KIRBY SMITH ROUTS MANSON AT RICHMOND, KY. 215 12th Indiana, McMillan, 95th Ohio, | fantry, 4,000 cavalry, and 15 guns" and other valuable officers, had al--which they don't. He estimates ready been. Lt.-Col. Topping and Maj. Conkling, 71st Indiana, had been killed. The rout was now total and complete; and, to make the most of it, Smith had, hours before, sent Scott, with his cavalry, around to our rear, with instructions to prepare for and intercept the expected fugitives. Manson, who had resumed command when Nelson fell, had formed a new rear-guard, which was keeping the Rebel pursuit within bounds; when, four miles from Richmond, the fleeing rabble were halted by a body of Rebel horse. Manson, hurrying up, attempted to form a vanguard; but only 100 responded to his call, who were speedily cut up by a fire from a force of Rebels hidden in a cornfield on the left of the road, whereby Lt.-Col. Wolfe and 41 others were killed or wounded. The road was here choked with wounded horses and other débris of a shattered army; it was growing dusk (7 P. M.), and the remains of our thoroughly beaten force scattered through the fields; every one attempting to save himself as he could. Gen. Manson, with other officers, attempting escape by flight, was fired on by a squadron of Scott's cavalry; his horse, mortally wounded, fell on him, injuring him severely, and he was taken prisoner; as were many if not most of his compatriots in dis aster. his loss at 200 killed, 700 wounded, and 2,000 prisoners. Kirby Smith, on the contrary, makes our force fully 10,000-his own but 5,000; and states his total loss at 400, and ours at 1,000 killed and wounded, 5,000 prisoners, 9 guns, 10,000 small arms, and large spoil of munitions. and provisions. It is quite probable that his story, though exaggerated, is nearer the truth than Manson's. 13 Smith set forward directly for Lexington, which he entered in triumph three days afterward, amid the frantic acclamations of the numerous Rebel sympathizers of that intensely pro-Slavery region. He moved on through Paris to Cynthiana, within striking distance of either Cincinnati or Louisville, which seemed for a few days to lie at his mercy; though considerable numbers, mainly of militia and very green volunteers, had been hastily gathered for the defense of the former, and were busily employed in erecting defenses covering the Kentucky approaches to that city, at some distance back from the Ohio. Gen. Bragg had now completely flanked Buell's left, and passed behind him, without a struggle and without loss, keeping well eastward of Nashville, and advancing by Carthage, Tenn., and Glasgow, Ky.; first striking the Louisville and Nashville Railroad-which was our main line of supply and rëenforcement-after he entered Kentucky." His advance, under Gen. J. R. Chalmers, first encountered" a considerable force at MUNFORDSVILLE, where the railroad crosses Green river, and where Col. Sept. 5. 15 Sept. 13. Manson's report says that his entire force this day "did not exceed · 6,500,” of whom not over 2,500 were engaged at once-a sad commentary on his generalship-and he adds: "The enemy say they had 12,000 in J. T. Wilder, with about 2,100 men, | with his officers, surrendered; being had assumed command five days before, by order of Gen. J. T. Boyle, commanding in Kentucky, and had hastily thrown up fortifications, with intent to dispute the passage of the river. Chalmers had already sent a mounted force to the north of Munfordsville, by which a first demand for surrender was made at 8 The demand being repelled, an assault was made at daylight next morning, but speedily repulsed with loss. At 9 A. M., Wilder was rëenforced by six companies of the 50th Indiana, Col. C. L. Dunham, who, being his senior, after hesitating, assumed command; but was superseded soon afterward by an order from Boyle, and Wilder restored. P. M. 2 The Rebels, after their first repulse, kept mainly out of sight, knowing that their ultimate success was inevitable, and allowed two more regiments and six guns to make their way into the town; assured that all who were there would soon fall into their hands. At length, at 93 A. M. on Tuesday," Bragg, having brought up his main body and surrounded the place with not less than 25,000 men, renewed the attack. Advancing cautiously, keeping his men well covered, but crowding up on the weak and exposed points of our defenses in such numbers as absolutely to compel the gradual contraction of our lines, he, about sunset, sent in a flag of truce, demanding a surrender. As Buell was not at hand, nor likely to be, and as there was no hope of relief from any quarter, and no adequate reason for sacrificing the lives of his men, Wilder, at 2 A. M. next day," after the fullest consultation Sept. 16. 