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

By troops reached that point on the fourth, driving the enemy's rear guard of cavalry and artillery of the main body to Springfield, whither pursuit was continued. The centre corps, under General Gilbert, moved in the direct road from Springfield to Perrysville, and arrived on the seventh one mile from town, where the enemy was found to be in force. The left column, under Gen. McCook, came upon the Maxville road about ten o'clock yesterday, (the eighth.) It was ordered into position to attack, and a strong reconnoissance directed.

At four o'clock I received a request from Gen. McCook for reenforcements, and learned that the left had been seriously engaged for several hours, and that the right and left of that corps were being turned and severely pressed. Reenforcements were immediately sent forward from the centre. Orders were also sent to the right column, under Gen. Crittenden, which was advancing by the Lebanon road, to push forward and attack the enemy's left, but it was impossible for it to get into position in time to produce any decisive results.

The action continued until dark. Some sharp fighting also occurred in the centre. The enemy was every where repulsed, but not without some momentary advantages on the left. The several corps were put in position during the night and moved to attack.

At six o'clock this morning, Thursday, some skirmishing occurred with the enemy's rear-guard. The main body has fallen back in the direction of Harrodsburgh. I have no accurate report of our loss yet. It is probably pretty heavy, including several valuable officers. Generals Jackson and Terrell, I regret to say, are among the number of killed.

Maxville is equidistant from Harrodsburgh and Perryville — the distance being ten miles. My instructions required me to advance on the Perryville road until I reached a point three or three and a half miles of Perryville, or until I came up abreast of Gilbert's corps. The head of my column reached the point designated at half-past 10 A. M. General Rousseau advanced his cavalry and a portion of his infantry to the front, in order to see if the ground was clear. The artillery (Loomis's battery) was halted on the hill in the rear. Gen. Rousseau soon sent me word that the enemy was reported advancing in force on the position assigned my corps. I rode forward, examined the ground, and saw a few of the enemy skirmishing with the left of Gilbert's corps. My attention was then directed to Gen. Gilbert's left. I saw his infantry in line about four or five hundred yards to our right. I called Gen. Rousseau's attention to this fact, marked out my line of battle and ordered him to form it. I directed Loomis's battery to be brought up and put in position on a commanding piece of ground to the left of and standing near Russell's house, (called Clark's on the map.) I had previously ordered Gen. Rousseau to throw forward a line of skirmishers to examine the woods on our left and front, and also sent Capt. Wickliffe with his company of the Second Kentucky cavalry to reconnoitre the ground on the left of the skirmishers. Gen. Gay's cavalry was making a reconnoissance in front and toward Perryville. I was then well satisfied that the enemy, which had engaged Gilbert's left, had retired from the field. I then informed General Rousseau that my instructions required me to report in person to Gen. Buell, and that I was about to leave the field, but would return in a short time.

I had given particular instructions to Capt. J. A. Campbell, my Assistant Adjutant-General, to post Gen. Jackson's two brigades on a commanding piece of ground, immediately to the right of the Maxville and Perryville road, to hold them there in column, so that they could be moved in any direction occasion required. I then galloped off to report to Gen. Buell, whose headquarters were about two and a half miles in rear of my right line. I received verbal instructions from Gen. Buell to make a reconnoissance to Chaplin River. I immediately returned to my troops, and found that Gen. Rousseau had advanced the line on the right, occupying a commanding ridge about eight hundred yards in front and to the left of [508] Russell's house. The enemy had placed three batteries in position, and were firing upon his line. Loomis's and Simonson's batteries were replying. There being then no infantry of the enemy in sight, I sent an order for these batteries to cease firing and economize ammunition. The command suffering greatly for water, I repaired to make the reconnoissance toward Chaplin River, as ordered. Having been informed by my guide, Captain Beverly D. Williams, Assistant Quartermaster on Gen. Jackson's staff, and also by Col. L. A. Harris, commanding Ninth brigade, that by moving a short distance to the left of the Perry-ville road, I could get high commanding ground for a portion of my line, I went forward in person, after having ordered a portion of the Thirty-third Ohio into the woods on the right, as skirmishers, to ascertain if any of the enemy was present in that vicinity, to a point overlooking and within six hundred yards of Chaplin River. I then sent for Generals Jackson and Terrell, showed them the water, marked their line of battle, ordered a battery to be posted on the line with strong supports. Gen. Terrell was ordered to advance a body of skirmishers cautiously down the slopes of the hill to the water as soon as his line was formed. During my presence on the ground, no enemy was seen, save some cavalry on the opposite hills across the river, who, I supposed, were threatening my train in the rear. A few well-directed shots from Stone's First Kentucky battery, posted to the left and rear of this position, put them to flight.

Not being apprehensive of an attack, I left this position and moved toward the right of the line. This was about half-past 1 P. M. in the day. At two P. M. an attack was made by the enemy on the skirmishers of the Thirty-third Ohio. I then ordered the remainder of the regiment under