The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-04
PERRYVILLE.
Letter from Gen. Starkweather, and
His 0lieial Report.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your issue
of Aug. 26 an article is published, signed by
Mr.. Charles Allinger OF the 2d Mo-, residing
at Fond du Lac, Wis.,, stating that the articles
Heretofore published in your estimable paper
written by Maj. Jenness and Capt Garretty as
TO the battle of Perryyille, KY, Oct. s, 1852,
were both incorrect. He claims that said bat
tie began about s o'clock a. m, and that the
same was brought on by Gen. Gilbert's Divis-
ion, Gen. Sheridan's Brigade opening the bat
tie, and that the Cd Mo. fred the first shot and
lost more in killed and wounded that day than
any other regiment engaged, having lost l06 in
killed and wounded.
Your paper is so widely circulated and read
by so many Of my old soldiers and comrades that
this article, unless contradicted, might make a
reputation for the I'd Mo- TO which it is not by
right entitled. j do not wish 10 enter into
any newspaper controversy over said battle,
neither do / wish to detract from the good name
and nenown battled for and won on that day by
the I'd Mo. or any other command; but as right
harms no one, and the fact stated is SO far
from the truth, / ask you TO correct the same
by publishing a copy Of my official report,
which is fully corroborated by the records OF
the War Department.
On that memorable battle day had the honor
60 command the Twenty-eighth Brigade, Gen.
Rousseau's Division, composed of the 2lst Wis,
oath H., 18th Pa, LIST Wis, LIST Ky. battery and
the 4th Ind. battery, going into battle with
2lS9 officers and men. The command fought
from o'clock p. m. until dark, when all firing
ceased. During the engagement the command
held its original position, and was awarded the
credit by Gen. McCook (see his official report)
OF having saved the left wing of the army.
The casualties Of the brigade are given in de-
tail in my report.-JoHE Q. STARKwEATHER,
Brigadier-General Of Volunteers.
GRN. sTARKwEATHER's OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS TwEETY-EIGHrH BRIGADE,
THIRD DIVISION, on BATTLEFIELD
CHAPLIN Hills Oct III, 1862
Capt. w. p. MCDOWELL, A. A. A. G., Third Di-
sIR: have the honor TO report that the Twenty
eighth Brigade, composed OF the 18Th Pa oath III,
lst and 9th Wis commanded respectively by Col.
III. A. Hambright, Capt. Mauf (Col. Mihalotzy
being absent, sickl Iieut-Col, Geo. Il. Bingham
and Col. b. J. Sweet.-lst Ky. Art Capt ID. Q.
Stone) and 4th Ind. Art. Capt. A. X. Bush, lefi
MaNville under orders on the Sth inst, 2lst Wis.
marching in the rear ar guard 90 the division am
munItion train tmy 18th ky.--Col John III. Mo
DEMONSTRATING been sent TO Springfield as guard 70
the division supply train9 and arrived on the field
of battle al about 1880 ocook D. m, having marched
u miles, about three miles thereof being through
fields, woods etc. Finding the troops already en-
gagged well on the right center and left and thinking
the extreme eft position most accessible and from
appearances that should be held at all hazards,
placed my command at once In position facing the
enemy's right tcountermarching q part Of my
brigade for such purpose), oath Ill. and 18th Pa.
forming the right wing, 10 be supported by the LIST
and 2lst Wis. when the last-named regiment SHOULD
arrive holding my two batteries TO act the dis
position Of the enemy might require.
Gen. Donelson's Brigade at this moment engaged
the oath III. and the 18th Pa. on the right but was
driven from the field after most desperate fighting.
While this engagement was progressing i placed,
by orders, Bush's battery on the extreme left,
Stones battery next on its right, LIST Wis 10 rear
of Bush, 10 support him. and 2lst Wis which had ar
rived texceptng two companies acting fankers 10
the ammunition tran) to the front of the two bat
teries, in cornfeld at foot Of the hill upon which
the artillery placed forming IL at In line
of battle. This disposition of my forces was hardly
complete before Gen. Manning's Brigade attacked
me in front assisted by battery. and Gen. Donel'
sons Brigade again attacked on the extreme right
the enemy al the same time placing battery on my
extreme left upon a well-chosen position TO flank
me. The aank movement on the left was pre-
vented by Stones battery shelling the position
chosen, and Donelson's Brigade again forced
20 retire by the we-direcied and continuous fire oi
the oath III. and 18th Pa. then ordered the 2ls'
Wis. 10 fire and charge TO the front, but being
new regiment their Colonel being severely
wounded and their Major killed at about ths
time such order was given, no field officer was lef
10 carry the command into execution. although
several companies hearing the order attempted q
/ obey ID, but being soFely pressed by the brigade
and battery In front. the regiment retired In soms
Immediately advanced the lst Wis 60 the front
supported by oblique fire from the 79th, and witt
canister from my artillery i held such position
until many Of the artillery horses were killed and
the balance became unmanagenble, creating sucl
confusion that proper discharges could not be con
were retiring, and being unable 10 obtain any sup
port from them ordered the 18th. 2ath and lat e
hold their position while Stones battery Of fOul
guns and Bush's battery of two (an that wer,
manageable were retired TO a new and safer po-
sition; the retirement was made la good order and
the fire from the artillery again opened A part o
the LIST Wis then charged To the 'front.' capturing th'
colors of the LIST Tenn. The fire from the 18th nnc
oath held the enemy in check while the balance q
the LIST Wis. took by hand every remaining gun RnC
caisson from the field.
The enemy by this time was completely routed
| the firing ceased on our front and flank, and ih'
/ regiments were retired TO the support Of the bat
| teries in their new position, which was occupie,
| until u O'Clock at night, when a change was mad
! by orders. My loss in officers and men was terri
be indeed. Where all did so nObly and well on
cannot be mentioned without doing injustice &,
! others; but 1 must acknowledge the great serviol
| rendered me by my staff Officers Franklin, Searle
and Bingham In carrying orders 10 and fro in tn
/ midst u the terrible fire surrounding them.
The following statement shows the number o
| men IN each organization OF the brigade engages
| IN the battle, with the losses:
| 2lst Wis.-Officers and men, 663-4 killed, 10
| wounded IS missing n prisoners: total rs
2ith lll.-Ss3-25 killed, "a wounded, two missing
! 10 prisoners; total, III.
| 18th Pa-530-8 killed. liG wounded two miss
ing two prisoners; total. 49,
lst Mls.-407-56 killed. l20 wounded four miss
| ing, l3 prisoners; total, 1873.
lst Ky. battery-g7-three killed. eight wounded
| total IL
9Th Ind. .bhttery-IO9-three killed, nine wounded
| one missing; total, i3
Total strength engaged, 2 ls9; total losses 6g3.
Trusting that the brigade will receive at you
hands the proper mention which II deserves for IL
bravery, good conduct aud magnificent fighting,
subscribe myself, yours 10 command,
JOHN &. STARKwEATHER,
Colonel, LIST Wis, commanding Twenty eighth Br.
gade.
FX-pRIGONFRC OF NMAR