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

[521] Burke, and took position on the left of the Twenty-third Ohio. At this time the Second Ohio were warmly engaged with the enemy on our then left, stubbornly falling back, and husbanding their ammunition, which was nearly exhausted. I also met the gallant and lamented Colonel Webster rallying a regiment of his brigade, which was in confusion.

I assisted him, and as soon as order was restored, requested him to form in the rear of the Thirty-third and Tenth Ohio regiments, so that the balance of my command might supply themselves with ammunition. This he promptly did. At this moment I again met Gen. Rousseau, riding among and encouraging the soldiers. As soon as the Second and Third Ohio, the Thirty-eighth Indiana, and the Tenth Wisconsin were supplied with ammunition, I formed them into line to cover the retiring of the Thirty-third and Tenth Ohio, and that portion of Webster's command engaged, directing the Tenth Wisconsin to move obliquely to the right, to support a battery engaged to the right of the road. From this point, by your orders, I retired the line about one hundred yards, when I met and attached to my command the Fiftieth Ohio, under command of the Lieutenant-Colonel, and bivouacked for the night. When all have done so well, it is sufficient to say, from reports of commanding officers of the regiments and my own observations during the day, that the field and line-officers, without an exception, conducted themselves nobly and to my entire satisfaction. Too much praise cannot be awarded the soldiers, every one acting like a hero. My Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Lieut. George A. Vandegrift, and Aids, and Lieuts. F. G. Fitzwilliam and H. E. Spencer, were of great service to me during the day, coolly and bravely carrying my orders to all parts of the field.

Major Johnston, Tenth Wisconsin, Capt. Berryhill, Acting Major, Second Ohio, Captain John Herrel, Second Ohio, and Captain Drury, Ninety-fourth Ohio, fell, gallantly fighting at their posts. I thought proper to mention other regiments as they became attached to my command, during the progress of the action, through the loss of their brigade commanders. I also send you reports of regiments which were not under my immediate eye, during part of the day.

The following is the loss of the brigade:

	Commiss'd Officers.		Non.-com. and Privates.
	Killed.	Wounded.	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.
2d Ohio,	2	3	25	77	10
33d Ohio,		4	21	70	18
38th Indiana,		1	29	121	1
10th Wisconsin,	1	2	40	103	4
94th Ohio,	1		7	25	7
54th Indiana battery,			2	16	3
Total,	4	10	124	412	41

This list is furnished from the men actually buried, and the wounded in the hospitals. Some of the missing have since returned, having been taken prisoners while going for water, and paroled.

The brigade went into action two thousand two hundred and fifty (2250) strong, including Simonson's battery.

Very respectfully,

sir: In obedience to your order requiring me to furnish a report of the part taken by my brigade in the late battle of Perryville, I have the honor herewith to submit the following:

As ordered, I had massed my brigade in the edge of a dense wood, joining General Rousseau's right, to await your orders. Precisely at half-past 3 o'clock P. M., I received orders directly from Major-General Gilbert, Commanding Third corps d'armee, to proceed immediately to the support of Gen. McCook, on my left. I then proceeded at double-quick in the direction where General McCook's forces were engaged. On reaching the field I found the forces badly cut up and retreating, (they then having fallen back nearly one mile,) and were being hotly pressed by the enemy. After receiving instructions from General McCook, I ordered my brigade forward into the fight; the Twenty-second Indiana taking position on the right, the Fifty-ninth Illinois on the left, and the Seventy-fifth Illinois in the centre, and the battery took position on an eminence in our rear, which was bordered by a dense wood. I again ordered the brigade to the support of a brigade fighting on my left, which, as soon as I had become engaged, retreated and fell back in confusion. The battle now raged furiously; one after one my men were cut down, but still with unyielding hearts, they severely pressed the enemy, and, in many instances, forced them to give way. Here we fought alone and unsupported for two hours and twenty minutes, opposed to the rebel Gen. Wood's entire division, composed of fifteen regiments and a battery of ten guns. Fiercer and fiercer grew the contest, and more dreadful became the onslaught. Almost hand to hand, they fought at least five times their own number, often charging upon them with such fearlessness and impetuosity as would force them to reel and give way, but as fast as they were cut down their ranks were filled with fresh ones. At one time the Twenty-second Indiana charged on them with fixed bayonets, and succeeded in completely routing and throwing them from their position on our right, but at the same time they brought in a reserve force on our left. I now ordered the Twenty-third Indiana as quickly as possible to the aid of the Fifty-ninth Illinois, on the left, which order was promptly obeyed.

The impetuosity of the firing now ceased for a moment, and I advanced to ascertain, if possible, the position of the enemy. As I advanced down the line, we were greeted with a heavy volley of musketry, which plainly enough told the direction of the enemy. With shouts and exclamations,