Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-10-30
rnE BArTLz AZ PERRxvILLn
General Rrasz's OaIeisg 81pOrf.

GcHeF9s AFGSg's DS5cfG% Export,
TIE following is a copy Of MsiorG Genera
Bragg's official report Of the battle Of Perry
vile, Kentucky:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTEEST NJ. ?
BryaufsvlIe, Ky October l2sb.
SIR Finding tho enemy prsssing heavily in
his rear, near Psrryvile, Nti n General Hardae.
of Polk's command, WAS obliged 30 halt and
check him At that point. Having arrived at
Hsrredsburg from Frankfort, I determined 70
give him bstile there, and accordingly concsn-
rated three divisions of my old commtnd-the
srmy Of She MIsSIEsippi-EOw under Mpi1r-
General POlk-CheathAm's, Buckner's and An
derson's-and directed General Polk to take the
command on the 7sh, and attack the enemy next
morning. NithoTs' division had gone the day
before to support Smith. Hearing. on she rf0bt
of the 7th. that the fOrce IN front of Smith had
rapidly rsireated, l moved early next morning
10 be present at the operations Of Folks forces.
The two armies were formed confronting each
othos on opposite sides of the town of Perry
vile. Aite- consulting the general and recon
noltering the ground and examining ms disposi-
tons, L declined to assume the command, but
suggested some changes and notifications Of
his Arrangements, which he promptly adoD.ed
The action opened at hs.Epast twelve o'clock P.
81, between the skirmishers and artillery on
both sides. Finding the enemy indisposed to
advance upon US, and knowing be was feceiv-
ing heavy reinfOrcsmenis, I deemed It best 10
assail him vigorously, and so directed.
The engagement became general soon there
after, and was continued i~Uriously from that
time to dark, cur troops never falling IN their
efforts.
For the time engaged it was the ssverest and
most desperately contested engagement within
my knowledge. Fesrfully outnumbersd, our
troops did not hesitate to engage at any odds.
and though checked st times, they eventually
carried every position, and drove the enemy
about two miles. But for the Intervention Of
night, we should have coupleted the work. We
had captured fifteen pieces of artillery by the
most daring charges, killed one and wounded
two bu-gadiergeneIals, and a very large number
of Inferior officers snd men, estimated at no less
than 1000, and captured 400 prisoners, including
three staff 0thcers, with servants, carriage and
baggage Of Asior-Gsneral MaC0ok.
The ground was literally covered with BIZ.
dead and wounded. La such q contest our own
loss was necessarily severe, probably not less
than twenty-five hundred killed, wounded and
missing. included in the wounded are Briga-
der Generals Wood, Cleburn and Brown. gal
LIANT and noble soldiers, whose loss viii be Sc
verslY felt by thar commands. To Major Cen
eral Polk, commanding the forces. Msior General
Hardee, commanding the left wirg, two divi-
si0is, and Msjsr Generals Chea.ham, Buckner
and Anderson, commanding divisions, is mainly /
dus the Brilliant achievements of this melcra
bic Geld. Nobler troops were never more gal
lausly led. The country owes them q debt Of
gratitude, which l am sure viii be iaIly acknogI
edged.
Ascertsing that The emery wss heavily rein
forced during tie night, I withdrew my force
early the next mcCpi 8 to Hsrrcdsburg and
thence to tbs points M-j1r-General Smith "a
rived ct Harrcdsburg with most Of ais orses
and Withers' division the BezJ Day, 10Th, sgd J
yesterday ! witkSrew tho vhole to The boint-j
the enemy following sloslr, but net pressing
US, l am, sir, very respectfully, your o%6edient
lSIgneV BRAXTON BRAGG,
GenQzal Commanding.
70 A5j1tans General, Richmond, Va.