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Civilian
account of the Battle of Perryville
Union
Account of the Battle of Perryville
Confederate
Account of the Battle of Perryville
Letter
from Thomas Allen to Catherine Wright concerning the death
of Christian Weinman
Perryville
Report from US Sanitary Commission:
Dr. A. N. Read -Inspector, U.S. Sanitary Commission
Description
of the Battle of Perryville, taken from Confederate Operations
in Canada and New York by John W. Headley
Civilian Account of the Battle of Perryville
On the second morning after the battle
of Perryville, or Chaplin Hills, I visited the battle-field.
In passing out on the Springfield road, the fencing was all
leveled to the ground - here and there a dead rebel. After
proceeding about one mile, I came to a company of Union soldiers,
who had collected ten or twelve of their dead comrades and
were preparing to bury them. Thence I proceeded to Mr. Peter's
house, meeting on the way more than ten thousand Union troops,
pressing from their homes. The first hospital I entered was
Mr. Peter's house. Here about two hundred wounded soldiers,
were lying side by side on beds of straw. Not withstanding,
they were wounded in every possible way, there was not heard
among them a groan or complaint. In the orchard close by a
long trench had been dug, in which to bury the dead; about
fifteen were lying in a row, ready for internment.
I passed on northward, and saw on either
hand dead men and dead horses, canteens, muskets, cartridge-boxes,
broken ambulances, coats, hats, and shoes, scattered think
over the ground. I reached Mr. Russell's white house, that
has been made famous in the report of General Buell. Here
was the center of great battle. The house was dotted over
with hundreds of marks of musket and cannon balls. All around
lay dead bodies of the soldiers - Union and Rebel. Many long
trenches were made ready for their burial. In a skit of woods
close by were scattered hundreds of the dead of both armies.
The whole scene beggars description. The ground was strewn
with soiled and torn clothes, muskets, blankets and the various
accouterments of the dead soldiers. Trees not more than one
foot in diameter contained from twenty to thirty musket-balls
and buck-shot, put into them during the battle. Farms all
around were one unfenced common. I counted four hundred and
ten dead men on a small spot of ground. My heart grew sick
at the sight, and I ceased to enumerate them. I continued
my visit in a easterly direction, and for more than a mile
every-where the same evidences of battle and death were manifest.
I noticed at one spot six dead horses, the entire team of
a rebel cannon. Turning my steps south toward Perryville,
I saw dead rebels piled up in pens like hogs. I reached my
home, praying to God that I might never again be called to
visit a battlefield.
This is but the first part of the awful
dream. For more than ten days after the battle the field hospitals,
except Antioch Church and Mr. Goodnight's farm, were being
cleared of the wounded; the two above excepted contained about
three hundred wounded. All the churches and public buildings,
together with most of the private houses, in Perryville, were
employed as hospitals. Thousands of the wounded were brought
in and made as comfortable as possible. For months attentive
surgeons and rich sanitary stores were furnished, together
with voluntary contributions from the surrounding country.
There was scarcely a house for ten miles that was not encumbered,
more or less, with the sick and wounded. All seemed to bear
their burdens and contribute of their substance cheerfully
to relieve the sufferings of the unfortunate soldier. For
months hundred of wounded died every week.
[Dr. Jefferson J. Polk, Autobiography
of Dr. J.J. Polk (Louisville: John P. Morton) 1867.]
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Union Account of the Battle of Perryville
On the Battle-Field, October 9, 1862.
Dear Friends:
Two days more heavy marching, almost
without water, and with very short rations, brought us within
seven miles of the fight. Yesterday morning we marched on.
Such roads, -- so hilly and stony, and so tired we could hardly
wag! At the edge of the field we halted for orders. Water,
water, water! was the cry. Thoroughly exhausted, and famishing
for food, as well as water, had we been well drilled we were
in no state to do ourselves or our cause justice in the battle
now ranging. I lay down, resolving to rest a little if possible.
Some were detailed for water, but soon returned with empty
canteens. "It must be reserved for the wounded." The lieutenant
rose and said "We must have some, who will go?" I thought
a moment, then with mess-pans and canteens three of us started
after him. On and on we went, for two miles; the road became
terrific, we must hurry for our regiment may be getting in.
