley Of mu
~ kerry, which plainly enough told the d
90 rection Of the enemy. With shouts al
90 EXPLANATIONS, my men rallied to the o
90 set. Here il was that fell the gallant
IN. Col. Keith, while at the head of his reg
ide, ment, and in the act Of fourishing
INN sword, and urging his men onward
victory.
eed al this time my horse was shot frC
under me, and before I could escal
SiH through the darkness, was taken pr
oner, and conveyed from the field. 4
though nay men fought desperately
was of no avail for, being overwhelm
'"' by vastly superior numbers, they W
compelled TO withdraw from the ne
/. Retreating under cover Of bill, the br
q 90 AIDE was again formed in line OF battle
5 90 the senior officer Of the brigade, Wh
90 after consultation and learning that
had no support within one mile dist'
on's, il was deemed advisable TO withdi
from the field, and fall back upoa
lines, which they did.
che cannot speak too highly OF tae
y to GERS and men generally Of my comma
but they deserve the highest honor
- their patriotism and courage va
here again mention the name Of III