Today in History:

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

Page 489 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.

Question. Were you in the battle of Perryville?

I was.

Question. With what corps?

Three companies of the Michigan Engineers, under Major Hopkins, attached to General Rousseau's division.

Question. Did you see many officers and men the night and morning after the battle, and have an opportunity of becoming acquainted with their opinions in regard to the condition of affairs consequent upon that battle?

I saw quite a number; I do not know how many.

Question. As far as you know, what was the expectation of the officers and troops in regard to a battle the following morning; that is, the morning of the 9th?

I can speak for our command more than I can for any other. We expected to be called into action the next morning. Our men were very tired, and Major Hopkins told them they must get all the rest they could, for they would probably have to go into the fight in the morning. We were ordered by General Rousseau to take our position in the rear of Colonel Starkweather's brigade, and we were drawn up in line of battle when we got to our position.

Question. Was there,as far as you know or from any indications you could see, any other expectation than that the battle was to be renewed that morning?

All the officers with whom I talked thought we were going into battle again next morning.

Question. Do you mean by that that you expected to fight the enemy on that ground?

I did. I expected that we would fight the enemy, keeping the ground in the morning that were left after dark.

Cross-examination by the JUDGE-ADVOCATE:

Question. At the time the troops were on half rations that you speak of in your examination-in-chief did they suffer any?

There were some complaints, but I was not around among the troops to see whether they suffered or not. I was posted at the depot, and attended there most of the time, assisting Captain Paul, by furnishing transportation. I only heard from him that the troops were on half rations and from the guards who were stationed around the building that they had not full rations.

Question. except from the guards the building you did not know anything of your own knowledge?

No, sir; not from my personal knowledge; only from hearsay and from our regimental quartermaster, who said that the rest of the troops were on half rations and that we were on full because we had hard work at daily labor.

Question. Do you not know, from what you observed of the guards about the building, that they lived about as well on half rations as when they were on full?

From their looks they seemed to. I did not see any signs of pinching hunger.

Question. Do you know anything about the ferry at Gunter's Landing and the ford there?

I never saw the ferry; but all the boats on this side were, I believe, destroyed by General Mitchell's orders. Of the ford I remember nothing, though I may have heard of it at the time.

Question. Was that the case with the boats at the other ferry be sides the one you speak of?

I believe so. General Mitchell gave to have all the boats destroyed from


Page 489 Chapter XXVIII. GENERAL REPORTS.