At length we found water, and hurried back. Such hills I never
saw. I felt no excitement, but so tired. From the top of a
hill we saw the fight at this moment. These few words no one
can realize except they behold the reality. We hurried on,
and shortly met the poor wounded ones coming out. I gave each
a few drops, and hastened on to find my own regiment. On a
steep, high hill I say troops, and thought I heard "21st Wisconsin."
I scrambled up the hill; I was right. Our poor boys had been
in. They lay in a cornfield, and the rebels came on within
twenty feet, when the orders were given to "Fire and charge."
But no order was heard. They saw the rebels were on them,
and fired as well as they could. The bullets flew in showers.
The battle raged during the afternoon, but the field was so
hilly we could not know the result. At sunset the flashes
sent a glare over the scene. Soon we were ordered to go to
the regiment. What was my surprise to find only twenty out
of at least sixty of our company who went in. The rebels held
the ground where our dead and wounded lay. We lay down again
on a hill at the foot of which the rebels were, and dropped
asleep. Soon we were moved, and again we went silently, and
drew off a batter, and lay down. The captain said, "Who will
volunteer to carry off the dead?" Four or five of us started,
laying off our arms, and carrying a handkerchief tied to a
stick, for flag of truce.
We found our poor major dead and stripped.
Oh, I loved him! What a loss to us! Others were dead, and
many wounded; I helped carry off four, and then gave out from
exhaustion. This is a strange word for me, but no other express
it. The moon shone full upon the scene; it is utterly useless
to describe the sight, --men and horses dead and wounded,
wagon-wheels, army caissons scattered, and the moans and shrieks
of the wounded. Oh, may you never see such a sight! I helped
carry off one poor fellow with his mouth and lower jaw shot
off-stop, stop! I can't say more. We slept till sunrise; I
expected to see it rise for the last time, for I supposed
at daylight we should pitch in till death or victory were
ours; but no, the rebels had fled. We moved on two or three
miles, and rest yet. Thank God, we have water! Of our squad
only two remain well; Company C, on our left, has no officers
left. This morning the loss averaged thirty-five, --quite
a reduction. Our colonel has an arm broken, and a wound in
the neck. Many were the hairbreadth escapes. The poor horses
have had nothing all day except a little water.
Thirty-three of our regiment were trenched;
no coffin or mark, except a rail or stone. Our major, noble
man! Was among the number, --no sheet nor shroud, not even
a coat, for he was striped. If I had the dearest friend killed
in battle, I could only bury him. You can not realize our
situation. The people flee because their houses are used for
hospitals.
. . . It seems hard to throw men all
in together and heap earth upon them, but it is far better
than to have them lie moldering in the sun. Oh! To see the
dead rebels in the woods! From one point I counted thirty-one,
in a fence corner twenty-four; every where the eye rests on
one, and this is not on the field proper. In our short march
we passed at least two hundred, and of horses I made no count.
It is a fearful sight; and to think of all these soldiers
friends who would give any thing for their bloated, decaying
bodies, now torn by swine and crows, --oh, it is sad!
Sgt. Mead Holmes, Jr.
Co. K, 21st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry
[From: A Soldier of the Cumberland:
Memoir of Mead Holmes, Jr. (Boston: American Tract Society),
1864, pp. 92-96.]
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Confederate Account of the Battle of
Perryville
I propose to give only what I myself
saw, so far as I remember. . . .
When I think of that day it occurs to
me as a unit, from the time I awoke until about sundown.
Anyhow, we advanced across an open field,
under a rather sharp fire of the enemy's skirmishers, to the
foot of a wooded hill, where it became evident that the enemy's
lines still flanked ours, and we must march by the right flank,
taking ground to the right. I remember that General Maney,
thinking that in marching my column over rough ground it would
be difficult to keep the column closed up, sent me back to
see that this was done. While I was thus engaged I heard a
severe fire toward the head of the column. I rode rapidly
towards the firing, and it was very pleasant to me to see
the kind feeling the brigade had for me, expressed in continuous
cheers and friendly guying. Our whole line was then under
fire, and I was riding between the men and the enemy.
