The National tribune., 1903-02-05


posed Federal detachment in front of Per-
ryville, the major part of his army was
at Lexington and on the road between that
city and Harrodsburg. Kirby Smiths
Corps, as has been seen, was at Law
renceburg, between Frankfort and Har-
rodsburg, Gen. Bragg himself being in the
vicinity of Perryville. l am somewhat ex-
plicit in noting these circumstances and
conditions because of the fact that the sit
uatiOn was complex.
About noon there was some desultory
but the Federal army was
neither disturbed nor uneasy, sucl artil-
lery duels not being uncommon when large
bodies of troops are confronting each
other.
At o'clock in the afternoon, Hardee
with surprising impetuosity attacked that
part of the Federal line composed of the
brigades of Lyle and Harris which lay to
the left of Sheridan's Division, the Con
federate commander having planned to
overwhelm and turn the enemy's left.
Lyle and Harris CALAMITY and obstinate
ly resisted the terrific onslaught, but
Buckner, masked by dense woodland,
struck Terrill's Brigade to the right of
them, with such force as to utterly over
whelm it, the line giving way in great dis
order, carrying portions of neighDoring
line was composed almost entirely of raw
troops. Gen. Jackson and Gen. Terrill
were killed while CALAMITY endeavering to
rally their men. The fine was so utterly
and quickly routed that IL pieces of artil-
lery were easily captured by Buckner's ex-
ultant Kentuckians. The dead Federal
Gen. Jackson was Kentuckian, and, if
my memory is not at fault, the brave Gen.
Terrill was a Kentuckian, too. By heroic
efforts Gen. Webster, of JacksOn's Divi-
sion, succeeded for a moment in checking
the route of the broken line, but in doing
so he fell, and the line resumed its dis
orderly retreat. Things were different,
however, in Sheridan's front. Hardee did
not intend to pay much attention to him,
but his admira bly-posted artillery enfiladed
the troops that were following up the line
they had broken, and it became necessary
for the Confederates to stop and fight
Sheridan before proceeding any further.
They made a vigorous charge on him, and
right then and there foemen met foemen
eminently worthy of each others steel.
There was a horrid roar of battle, the
combatants fighting at close quarters:
"They close in clouds of smoke and dust,
With sword sway, and with lance's
thrust"
Sheridan's veterans were mistaken; his
line was sheltered by woodland, while the
Confederates attacking him had to ad-
vance across open fields. Even when they
were reinforced by two veteran brigades
of Cheatham's Division, the determined
Confederates failed to drive Sheridan.
Further to the Federal left, however, the
battle ragged with varying fortune. the
carnage being dreadful. Hundreds of men
fell to the ground unwounded, but ex-
hausted for the want of water. Critten-
den, on Buel's right, was unmolested,
McCook bearing the brunt of the
battle. Keeping Gilbert engaged, Hardee
made a tremendous effort to rout McCOok,
who, however, managed to withstand the
storm until near nightfall, when the con-
fiict ceased. A brigade of Mitchell's Di-
vision conspicuously aided McCOOk in re-
storing the end of the broken line farthest
from Sheridan, but the valiant brigade
lost its commander, Gen. Gooding, and
one-thrd of its force. The Federal loss of
officers was notably great. They also lost
IL pieces of artillery. The result of the
battle was indecisive. Hardee, however,
retired, at nightfall, beyond Chaplin Greek
and through Perryville, Gen. Bragg hav-
ing learned to his satisfaction that Har-
dee had engaged an army, not an insig-
nifcant detachment, ordered withdrawal
on the HarrOdsburg road. Both combat
arts were exhausted, and welcomed the
coming of night:
Eat weary bay each shattered band,
Eyeing their foeman, sternly stand;
And broken arms and disarray
Marked the fell havoc of the day."
MORTALITY.
Considering the numbers engaged and
the short duration of the conflict, -four
hours, it was notably bloody battle, one
of the most destructive of the great civil
war. Perhaps the Federal force actually
engaged did not exceed $4,000 men. OF
that number about 1000 were killed and
wounded, McCOok's Corps alone losing
1900, killed and wounded, out of Il, 500
men he had in the battle. Hardee lost
about 1900 killed and wounded, having
had 1900 men actively engaged. Not
less than 1000 men fell in that terrific
combat between 2:30 and pm. Hardee':
troops were veterans, while large bodies
of the Federals were new recruits, mex
perienced in battle.
BUELL. DIDN'T KNOW.
Inexplicable as it may seem, the hard
fought, sanguinary battle had been in prog
ress two hours before Gen. Buell. was ap
prised of the fact. He was some dstanc,
from the scene of the conflict, and by som'
| blunder, presumably of staff officers, tn,
battle was half over before he knew any
thing about it; nor did Crittenden know
that anything unusual was happenin:
along the center and left of the lines
There being a wide interval between hin
and Gilbert, and dense woodlands inter
yening, the sound of musketry did no
reach him. Neither did Buell. hear. The.
heard the roar of artillery, but no mes
| sage coming to them from the battle line
they were undisturbed, thinking that al
was well. This seems strange, but mys
FERROUS things may happen, or not hap
pen, on fields of battle as elsewhere.
have always been under the impression
that one or more of the staff, inadvertent
ly or otherwise, failed to carry the new
to Buell., or Crittenden. OF course, l d.
not know, nor am / expected to know
Buells military family, as was not owe
on that side Of the battle ground, and
what is more, had no burning desire t
go over there. Being duly scared, 1 wa
content to view the scene from affair
from the vicinity of Gen. Bragg's view
point. Belonging to the light cavalry,
sort of VANCOUVER, / was somewhat anX
iously looking two ways-especially for
way to retreat. Doubtless Gen. Bragg wa
thinking of the same thing. My charge
not being in frst-class running TRIM"
wanted to 'git horse, and then git my
SELF"
| 1T MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
Had Gen. Buell. known the situation i
time he might have crushed Eardee an
given Bragg a great deal of trouble. UI
molested, however, the latter fell bacl
during the night, to Harrodsburg, that h
might hasten his conjunction with til