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

sir: Finding the enemy pressing heavily in his rear, near Perryville, Major-General Hardee, of Polk's command, was obliged to halt and check him at that point. Having arrived at Harrodsburgh from Frankfort, I determined to give him battle there, and accordingly concentrated three divisions of my old command — the army of the Mississippi, now under command of Major-General Polk--Cheatham's, Buckner's and Anderson's, and directed Gen. Polk to take the command on the seventh, and attack the enemy the next morning. Withers's division had gone the day before to support Smith. Hearing, on the night of the seventh, that the force in front of Smith had rapidly retreated, I moved early next morning, to be present at the operations of Polk's command.

The two armies were formed confronting each other, on opposite sides of the town of Perryville. After consulting the General and reconnoitring the ground and examining his dispositions, I declined to assume the command, but suggested some change and modifications of his arrangements, which he promptly adopted. The action opened at half-past 12 P. M. between the skirmishers and artillery on both sides. Finding the enemy indisposed to advance upon us, and knowing he was receiving heavy reenforcements, I deemed it best to assail him vigorously, and so directed.

The engagement became general soon thereafter, and was continued furiously from that time to dark, our troops never faltering and never failing in their efforts.

For the time engaged it was the severest and most desperately contested engagement within my knowledge. Fearfully outnumbered, our troops did not hesitate to engage at any odds, and though checked at times, they eventually carried every position, and drove the enemy about two miles. But for the intervention of night, we should have completed the work. We had captured fifteen pieces of artillery by the most daring charges, killed one and wounded two brigadier-generals, and a very large number of inferior officers and men, estimated at no less than four thousand, and captured four hundred prisoners, including three staff-officers, with servants, carriage and baggage of Major-General McCook.

The ground was literally covered with his dead and wounded. In such a contest our own loss was necessarily severe, probably not less than twenty-five hundred killed, wounded and missing. Included in the wounded are Brigadier-Generals Wood, Cleburn and Brown, gallant and noble soldiers, whose loss will be severely felt by their commands. To Major-General Polk, commanding the forces, Major-General Hardee, commanding the left wing, two divisions, and Major-Generals Cheatham, Buckner and Anderson, commanding divisions, are mainly due the brilliant achievements of this memorable field. Nobler troops were never more gallantly led. The country owes them a debt of gratitude which I am sure will be acknowledged.

Ascertaining that the enemy was heavily reenforced during the night, I .withdrew my force early the next morning to Harrodsburgh, and thence to this point. Major-Gen. Smith arrived at Harrodsburgh with most of his force and Withers's division the next day, tenth, and yesterday I withdrew the whole to this point, the enemy following slowly but not pressing us. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Col. R. C. Tyler, of the Fifteenth Tennessee regiment, reached this city yesterday, directly from the scene of conflict in Kentucky. He advises us that the skirmishing commenced on the sixth between the cavalry, and occasionally there was an artillery duel. On the seventh Buell occupied Perryville, making it the centre of his line of battle. On the night of the seventh Hardee moved up his division, fronting Buell's army. On the evening of the seventh a portion of the right wing of the army of the Mississippi (Cheatham's division, composed of Donelson's, Stuart's and Maney's brigades) moved from Harrodsburgh to Perryville, where they rested on their arms in line of battle till daylight. The pickets skirmished all night. On the morning of the eighth, at daylight, at the centre of the lines, there were cavalry fights, and many were wounded on both sides. About half-past 9 o'clock cannonading commenced.

At half-past 10 we discovered that the enemy [533] were massing troops on their left to turn our right wing. At this juncture Cheatham's division, above-mentioned, was moved from the left to the right of our lines, about one and a half mile. During all this time a brisk fire of artillery was kept up. Carnes's battery was immediately brought into action, which, admirably served, did great execution. (This was Jackson's battery at Columbus, Ky.）

Cheatham's division was now about three fourths of a mile from the enemy and in line of battle, Donelson's brigade being in advance.