16 allowed to march out with drums beating and colors flying, take four days' rations, and set forth immediately, under parole, for Louisville. He says in his report that his entire loss was 37 killed and wounded, "while the enemy admit a loss of 714 on Sunday alone." Bragg, on the contrary, says, "Our [Rebel] loss was about 50 killed and wounded;" and claims 4,000 prisoners and as many muskets, beside guns and munitions. Bragg now issued the following address to the people of Kentucky, which, read backward, will indicate the objects and motives of his invasion: "GLASGOW, Ky., Sept. 18, 1862. State with the Confederate Army of the "KENTUCKIANS: I have entered your West, and offer you an opportunity to free yourselves from the tyranny of a despotic ruler. We come, not as conquerors or despoilers, but to restore to you the liberties of which you have been deprived by a cruel and relentless foe. We come to guarantee to all the sanctity of their homes and altars; to punish with a rod of iron the despoilers of your peace, and to avenge the cowardly insults to your women. With all non-combatants, the past shall be forgotten. Needful supplies must be had for my army; but they shall be paid for at fair and remunerating prices. Believing that the heart of Kentucky is with us in our great struggle for Constitutional Freedom, we have transferred from our own soil to yours, not a band of marauders, but a powerful and well-disciplined army. Your gallant Buckner leads the van. Marshall is on the right; while Breckinridge, dear to us as to you, is advancing with Kentucky's valiant sons, to receive the honor and applause due to their heroism. The strong hands which in part have sent Shiloh down to history, and the nerved arms which have kept at bay from our own homes the boastful army of the enemy, are here to assist, to sustain, to liberate you. Will you remain indifferent to our call? or will you not rather vindicate the fair fame of your once free and envied State? We believe that you will; and that the memory Sept. 17. 17 BUELL ADVANCES AGAINST BRAGG. 217 of your gallant dead who fell at Shiloh, | ly installed Governor had to flee their faces turned homeward, will rouse from their approach.” you to a manly effort for yourselves and posterity. Gen. Buell, after leaving Nash "Kentuckians! we have come with joy-ville ous hopes. Let us not depart in sorrow, as we shall if we find you wedded in your choice to your present lot. If you prefer Federal rule, show it by your frowns, and we shall return whence we came. If you choose rather to come within the folds of our brotherhood, then cheer us with the smiles of your women, and lend your will ing hands to secure you in your heritage of liberty. "Women of Kentucky! your persecutions and heroic bearing have reached our ear. Banish henceforth, forever, from your minds the fear of loathsome prisons or insulting visitations. Let your enthusiasm have free rein. Buckle on the armor of your kindred, your husbands, sons, and brothers, and scoff with shame him who would prove recreant in his duty to you, his country, and his God. "BRAXTON Bragg, “Gen. Commanding." 21 marched directly for Louisville, 170 strongly garrisoned, had miles; where his army arrived between the 25th and 29th. It had by this time been swelled by rëenforcements, mainly raw, to nearly 100,000 men; but it was not, in his judgment, yet in condition to fight Bragg's far inferior numbers. Hence, time was taken to reorganize and supply it; while the Rebel cavalry galloped at will over the plenteous central districts of the State, collecting large quantities of cattle and hogs not only, but of serviceable fabrics and other manufactures as well. Buell's delays, synchronizing with McClelIt was not the fault of the General lan's last, were so distasteful at Washcommanding that his army must ne-ington, that an order relieving him cessarily have subsisted on the region of Kentucky it traversed; but, when it is considered that he swept off in his retreat all the abundant horses and cattle that came within his reach, with whatever else he could carry, and that he did not and could not pay for any thing, it seems that the mockery of his promise of payment might wisely have been forborne. From Munfordsville, Bragg continued his unresisted march northward, through Bardstown, to Frankfort,18 the State capital, where Smith had preceded him, and where Richard Hawes," a weak old man, was inaugurated” “Provisional Governor of Kentucky." "This ceremony," says Pollard, "was scarcely more than a pretentious farce: hardly was it completed when the Yankees threatened Frankfort; and the newFormerly a member of Congress. 