When I reached the head of the column
I was directed to place the 1st and the 27th Tennessee regiments
in a certain position in the wood, while the other regiments
continued their march. While I was thus placing these two
regiments, I heard a heavy fire of musketry and artillery
break out near the head of the column. It was my business,
of course, to be near my commanding general, to bear his orders,
if there should be any, and I immediately sought him. I found
him standing under a great white oak tree at the edge of the
field, and in the field I saw the 41st Georgia and the 6th
and 9th Tennessee regiment on the ground, engaged in a bitter
fight with the line of the enemy on the edge of the hill in
their front, which line was supported by Parsons' battery
of eight 12-pound Napoleon guns. It seemed to me that our
men could not have maintained our position at all but for
the fact that old Turner-the best artilleryman, but the poorest
drilled man in the army-was imperatively demanding the attention
of Parsons' guns. He thundered with his little 6-pound howitzers
right over the heads of our men, with grape was making it
very hot for Parsons and his infantry supports.
After looking at the battle for a few
minutes Gen. Maney asked me what I thought of it. I told him
I didn't think our position could be maintained; that there
were seven or eight guns of the enemy against Turner's four,
and that the enemy's line of infantry was longer and stronger
than ours. He asked what I thought should be done, and I told
him I believed our only chance was to take those guns. He
asked if I thought it was possible for our men to do it. I
said, "I think so." He then said, "Go, direct the men to go
forward, if possible." I rode out into the field, in the rear
of the line, and, passing the whole length of our line of
battle, told the field officers of each regiment what was
expected. I was repeatedly assured by officers and privates
as I rode along that if it were possible to make a simultaneous
movement, they believed they could take the guns, but in the
great uproar of bursting shells and crashing of incessant
musketry a man could hardly be heard even speaking his loudest.
I was discussing this with Capt. Harrison of the 9th Tennessee,
when a private of the 9th looked up and called out to me:
"Captain, the 9th will follow you anywhere." Thereupon I rode
up and down the line again, telling the men to look to the
centre of the line, and when I rode out and raised my hat
that should be the signal for a simultaneous charge. I went
back to the 9th, rode out about three horse-lengths in front,
laughingly charging the fellows not to shoot me in the back,
raised my hat and gave a yell. Every man was instantly on
his feet, and I don't suppose that twelve hundred men ever
have such a yell before. With bayonets at charge they ran
as fast as they could run right through the guns and over
the enemy's line. We did not fire a shot from the time the
charge began until the enemy's whole line of battle was in
flight, and then, shooting deliberately, the butchery was
something awful. I remember stating at the time that I could
walk upon dead bodies from where the enemy's line was established
until it reached the woods, some three hundred yards away.
Of course, in making this charge we
lost a great number of men. One gun pointed at the right company
of the 41st Georgia was said to have killed twelve or thirteen
men and desperately wounded, as I myself know, the colonel
of that company and its captain, two splendid fellows. I may
state here that when I had time afterwards to go to the rear,
Colonel McDaniel of the 41st Georgia, with one hop broken
and other wise wounded, and the captain of his first company,
with his arm shot off nearly to the shoulder, their wounds
still undressed , called to me to know the result of the charge.
They had seen that we had driven the enemy to a complete rout,
they both, with one voice, said, "Thank God!" Col. McDaniel
died of his wounds, but I am under the impression that the
captain recovered.
[Thomas H. Malone, Memoir of Thomas
H. Malone: An Autobiography Written for His Children (S.1.:
s.n.) 1928. pp 127-136.]
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- Letter from Thomas Allen to Catherine
Wright concerning the death of Christian Weinman
Springfield, KY. November 12, 1862
Catherine Wright,
It is with great sorrow I write to inform
you of the death of Christian Weinman. He died at Hospital
No. 1 in Springfield, Washington County, Kentucky on the 9th
of November. He was shot through the side at the Battle of
Perryville and we all thought he was getting better, but he
began to be worse and he was out of his mind, but before that,
we sent for a priest of the [church] and he came and the members
of the church got him a good coffin and he was buried in the
church yard and they got him a good cross made and lettered
and he was buried with all the honors of the church so that
will be one consolation to know that he is buried as he ought
to . . .
