The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-24

action. Other reinforcements were COM
ing up, but the shutting down Of night
and the exhaustion Of the rebels fight
ing morale closed the contest. Hardee
withdrew his men across Chaplin's
Creek into Perryville, and the Union
army was realigned in it's first position.
ton.
Gen. Sheridan's Part.
During the fiercest assault upon
Rousseau the heavy force Of the enemy
struck Sheridan's Division in the ad-
vanced position which he had taken
after forcing them back earlier in the
day. He withdrew his troops to
stronger place on the original line, and
then ensued a terrific conflict with mus
kerry and artillery. The pressure Of
the attack was so severe that Sheri-
Gilbert sent him Carlin's Brigade from
Mitchells Division. Carlin made dash
at the enemy he found in front Of them,
and drove them back through Perry
Vile, capturing two caissOns, Is wagons
loaded with ammunition, and 1873 pris-
Oners. Sheridan also advanced, driv-
ing the enemy. but he feared to get too
far in advance OF McCook. and retired,
using his artillery with effect on the
flank OF the rebels who were assailing
McCook. Wagner's Brigade OF Woods
Division took some part in the fight and
rendered good service, but the rest of
Crittendens Corps was not engaged.
Thomas who had come upon the bat
tlefeld with Crittenden, was directed
to take a position In line OF battle on
the right and await orders. He waited
there the whole day without receiving
any.
Gen. Sheridan's Story.
Gen. Sheridan in his Memoirs says:
much time was consumed by Buells
army in its march on Perryville, but we
finally neared 1t on the evening Of Oct
IL. During the day Brig.-Gen. Robert
B. Mitchell's Division of Gilbert's Corps
was in the advance on the Springfield
pike, but as the enemy developed that
he was in strong force on the opposite
side OF small stream called Doctors
Creek, tributary Of Chaplin River, my
division was brought up and passed to
the front. 1t was very difficult to OBJ
tain water In this section Of Kentucky.
as drouth had prevailed for many
weeks. and the troops were suffering so
for water that il became absolutely nec-
| essary that we should gain possession
Of Doctors Creek in order to relieve
their distress Consequently Gen. Gill
bert, during the night, directed me to
push beyond Doctors Creek early the
next morning. At daylight on the 8th
moved out Col Dan McCook's Brigade
anu barnett battery IOr the purpose,
but after we had crossed the creek,
with some slight skirmishing, 1 found
that We could not hold the ground un-
less we carried and occupied a range Of
hills called Chaplin Heights. in front
Of Chaplin River. AS this would pro-
Ject my command In the direction Of
Perryville considerably beyond the
| troops that were on either flank,
brought up Laiboldt's Brigade and Hes
cocks Battery TO strengthen Col. Nc
Cook. Putting both brigades into line.
We quickly carried the heights, much
to the surprise Of the enemy, I think
for he did not hold on to the valuable
ground as he should have done. This
| success not only insured us a good sup
ply OF water, but also. later in the day,
had an important bearing in the battle
OF Perryville. After taking the heights,
brought up the rest OF my division
and intrenched. without much dif1culty
by throwing up strong line OF rifle
pits. although the enemy's sharpshoot-
ers annoyed US enough to make me or
der Laiboldts Brigade to drive them on
| the main body. This was successfully
done In q few minutes. but in pushing
them back to Chaplin River we discoy-