Today in History:

278 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 278 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.

By General ORD:

Question. Do you remember whether there was much wind at the battle of Perryville when you rode over to General Buell's headquarters?

Yes, sir; the wind blew heavily, but not steadily; it blew in gusts.

Question. Was the wind blowing from such a quarter that you could hear the sound of the cannonading you spoke of better or worse when you arrived at General Buell's headquarters than when you started or while you were on the way?

While going to General Buell's headquarters I passed over considerable high land, and on those elevated positions I was sensible of the difference the wind made in the sound of the artillery. When I reached headquarters I do not recollect noticing anything about the wind there; the cannonading was more distinct than at General Thomas', being considerably nearer.

Question. Were your opportunities of judging of the nature of this cannonading while on the road better than they would have been at General Buell's headquarters?

I do not think they were. There was no firing in front of General Crittenden's corps, but all the firing I heard appeared considerably to the left.

Question. Did you mention you impression of the nature of this firing to Colonel Fry?

I do not recollect whether I did or not. I think I said to General Gilbert that I thought there was a battle going on.

By General SCHOEFF:

Question. Was not the signal corps in full operation on the day of the battle?

Not on General Crittenden's front. The communication was opened with General Gilbert's corps in the evening. I recollect that during the day some of the officers reported that a signal was discovered on a house far off to the left, and the impression was that it was one of the signal corps, but it was subsequently ascertained that it was not; and no communications were received until after we had gone back to camp. During he night of the 8th and 9th, after the communications were opened, they continued to operate.

Question. Did you see General McCook at General Buell's headquarters before you left?

I did not. I was told that General McCook had been there and had gone back to his corps.

By General BUELL:

Question. According to the history of that day, as it is now known, at what time did the battle begin on the left, and what was in fact the character of the engagement up to the time when you arrived at my headquarters?

My recollection of General McCook's report is that the heavy attack on his front did not commence until about 1 o'clock; but that the firing that I heard previous to my arrival at General Buell's headquarters was principally from the skirmishing and the artillery that was with the cavalry.

Captain JOHN G. CHANDLER (a witness for the defendant), being duly sworn by the judge-advocate, testified as follows:

By General BUELL:

Question. State your name and position in the service, if you please, and the position you occupied in the Army of the Ohio last summer.

John G. Chandler, captain, quartermaster's department. I was on duty as chief quartermaster in the field of the Army of the Ohio from about July 26 till about 30th October. I was connected with the army before that in the early part of the season.


Page 278 KY.,M. AND E. TENN.,N. ALA.,AND SW. VA. Chapter XXVIII.