Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-10-30
MORNING LEADER.
THURsDAY lIONING, OCT. 80, Is61.

turOd on the sth inst, at the battle Of Per-
FySville, reached here yesterday morning,
having been paroled. he was captured at
the close Of the battle, when 1t was almost
dark, having mistaken the enemy's lines for
our own. He had the supervision Of twenty
six guns in the fight, which were located at
different points in the field. He had left
battery at certain point to visit battery
further down the line, and was not absent
ever twenty minutes. While he was gone,
however, the former battery fell back, and
the enemy following up took the position
they had just vacated. Major Cotter, in
riding back, heard the cheers Of the rebels,
but supposed that they came from his own
men, not knowing that they had fallen back.
He rode up and enquired the oasse of the
cheering. They said, " We have driven the
enemy-they are running" He replied,
"You viii find plenty Of grey coats down
below there, yet" meaning rebels. This
reply caused an ofbcer to enquire Who
are you, sir - at, sir, am Major Cottsr, of
General McCooks staff" ''And I, sir, am
Major General Polk, Of the Confederate Ar
my, and you arc my prisoner" The Major
saw that he had got into the wrong box, but
had no alternative but to submit. Before he
left the spot seven other Federal staff off,
GERS rode up, and were captured as he was.
General McCOOk's ambulance, containing all
the Generals clothing except what he had
on, the carpet bags Of his stat, Cthsy were
allowed no other baggage on that march, }
rsfreshments, &c, was driven to, the spot,
and fell int s-ttse hands or rne- reUeIs, winch
rsjoioed them greatly. With the ambulance
were two negroes, whom General Polk recOg-
niIed as slaves who had belonged to him in
Tennessee, and had run away. This was
very gratifying to the Bishop General, with
out doubt.
Although it was promised that Majar Cot
tsr's private property shOuld be respected,
nearly everything was taken from him, even
the spurs from his boots, his sWord-knot, &c.
he had $500 in green-backs," which we're
not taken until he reached the lines when pa
rolled. Then Morgan's Rangers took all but
SO Of it. The Major says he was treated
very kindly, except being robbed. He was
taken about ten miles from Perryville, and
after being kept there for three days, was pa
rolled and sent to our lines. He expects to be
exchanged soon.
The Major saw Bragg, Cheatham, Tilgh-
man, Buekner, and others Of the rebel Gene
rails, and talked with them. Bragg said the
battle Of PerryviIle was the most closely
contested fight during the war. The rebel
force was $4,000 against L, 900 FedsraIs.-
Our men supposed at the outset Of the en-
gagement that they were only fighting the
rsar-guard Of Bragg's army, in whose pur-
suit they we're but after an artillery duel at
long range, which lasted for some time,
they discovered that the whole of Brage's
army were Pitted against thom. The Major
says, had Buell. sent two brigades to their
aid at four P. X, who were but from one to
four miles distant, the rebels, who were de-
feated, would have been captured or broken
up. The rebels acknowledge a loss in killed
and wounded Of &, 200 men. Our loss was
tween 5000 and 1000. The Major says the
rebels fought with desperate bravery. They
attempted, st one stage of the fight, to flank
his batteries. They marched up in line eight
deep, and although the grape from his guns
made ehasms in the line yards in width, they
would close mp and march steadily on. Nor
tai men could not endure the fire, hswever,
and they at length fell suIIenIy bach. A. |
one time there was hand to hand fight over
Parsons Battery, in which dubbed muskets
were used. The battery was three times cap
tured by the rebels, and three times retaken |
by cur men. It was during these close and
desperate encounters, that the brave General
Terrin fell.
Major 0otter lost none Of the twenty-six
guns under his command. He escaped any
serious injury. Riding Though a oornAeld,
4 tEelve-pound ball struck the ground direct
y beneath his horses belly, the conclusion
knocking horse and rider completely over
amid a cloud of dust. The Major then mount
I'd a cavalry horse he found, and had not
been on him long before a solid shot came
along and struck the horse in the hip. The
Majors leg was badly sprained by the horse
islling on it. he then went back and got his
arst horse, which had recovered from the
lhock and scare to which the tweIve-peund
hot had treated him. This horse was ia
7Orite Of the Majors, and he regretted being
leave it with the rebels.
The rebels had sizty-three pieces Of artil-
cry, and our side had forty three. The de-
ermined bravery evineed on both sides is
warmly spoken of by Major C. He says for
orty minutes each line stood a murderous
Ire from the other line without EaTering.
During the artillery firing, which opened the
Engagement, three Of the enemy's pieces were
isnountsd BY our artillsrists, as a rebel off,
er admitted to the Major. None Of cur
isces were dismOunted by the enemy.
The Major found the Confederate soldiers
q a condition Of great filth and destitution.
ONE Of them had shirts made Of carpets, ia
lie cloths, old calico dresses, blankets, &c.
hey were greasy from head to foot They ,,
AIRY their rations Of pork in z haversack by
heir side, and the grease running down 4;
heir pantaloOns, which are worn as long as ,
aey will hang together, gives them filthy
pPearanOs, besides creating an Odor per
Iotly Siekoning. The Major says it turn-
his stomach" Field officers can be dis
nguished, but line officers cannot Colo
els have three stars on the shoalder, Lieu
nant COlOnels, two, and Majors one. Some
mes q line officer has > sword or a sash, 2
lptursd from Federal Ofhcer, and he is us-
lily very proud Of. it. The men look pale
ID salloW on account OF hard marching, oi
iOrt ratiOns, &O. They told the Major that
hen they came from Chattanooga they Z