From your friend and well wisher,
Thomas Allen
21st Regiment, Wisonsin
Perryville Report from US Sanitary
Commission:
Dr. A. N. Read -Inspector, U.S. Sanitary Commission
The United States Sanitary Commission
was a civilian relief organization that improved the hygienic
standards of Union camps and helped wounded soldiers. After
the Battle of Perryville, Dr. A. N. Read of the Commission
took supplies to Perryville in order to alleviate the suffering
of the sick and injured. The Sanitary Commission was of great
help to the wounded and sick in Perryville, Danville, and
Harrodsburg. The Commission eventually sent more than ten
tons of supplies to Perryville, which had been stripped of
food and forage by the contending armies. As the Union army
was woefully unprepared for the aftermath of the battle, the
Sanitary Commission played a major role in feeding the troops
and nursing many soldiers back to health. The following is
an excerpt from Read's Perryville report.
Immediately on the reception of
the news of the late battle, I took such measures as were
in my power for the performance of our duty in the relief
of the wounded . . . I obtained at once three Government wagons,
and the promise of 21 ambulances, to be ready the day following.
The wagons were loaded with stores from the Louisville [Sanitary]
Commission, and started the same evening for Perryville .
. ..
We found the first hospital for
the wounded at [Mackville]. This was a tavern, with sixteen
rooms, containing 150 wounded and 30 sick, mostly from a Wisconsin
regiment. Twenty-five were on cots; some on straw; the others
on the floor, with blankets.
The surgeon in charge-P. P. White
of the 101st Indiana-had authority to purchase all things
necessary. Flour was very scarce; cornmeal, beef, mutton,
and chickens, plenty. There was no coffee, tea, or sugar,
to be had. The cooking was all done at a fireplace, with two
camp kettles and a few stew pans. The ladies of the town,
however, were taking articles home and cooking them there,
thus giving great assistance
From this place to Perryville, some
ten miles, nearly every house was a hospital. At one log cabin
we found 20 of the 10th Ohio, including the Major and two
Captains. At another house were several of the 92nd Ohio;
and the occupants were very poor, but doing all in their power
for those in their charge. The mother of the family promised
to continue to do so, but said, with tears in her eyes, she
feared that she and her children must starve when the winter
came. As at the other houses on this road, the sick had no
regular medical attendance.
. . .We reached Perryville after
dark . . .
On our arrival we learned that we
were the first to bring relief where help was needed more
than tongue can tell. Instead of 700, as first reported, at
least 2,500 Union and rebel soldiers were at that time lying
in great suffering and destitution about Perryville and Harrodsburg.
In addition to these, many had already been removed, and we
had met numbers of those whose wounds were less severe walking
and begging their way to Louisville, 85 miles distant. To
these we frequently gave help and comfort by sharing with
them the slender stock of food and spirits we had taken with
us.
There had been almost no preparation
for the care of the wounded at Perryville, and as a consequence
the suffering from want of help of all kinds, as well as proper
accommodations, food, medicines, and hospital stores, was
excessive . . . .
There were, at this time, some 1,800
wounded in and about Perryville. They were all very dirty,
few had straw or other bedding, some were without blankets,
others had no shirts, and even now, five days after the battle,
some were being brought in from temporary places of shelter
whose wounds had not yet been dressed. Every house was a hospital,
all crowded, with very little to eat. At the Seminary building
there was some fresh mutton, and a large kettle in which soup
was being made. I left at this house a box of bandages, comfortables,
shirts and drawers, and a keg of good butter. Three days after,
at this hospital, I found that the surgeons had improvised
bedsteads, and had provided comfortable beds for all their
patients from the stores of the Sanitary Commission leaving
Dr. Goddard to superintend the further distribution of supplies,
on the 12th I went with Mr. Thomasson to Danville. We here
found the wants of the sick as urgent as those of the wounded
at Perryville. The Court-House was literally packed; many
had eaten nothing during the day, most of them nothing since
morning . . . .
