The National tribune., 1886-08-05
PERRYVILLE.
Capt. Garretty Corrccts Maj. Jenness.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue of March Is,
1856, appears an article on the services of Gen.
A. Med. McCook, United States Army, written
by Maj. George b. Jenness, Quenemo, Kan.
Mai. Jenness says the next battle fought by
McCook was Perryyille, Ky. His two divis-
ions Nelson's and Davis's) were in the advance
and brought on the engagement, and that he
Mai. Jenness) was with Gen. McCook during
the entire engagement. If he was with Gen.
McCook how it is that he gets Nelson's and
Davis's Divisions as being the divisions of
McCook's Corps / don't understand; for GER
tainly every private soldier who was in Nc
Cooks Corps at the battle Of Perryville knows
that Rousseaus and Jacksonss Divisions were
the divisions comprising McCook's Corps in that
fight happened TO be Second Lieutenant
in Co. q, 9th Ky. Our rgade being composed
of the 10th and Sd Ohio, I'd and SSth Ind, and
10Th Ky, the brigade commanded by Gen. Ly-
tie, Colonel of the 10th Ohio, and who was
wounded in the fight; said brigade being in
ROusseau's Division, McCook's Corps. Our
corps lay at Marksville on the night OF the 9TH
of October, 1862, nine miles from Perryvillc, or
more properly speaking Chaplin Creek, where
the battle was fought. We marched from Marks
willie on the morning of the Sth of October, and
suffered severely for water, not a drop being
found along the line of march, and when we
reached the battlefield the rebels held the creek,
and well remember the gallant Rousseau rid
ing along the line, telling the boys that if they
wanted water they would have to fight for it..
We reached the battlefield about III o'clock a.
m, and our brigade formed line of battle. We
lay in position until IL o'clock noon, when the
enemy began the fight by throwing shells from
artillery placed on Chaplin Rights, overlook
ing the creek. We afterwards learned the ar
tillery was a section OF the famous Washington
Artillery Of New Orleans La, the balance OF
the battery being with Lee in Virginia. We
4 ii 81. 4
regular artillery duel for exactly two hours.
Precisely at o'clock p. m. Il am thus exact
about the hour, as looked at my watch each
time) heavy masses of the enemy's infantry
were seen coming out Of the woods and adyanc-
ing toward us through large cornfeld, and
then the real hattie commenced. Gen. jackson
was killed early in the fight, rs was Gen. Ter
Till of his division. Jackson's Division were
recruits of 1862, aud Joined US at Louisville
after our march from Alabama under Buell..
Some of them not knowing the manual of arms
before this, their first fight consequently, when
jackson was killed, his division, being mostly
raw recruits became demoralized, and fell
/ back. leaving the whole brunt of the days fight
on Rousseau's Division. Ny regiment tCol.
Pope commanding and the Sd Ohio Col. John
/ Beatty commanding made our last stand near
a stone wall, and if any Of the old members OF
/ the 18th Ky. or Sd Ohio are alive to-day they
can testify as 10 the gallant stand made by
their regiment in that fiercely- battle.
Gen. Lyle, our brigade commander, was
wounded Lieut.-Col. Jewett aud Maj. Camp
/ bell, Of my regiment, were killed. Col. Pope,
Of my regiment, was wounded and died few
/ days after. Some of the line officers of my
regiment were killed and wounded myself be-
ing among the latter. One half Of my regi-
/ ment were either killed or wounded. Well do
] remember the gallant Rousseau riding along
the lines, with his hat on the point of his
sword, cheering his boys aud encouraging them.
As Maj. George b. Jenness never mentioned
Gen. Rousseaus name in his account Of the
battle Of Perryville, and as every soldier who
was in that fight and came out alive, will never
| forget the gallant Rousseau aud how he ami
mated his men that day, very much fear
that Maj. George Ii. Jenness was far away from
where the most desperate fighting was going
on. He says, also, that here the fighting was
mile and put foot on a dead soldier at every
step"
Confess, my friend, that If you were there
at all IL was the next day you walked
over the dead soldiers, aud not during the
battle. When next you undertake 10 write
about any of our late battles be sure you are
right, then 60 ahead. i would not be bit
surprised 10 hear from his very exact descrip-
tion OF McCook's Corps and the divisions COM
prising it, but what the gallant Major was
| Quartermaster or Commissary, or a wsgonmas.
ter far in the rear on the 9Th Of October, 1862
As for his criticism Of Gen. Buell., will let it 10
i for all IL IL worth.-FRAEK ID. GARRErTY, Cap
tain, 18th u. S. Inf, late Second Lieutenant
90. q, 18th KY, Fort Custer, Montana.