The ground between us and the enemy was broken, but without timber. It was found necessary to approach nearer the enemy for this reason, and because of the superiority of their guns. Cares was ordered to advance, and was in this movement supported by Donelson's brigade. We advanced about one fourth of a mile, and the enemy, finding their position untenable, retired to another.

We again advanced a quarter of a mile, to the summit of a precipitous bluff, which the battery of Carnes could not ascend. Our lines were here re-formed, and orders were received to advance upon the enemy at a double-quick across open fields unobstructed, except by stone and rail fences. With terrific yells and unbroken front we advanced upon the enemy, two batteries playing upon Cheatham's division, advancing under this fire and enfiladed by the batteries of the enemy. When within one hundred and fifty yards of the enemy they opened on us with grape and canister. When within eighty yards they opened on us with musketry, and now the fight became general. About this time Maney's brigade, with Donelson's, were sent round to the enemy's extreme left to capture a battery which had been so destructive to us. The battery was taken, and here the Yankee General, Jackson, fell. This was half an hour after the fight became general.

Every inch of ground was bravely contested. It became known that Jackson had fallen, and the enemy retired, probably for this reason, but more probably because they could not withstand the impetuous valor of our troops. About this time — probably a little earlier — Stuart's brigade moved into action, in perfect order and with great coolness. The troops first engaged, worn and weary, rushed on with Stuart's men, and the rout on the left became general.

The enemy re-formed their lines several times, but were no sooner restored than they were broken. The fighting was kept up till night put an end to the conflict. We had then driven the enemy from three to five miles along the whole line of the two armies.

We formed our lines and remained on the ground during the night. On the morning of the ninth, believing it would be hazardous with his weary troops to renew the conflict with a reenforced army of the enemy, Gen. Bragg or Polk ordered our army back to Harrodsburgh.

We captured all the artillery of the enemy except one battery, and unknown numbers and quantities of all descriptions of small arms.

The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was enormous. The field of battle was everywhere strewn with the killed, wounded and dying. In places they were piled up on each other.

We retired in perfect order, each regiment and brigade in proper position, to Camp Dick Robinson and its vicinity, where our army was concentrated. Our loss in killed, wounded and missing will not reach two thousand five hundred. The killed in Cheatham's division number two hundred and nine and about one thousand two hundred and fifty wounded. This division suffered most.

At half-past 4 o'clock on Monday morning, thirteenth instant, Col. Tyler left Gen. Polk, and of subsequent events he is of course not advised.

Tennesseeans in this fierce conflict maintained their ancient reputation for distinguished valor, not only maintaining it, but winning new and imperishable laurels. The instances of individual valor occurring among these troops in this bloody conflict would fill a volume.

Polk, Cheatham, Donelson, and all our leaders were every where seen cheering on our troops with reckless exposure of their persons to the hottest fire of the enemy.

Gen. Withers's division was not in the fight, being in our rear, between us and Gen. Kirby Smith. We took in this (Wednesday's) fight about five hundred prisoners. Hardee's command and three brigades of Cheatham's division were alone engaged.

In addition to details given, we furnish a letter from Col. Vaughn, the gallant commander of the Third Tennessee regiment. His statements confirm the news published.

On the eighth instant Gen. Bragg's forces met the enemy, ten miles west of here, and a bloody fight ensued. We had from three hundred to five hundred killed and probably one thousand wounded. The enemy's loss more than ours. We captured some five hundred prisoners and twelve pieces of artillery. They were reinforced during the night, and our forces fell back to this place. No fight to-day, but will come off to-morrow. Gen. Smith has this evening formed a junction with Bragg's army; the enemy within eight miles of us. Near Lawrenceburgh, on yesterday, our army captured eight hundred prisoners and thirty-one loaded wagons, and the balance of a division got away and has joined the main army.

Hastily yours,