18 Oct 1. from command was issued; but its 21 learned that Kirby Smith had crossed | between 10 and 11 A. M.; and the batteries of his advance division were sharply engaged with the enemy not long afterward. the Kentucky, and that Bragg was moving to concentrate his forces either at Harrodsburg or PERRYVILLE. His own movement was therefore directed toward Perryville; three miles in front of which, moving with his 3d or central corps, he encountered, on the afternoon of the 7th, a considerable Rebel force, drawn up in order of battle; but which his advance pressed back a mile or so without much fighting; when he, expecting a battle, sent orders to McCook and Crittenden, commanding his flank corps, to advance on his right and left at 3 next morning. McCook did not receive the order till 21 A. M., and he marched at 5; but Crittenden, unable to find water for his corps at the place where Buell had expected it to encamp for the night, had moved off the road in quest of it, and was six miles farther away than he otherwise would have been; so that the order to advance was not duly received, and his arrival at Perryville was delayed several hours. Bragg was present in person; but his forces were commanded more immediately by Maj.-Gen. Bishop Polk, who had in hand five divisions-two under Hardee, and those of Patton Anderson, Cheatham, and Buckner that of Withers having been sent by Bragg, the day before, to support Smith, who was retreating farther to the east, and was deemed in danger of being enveloped and cut off. Bragg gives no other reason for fighting before concentrating his entire command than that the enemy were pressing heavily on his rear; but it is clear that he had deliberately resolved to turn and fight at Perryville. Maj.-Gen. McCook, having reached the position assigned him with but two of his three divisions-that of Gen. Sill having been detached and sent to Frankfort-had directed the posting of his troops and formation of his line of battle-Gen. Rousseau's division on the right, in line with the left of Gilbert's corps, and Gen. Jackson's on the left, near the little hamlet of Maxwell, on the Harrodsburg A great drouth then prevailing in Kentucky, causing severe privation and suffering to men and animals, the fight commenced early next morn-road-rode off and reported in pering, by an attempt of the enemy to son to Gen. Buell, 2 miles distant, repel the brigade of Col. D. McCook, in the rear of his right; and received which had been pushed forward by verbal orders to make a reconnoisBuell on his immediate front to sance in front of his position to Chapcover some hollows in the bed of lin creek. Returning to his comDoctor's creek, whence a little bad mand, and finding nothing in prowater was obtained. This attempt gress but mutual artillery practice, was defeated by sending up the di- to little purpose, he ordered his batvisions of Gens. Mitchell and Sheri- teries to save their ammunition, dan, to hold the ground until our while he made the directed reconnoistwo flank corps should arrive; which sance; at the same time advancing the left, Gen. A. D. McCook, did his skirmishers and extending his BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE-GEN. JACKSON KILLED. 219 left, in order to obtain a more advan- | rapidly charging masses of infantry and artillery, hitherto concealed in woods and hollows, but which seemed as if magically evoked from the earth. Cheatham's division, which had been silently moved from the Rebel left to their right, led this assault, responding with terrific yells and more hurried step to the fire of our batteries, until within short musketrange, when, at their very first volley, Maj.-Gen. James S. Jackson24 fell dead. His fall disorganized the raw and over-matched brigade of Gen. Terrill, which he was desperately exerting himself to steady, and it gave way in utter panic; Gen. Terrill himself following his chief's example and sharing his fate not long afterward; as did, at a later hour, Col. George Webster, 98th Ohio, commanding a brigade. BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE. He was grievously mistaken. Hardly had he been half an hour away from his front, when his left, composed mainly of green soldiers, under a brave but inexperienced commander, and not fully formed in order of battle, was suddenly and vehemently assailed in front and flank by 24 Union Member of Congress from the IId district of Kentucky; elected in 1861, Terrill's brigade being thus instantaneously routed, with the loss of Parsons's battery, the whole force of the Rebel charge fell upon Rousseau, who was ready to receive it. An attempt to flank and crush his left was promptly met by new dispositions : Starkweather's brigade, with Stone's and Bush's batteries, being faced to that flank, and receiving the enemy with volley after volley, which tore his ranks and arrested his momentum for two or three hours, until our ammunition was exhausted, and Bush's battery had lost 35 horses; when our guns were drawn back a short distance, and our infantry retired to replenish their cartridge-boxes; then resuming their position in line. Rousseau's center and right were held respectively by the brigades of by 9,281 votes, to 3,364 for Bunch, "State Rights," i. e., semi-Rebel. |