Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[517] of my whole line, bringing up the reserve regiments occupying the crest of the hill. On our advance the enemy began to retire, but in good order. I could not follow up this advantage to any great extent, as the enemy were advancing on our left, General McCook's right having been driven back some distance. I then directed the fire of my artillery across the valley on this advance of the enemy, forcing them to retire, thus very much relieving General McCook. This ended the operations of the day, it being then dark, and the enemy having retired from the field.

I cannot speak with too much praise of the good conduct of the officers and men of my whole division — all of whom were engaged. The new troops vied with the old troops of the division in their coolness and steadiness. My brigade commanders, Colonel Greisel, Colonel Dan McCook, and Lieut.-Colonel Laiboldt, behaved with great gallantry, leading their troops at all times. Neither can I speak too highly of Captains Hescock and Barnett, and the officers and men of their batteries.

I respectfully bring to the notice of the General Commanding the excellent conduct of Surgeon Griffiths, Medical Director of the division, who was untiring in his care for the wounded on all parts of the field. Also the following officers of my staff: Captain Beck, A. D.C.; Lieut. George Lee, Acting A. A.G.; Lieut. Van Pelt, Division Commander, and Lieuts. Denning and Burton, for their alacrity in bearing orders and other valuable assistance rendered me during the day.

The total casualties in my division were as follows:

Killed,	44
Wounded,	274
Missing,	12
Total,	330

I enclose herewith a list of the same, giving names, rank, company and regiment. This report is also accompanied by the reports of brigade and battery commanders.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Third division, Army of the Ohio, in the battle of Chaplin Hills, fought on the eighth instant:

On the morning of the eighth, on the march, General McCook showed me an order of General Buell's, in which it was said he should move cautiously on approaching Perryville, as the enemy would probably make resistance in that vicinity. When near Chaplin Hills, battle-ground, and perhaps three miles from Perryville, the report of artillery to our right and front was heard, and Gen. McCook ordered me to advance my cavalry and infantry in reconnoissance, leaving the artillery on an eminence in the road. I moved on with the infantry, preceded by six companies of the Second Kentucky cavalry, Colonel Buckner Board, and when near the field of battle, Colonel board reported the enemy in sight. I halted the command, sent back for General McCook, and he and I rode forward to the front, examined the ground, and chose a line of battle to be adopted if the enemy advanced upon us, and soon afterwards moved up to Russell's house on the hill overlooking the field and there halted the head of the column. Whilst there the artillery (two pieces) of Capt. Harris's battery, with Gay's cavalry, continued to fire, and small arms were also heard. Gay addressed a note to me, saying he had been pressing the enemy all the morning, was pressing him then, and much needed a regiment of infantry to support his pieces. I ordered the Forty-second Indiana regiment to do so, and rode forward to his pieces and found him and Capt. Harris there. The enemy was just disappearing in the woods, far to the front, and out of range of Harris's ordinary brass pieces. I then ordered up Loomis with two of his Parrott guns, and he shelled the woods, the enemy now and then appearing, until finally he was no longer to be seen, and the firing was ordered to be ceased. Every thing indicated that the enemy had retired, and it was so believed. Gen. McCook rode off to see General Buell, understood to be two or three miles on our right. Waiting, perhaps, an hour, I concluded to resume the march to Chaplin Creek, then probably a mile to our front, to get water for my men, who were suffering intensely for want of it. There was a small pool in the bed of the little stream to the right of Loomis's two pieces, to which the Forty-second Indiana was directed in order to obtain a supply, and the main column was then ordered forward; but when the head of the column was within a hundred or two yards of Loomis's pieces, I halted it and went forward to see what was reported to be the enemy reappearing in the woods beyond, and in a few minutes I could see him plainly; and the discharge of shell from three batteries (masked) gave unmistakable evidence of his presence in force. I ordered Loomis to reply and bring up the remainder of his guns, and sent an order to Capt. Simonson, Fifth Indiana artillery, to join Loomis, all of which was promptly done. I then sent a order to Col. Lytle to form his brigade on the right in good position, and galloped back to placed Harris's brigade in position to resist the advance of the enemy, which I was just informed by a messenger from Capt. Wickliffe, of Col. Board's cavalry, was being made in that direction in great force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. I aided Col. Harris, commanding the Ninth brigade, to form his brigade in two lines — the Second Ohio, Lieut.-Colonel Kell; the Tenth Wisconsin, Col. Chapin, and the Thirty-third Ohio, Lieut.-Col. Moore, being in the front line. Soon after this, by a messenger, Colonel