The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-28
TUESDAY aoReise. OCT. IS, 1862
General Rousseau's 0meial Report
Battle Of Chaplin Hills
HEADQUARTERS % DIVISION Army on TINS ONO,
rs rHE FfEtD. October H. 1862.

HaADoUAnrnns % DIVISION ArNY on vne ONO,
rs rHG FfsID. October n, 1862.
Cop,. j. A. CqmpbelL Il. d. Il. g. Isl
Corps d mes'A,my cf tie Ohio:
SIR: / have the honor to submit the
following report Of the part taken by
the Sd Division Army of the Ohio, in the
battle of Chaplin Hills, fought on the
9th inst.
On the morning Of the 9Th, on the
march, Gen. McCook showed me an or
der Of General Buell., in which it was
said he should move cautiously on ap-
proaching Perryville, as the enemy would
| probably make resistance in that vicinity.
When near Chaplin Hills battle ground,
and perhaps three miles from Perryville,
the report of artillery TO our right and
front was heard, and Gen. McCook or
dered me TO advance my cavalry and
infantry in reconnaissance, leaving the
! artillery oman eminence in the road. |
moved on with the infantry, preceded
by six companies Of the I'd kentucky
cavalry, Col. Buckner Board, and when
near the field of battle, Col. Board re-
eorted the enemy in sight. halted the
command, sent back for Gen. McCook,
and he and rode forward to the front,
examined the ground and chose line of
battle, TO be adopted if the enemy ad-
vanoed upon us, and soon afterwards
moved mp to Russells house on the hill
overlooking the field and there halted
the head of the column Whilst there
the artillery 1.-TWO pieces of Capt. Har-
riss battery with Gays cavalry con-
tinued to fire, and small arms were
also heard. Gay addressed note to me,
saying he had been pressing the enemy,
all the morning, was pressing him then
and much needed a regiment Of infantry
TO support his pieces. / ordered the 42d
Indiana regiment TO do so, and rode for
ward to his pieces and found him and
Captain Harris there. The enemy was
lust disappearing in the woods, far to the
front, and out OF range of Harris Ordi-
nary brass pieces then ordered up
LOOMS with two of his PARROT guns,
and he shellcd the woods, the enemy
now and then appearing until he was no
longer to be seen, and the firing was
ordered TO be ceased. Everything indi-
Gated that the enemy had retired aud il
was so believed Gen. McCOok rode of
} 10 see Gen. Buell. understood 10 be two
or three miles on our right. Waiting
perhaps, an hour, l concluded to resume
, the march to Chaplin Creek, then proba-
> bly, a mile to our 'front.' TO get water fol
my men who We're suffering intensely
for want Of it. There was a small poo
in the bed of the little stream to the
right of LOOMS two pieces, to which
: the AID Indiana was directed in order &,
Z obtain supply, and the main column
q was then ordered forward but whei
the head of the column was within {
hundred or two yards of LOOMS pieces
Ihalted il and went forward to see wha
was reported to be the enemy reappear
ing in the woods beyond, and in a few
minutes | could see him plainly, and Tia
% discharge of shell from three batteries
q masked, gave unmistakable evidence o
. his presence in force. ordered Loomi
. to reply and bring up the remainde
% of his guns, and sent an order to Gap
70 tain Simonson Fifth Indiana Artillery
to Join LOOMS, all Of which was prompt
Z ly done. / then sent an order 10 Co
Lytle TO form his brigade on the RICH
% in good position, and gallopped back {
. place Harris's brigade in position 10 re
"a sist the advance of the enemy, which
% was Just informed by a messenger fror
y Capt. Wickliife, of Col Boards cavalry
% was being made in that direction il
Q great force OF cavalry, infantry and ar
% tillery. aided Col. Harris, commander
% the 9th brigade, to form his brigade i
~ two lines, the I'd Ohio, Lieut.. Col Kell, th
% 10th Wisconsin,, Col Chaplin, and the 33
a. Ohio, Lieut.-Co Moore, being in IN
e, front line, Soon after this, by a mes
m senger, Col. Staskweather, commandin
the 28th brigade, announced his arrivi
pa on the left, his brigade having been ar
fortunately cut Off and separated irOl
I" my division by Gen. Jackson's column tbs
morning at Mackvillc, but he had the goo
sense when be heard firing in front
10 abandon the road, move around Jackson
column, and by going through the felC
TO fall in on the left; and found b
brigade on the very spot where il w
90 most needed, large body Of the enemy
20 cavalry appearing that moment a mi
w and a hall to the front, was admlrab
shelled aud dispersed in great disord
u.s. by Capt Stones lst Kentucky Artiller
/ then directed Col. Starkweather
place Stones battery and that of CAPITA
he Bushs fiA Indiana artillery on a Do.
GO ridge on The extreme left aud exteudiI
diagonaliy o. The 'front.' and i0 supp,
those batteries with The lst Visions
] LIT, Col Bingham, placed ou that rid.