Today in History:

1049 Series I Volume XVI-I Serial 22 - Morgan's First Kentucky Raid, Perryville Campaign Part I

Page 1049 Chapter XXVIII. BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE, KY.

rendered efficient service in making reconnaissances to the front and skirmishing with the enemy.

I herewith transmit the reports of Colonels Starkweather, Harris, and Pope,* and also a list of casualties in my division, amounting in all to 1,950 in killed and wounded.+ My division was about 7,000 strong when it went into action. We fought the divisions of Anderson, Cheatham, and Buckner.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Third Division.

Capt. JOHN A. CAMPBELL,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Corps d'Armee, Army of the Ohio.


No. 6.

Report of Col. Leonard A. Harris, Second Ohio Infantry, commanding Ninth Brigade.

SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Ninth Brigade in the action of the 8th of October at Chaplin Hills.

At the commencement of the action the brigade was on the right center and on the left of the Seventeenth Brigade. By direction of the general Captain Simonson's Fifth Indiana Battery was placed on my right, where Loomis' battery was engaged, and the Tenth Wisconsin Regiment directed to support it. The Thirty-third Ohio was on the left, with skirmishers well advanced to the front in the woods; the Second Ohio and Thirty-sixth Indiana in the center, with the Ninety-fourth as a reserve.

The firing becoming very warm on the right, by direction of Major-General McCook the Thirty-eighth Indiana was sent to their support. I placed them in the rear of Simonson's battery, Loomis having withdrawn. The action had now become general along the whole line. Captain Simonson, with two batteries playing on him and a heavy infantry force advancing on him and firing, nobly fought his battery, until, having lost 16 horses and 14 men in killed and wounded, by direction of Major Cotter, chief of artillery, he retired his battery. I immediately directed the Thirty-eighth Indiana to take position where the battery had been. This was not done a moment too soon, as the enemy were advancing on us. By a well-directed volley from the Thirty-eighth Indiana, Col. B. F. Scribner commanding, and the Tenth Wisconsin, Col. A. R. Chapin commanding, they were driven behind the crest of the hill. They again advanced, but were driven back. This was done for the third time, when they took position behind the crest of the hill.

At this time the firing was very heavy. I now sent back for the Ninety-fourth Ohio, Colonel Frizell commanding, but was informed that they had been directed by Major-General McCook to support a section of artillery which General Terrill was working. The positions of the other regiments had all been changed. The Second Ohio, Lieut. Col. John Kell commanding, and the Thirty-third Ohio, Lieut. Col. O. F. Moore commanding, were fiercely engaged with the enemy, who were making desperate efforts to pierce the center. It was at this point that Lieutenant-Colonel Moore was wounded and taken prisoner.

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*The reports of Starkweather and Pope not found.

+Embodied in revised statement, p.1033.

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Page 1049 Chapter XXVIII. BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE, KY.