As there were many [of the sick]
who were without shelter, I looked around to find some building
where they might be carried, and, at last, have a roof over
their heads. After some search, a carriage shop was found
which would answer the purpose. This belonged to a Mr. J.
W. Welch. At my solicitation he opened it, had the carriages
removed, and placed it at my disposal. I then procured two
loads of straw, which was spread upon the floor, and two hundred
men were brought in and laid upon it
Returning to Perryville, I had the
satisfaction of seeing the condition of the wounded considerably
improved, thanks to the untiring executions of the surgeons
in charge, and the stores we had placed at their disposal
. . . They are still, however, far too crowded, and their
condition, in many respects, is susceptible of improvement.
At the Seminary Hospital, the best of the series, there were
seventy-nine wounded . . . These were all badly wounded. .
. .
Description of the Battle of Perryville,
taken from Confederate Operations in Canada and New York by
John W. Headley
This description of the Battle of Perryville
was taken from Confederate Operations in Canada and New York,
by John W. Headley. During the battle, Headley served in Major
John E. Austin's battalion of sharpshooters, which was attached
to Brigadier General Daniel Adams' Confederate brigade. At
Perryville, Austin's battalion fought on the Confederate left,
near the Henry P. Bottom house.
On the 2nd of October the army began
to move and marched on the Springfield Pike at an early hour
in the morning. We passed through Springfield and on to Perryville
where we camped… It was rumored in camp that Bragg and
Kirby Smith would unite their forces and a great battle would
follow…
Captain Huey came up the pike from
the direction of Perryville and notified the company that
we had been detailed as an escort for Gen. Patton Anderson,
who was commanding a division, and that a battle was imminent.
There was a disgust in the company over the arrangement.
I went to Captain Huey and told him
that I wanted to go and get with Major Austin's sharpshooters
and go into the battle. He objected until I insisted that
I did not want it said that I had been in the army a year
without having fought in a battle….
I then worked along through different
commands, inquiring for the headquarters of Gen. Dan W. Adams.
When I found him he pointed out the locality where I would
find Major Austin. The major was delighted to see me. I told
him the circumstances that caused me to come to him….
He promptly installed me in his mess. I was furnished with
the rifle and ammunition of one of his men who was too ill
for duty….
We were now getting close enough
to see the Federal line extended away to the right with a
gap to the left. When we were within about four hundred yards
of their line of battle, the enemy's sharpshooters opened
fire on us from behind trees and stumps, and all along the
front of their line, which was a long distance in both directions,
but we moved on as though nothing had happened. The sharpshooters
of the enemy continued their fire while we were halted, but
our line was close behind us now, and suddenly the brass bands
broke loose and filled the woods full of music, the troops
began to cheer and the enemy's artillery began to roar….
Our own artillery was now pouring
a continuous storm of shot and shell on the enemy's infantry
line and now the battle was hot from end to end. Major Austin,
galloping to our left, ordered us to double-quick straight
down to the left and right face to the enemy. Then he yelled
"Charge!"… The fire in front of us and from both flanks
was too hot and Major Austin ordered us back behind the rock
fence. A number of our men fell in the five minutes we were
out there….
General Adams and Major Austin were
riding up and down our line while we exchanged volley after
volley with the enemy. But our whole army was driving the
enemy to the right and left and General Adams ordered a charge.
Austin rode with us bareheaded and waving his hat. He was
a charmed target. The enemy gave way in disorder, going down
for fifty yards and then up a hill in a clean woods pasture…
The poor fellows fell like leaves from trees in the fall of
the year. It seems to me half of them were left on the ground
in that pasture….
It was understood that the battle
would be renewed the following morning. Major Austin waked
me late in the night and told me we were ordered to march.
We reached the Harrodsburg Turnpike, a mile from Perryville,
soon after daylight…Taking leave of Major Austin and
his friends I mounted my horse and made my way along the pike
to rejoin my company…The troops were weary and disappointed,
and there was no cheering when generals passed along the column.
They could not understand why Bragg and Smith with about 50,000
men had marched into Kentucky and were marching out again.
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