The National tribune., 1903-08-13
BATTLE OF PERRYvILLE.
Capt. Hartman, Aid on the staff Of Gen. Rous
seau, Replies to Geo. Dallas Mosgrove.

Mistaken Manuvers Ends in 4 Bloody Lit
tie Battle suggests this communication.
Upon his statements regarding the race of
the two armies toward Louisville 1 have
no comment to make. When. however.
we come to Perryville we differ. viewing
the scene. of course, from opposite stand
points. He says:
misconceptions and blunders on both
sides. redeemed by sublime courage and
heroic endurance, characterized the bat
tie
On the evening of Oct. Z. 1862 Gen.
Buell. issued the following order to his
corps commanders:
THE camp equipage will be sent back
on the Springfield road, under guard in
command of n commissioned officer. Troops
will be on the road at ; O'Clock a. m.
march six miles. fill canteens with water,
and strip, the men to be encountered as
little as possible"
If Gen. Buell. changed his mind previous
to the battle on the next day. the reason
must have been that the corps had not
reached the points of concentration con-
templated in the order, concluding there
fore, not TO engage the enemy until the fol-
lowing day, the 9th.
About noon of the Sth. Gen. Rousseau's
column. marching on the Perryvile road.
halted near n small stream that crossed
the road a few hundred rods in front.
The General, with his staff. rode forward
to n cluster of trees on the left of the
road, where he met Capt. Gay, command
ing cavalry. Answering an inquiry. Gay
said he knew nothing of the whereabouts
of the enemy. The General. looking
through his field glass saw dust in the
distance. indicating that column of Con-
fcderate cavalry was rctir ne. Doubtless
this was the point where Gen. Buell. in his
order, intended that Rousseau's and Jack
sons troops should fill their canteens with
water.
Before he again put his column in mo-
ton Gen. Rousseau ordered the 10th Ohio
forward as a skirmish line. While the
regiment was prepar ne to obey the order,
the General again rode to the cluster of
trees in his front. and, finding Capt. Gay
still there, inquired as to the whereabouts
of the Confederatos. Gay said he knew
nothing. Suddenly there was a flash of
fire, and from the opposite side of the
stream there came Il shell. The General
then exclaimed: Il guess you know now
where they are"'
Rousseau then placed his division in line
Of battle, the batteries of Looms and 81
monton taking position on the left Of the
road, at the point whence the General
had discovered the presence of the enemy.
This. to my mind, was the opening of the
battle. The formation was from right to
left The Twenty eighth Brigade of Rous-
seau's Division was cut off by Gen. Jack
son at Mackville, he being unwilling to
wait for Starkweather on account of his
urgent order from McCook. of the night
before. Starkweather, aversa to remain
ing in the rear of JacksOn's Division,
marched through the fields and took posi-
ton on the left of the lne-tO the left of
Harris's Brigade, where he gallantly as
sisted in repulsing the assaults of the en-
emy. Mr.. Mosgrove fails to mention
Starkweather at all.
Jackson's Division was attacked sud
denly. and partially routed. Gen. Jackson
himself being almost instantly killed, and
Gen. Tcrrill mOrtally wounded. As Gen.
Rousseau and staff were riding to the
left. they met Gen. Terrill going to the
rear. He requested Rousseau to reinforce
his line. the General replying that he was
unable to do so. Proceeding to the left
the General encountered some of Jackson's S
routed troops, his endeavor to rally them
proving Intellectual. Col. Webster, who
succeeded Jackson. did excellent service
with such troops as remained in hand. |
am not aware that Webster fell, or was
hurt. II was unfortunate that those raw
troops should have been placed in that un.
favorable position at the beginning of the
engagement.
| think it was about | o'clock p. m
when the battle opened. 1t may have Eeen
later. however when Little's Brigade was
heavily assaulted, and Little himself
wounded and captured.
Rousseau Withdrew his division from
the line it had stubbornly held and formed
a new line on ridge, where he could not
be so easily ilanked. Webster did the
same with what was left of Jackson's Di-
vision. The situation was perious Ap
parently there was no relief for the troops
of those two divisions that had been en-
gagged in fierce battle nearly all that hot.
dry afternoon. When Gen. Rousseau had
taken bis new position Oh the ridge, he
looked toward the slowly sinking sun, and
exclaimed: will that sun never go
down. Just then, however, we saw Il
cheering sight-twO divisions. one Of them
Mitchelrs, going right, by file into line
anG pouring n terrific fire into the enemy's
ranks, driving them back.
ROusseaus and .IacksOn's Divisions did
not know that any other troops were en-
gagged in the battle. Mr. Mosgroye says:
'Sherldan'S veterans We're mistaken; his
line was sheltered by woodland. while the
Coafedcratcs attacking him had to adj
vance across open fields" From my point
of view that declaration is hard to under
stand. | am inclined to think the force
he says was hurled against Sheri,!ans
veterans was the one that assaulted the
brigades of Harris, Lytle. and Starkweatll-
er. l have never seen Il Federal report
of the battle stating that Sheridan had a
very hard time at Perryvile. 1t seems to
me that Sheridan failed to avail himself
of an opportunity to render Lytle mate
rial assistance, as his line joined Lytle's
right.
Mr.. MOsgrOve seems not to have had
any knowledge of the Generals name who
bore the brumt of the battle, and whose
division was n part of McCOok's Corps;
that this same officer was promoted TO
Major-General by President Lincoln '.for
personal gallantry on the field of Perry
Vile" This, however, implies no detrac-
ton from the merits of Gen. McCook.
While the battle was in progress. /
saw Generals McCoOk and Rousseau in
conference. The former being at the
time unattended by any staff officer, he
requested Rousseau to let him use one
of his staff, as he desired to send a mes
sage to the batteries of LOOms and s.
monitor, then in action. Gen. Rousseau
placed me at McCOok's disposal
l think Gen. BuelPs plans were made
with care and good judgment; but the ex-
ecution of them on the day of battle was
certainly bad. 1t would seem that the
commanding General did not have a prop
er knowledge of what was going on at
Perryville.-SAMUEL l.. HARTMAN, Cap
tain, Co. T., 18th Pa. and A. ID. C. to
Eap I II