The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-04

imagination conceive of the dismal
pail that nestled upon the countenance
OF our brave and gallant Bragg, Har.
dee, Cheatham, Anderson and the
almost heart-broken Buckner and
Kirby Smith when the truth was fully
realized that they were actually in an
enemy's country instead of among
their friends. What must be done
was the question Of the crisis. To
back down was impossible. To re-
treat without fight would be an
irretrievable disgrace. Here the bat
tie of Pcrryville was planned, which
goes down in history as the most ter
rible conflict that ever took place on
KENTUCKY soil, and the saddest part
Of this terrible struggle for civil
liberty and constitutional rights is
that Kentucky stood aloof and heard
but needed not the cry of their de-
tenders. On the 9th of October,
1862, Bragg took up line Of march
towards the Kentucky River. Buell.
moved at once to Bragg's front.
Rosecrans attempted a flank move
from Louisville to join Buell.. AS the
surgeon says in the peril of his case
the heroic treatment is the last resort.
So Bragg resolved upon the bringing
on the fight at Perryville. We reach
ed the outskirts Of Perryville in the
evening of the 7th of October, 1862.
Buell. had swelled his ranks to some
thing over 100000 strong. Feints
we're made upon Frankfort, Licking
ton and Danville by Kirby Smith,
Withers and Wheeler as decoys to
draw as much of the enemy's forces
away from our front as possible. I'm
mediately in line Of battle were Har-
dee, Cheatham, Anderson, Buckner,
Polk and their brigade commanders,
among whom was the intrepid Nancy
with hi5 Tennessee brigade. Just at
this juncture early in the day one of
the gunners of Barrett's battery be-
came disabled, substitute was called
for which the writer readily filled dur
ing the entire engagement by COM
mand Of General Hardee. A more
perfectly formed battle line / never
saw than went into this battle. Dur
ing the night Of the 7th an act Of
daring was performed by three Con
federstes that fsd parallel only by
the side Of Montgomery at the heights
Of Quebec, the sentinels at Thermopy-
lac. the guards Of the Alamo and the
hero of the Merrimac. 1 must say in
passing that the most inspiring scene
that ever met my sight was on that
bright cool October morning when ouz
brave army moved out from Bsfds-
town park to the martial strains Of
Dixie from hundred bands, and that
young battle flag scarcely a year old,
waving saloft from thousand staffp,
Haunting defiance over brave hearts
that knew only victory or death.
The 9th of October was an autumnal
beauty, marred at sunrise only by
rapid booming Of the enemy big
guns Fearlessly and silently stood
in battle array the chiyaIry. Of the
West. Forward steadyi were the
only words uttered, but executed as
orderly and free from rush and con-
fusion as il we were moving in grand
exposition parade. To me the whole
earth looked to be in motion-a real
ground swell truly. Then the muske-
try in rapid succession. Here the
Confederate columns halted. It was
here we had reached the dead line be-
yond which another move would have
inflicted upon our entire front the
enfilading sweep oe all similar emer-.
gencies a Roland or an Oliver was
sure to spring to the rescue. So at
this crisis the intrepid Nancy with his
brave brigade Of Tenncsseeans double
quicked up the elevated grounds in
front, scaled the ledges Of rocks that
lay logged in front, mounting them
with deafening yell that was heard
above the noise and din Of she'll and
muskesry, and with hand TO hand the,
conflict waged till the tide turned and
Maney's brigade was master Of tha
field, capturing four batteries, three
alive and working while the. fourth
was found silent aud disabled. OF
this disabled battery more will be said
elsewhere. These batteries together
with 5000 prisoners were the frn;.s
VI = Sragg 81 dayIs work on the 8.h Of
October. His forces occupied the
battlefield that night, which is the
accepted evidence in modern warfare
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