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cCook's position to be at this crossing； and directed their main attack on that point。 McCook had posted Starkweather's brigade in the rear of the left as support to Jackson； with Stone's and Bush's batteries of Rousseau's division； and had placed Webster's brigade of Jackson's division in rear of Rousseau's line。 The enemy opened the attack on the extreme left of the Federal force posted in the angle。 This was a very strong position； by reason of the character of the ground； which enabled these troops to sweep their front with a heavy fire。 The troops here were protected by being posted behind stone fences； and were supported by batteries in the rear。 In the attack on the left Jackson was killed by the first fire。 Terrill's troopsnearly all newwere driven back； and McCook's left turned。 In falling back； Terrill endeavored to rally his command near the batteries posted in his rear。 While gallantly doing so； he fell； mortally wounded； and died in a few hours。 McCook sent to Sheridan； asking him to protect his right； and sent to Gilbert for reinforcements。
The advance of the enemy was checked by Starkweather's brigade； with Stone's and Bush's batteries； all well posted to meet the assault after Terrill's brigade had been driven back。 The enemy made repeated assaults with fresh troops at this point； but was driven back each time with heavy loss until the troops and batteries were out of ammunition； when they fell back to the original line； and obtaining a supply renewed the fight。
On the right in Rousseau's front the enemy under Anderson made a vigorous charge on Lytle's and Harris's brigades； attacking in greatly superior numbers。 They were however handsomely repulsed。 After fighting until their ammunition was exhausted； these troops retired on the line with Starkweather's command。 The rebels then pushing forward under heavy fire from their batteries drove Lytle's brigade from the new line。 Sloan's battery getting into position opened on the rebels with canister and checked their advance。 Colonel Gooding's brigade from Mitchell's division of Gilbert's corps； with Penney's Fifth Wisconsin Battery； was ordered up； and after a brisk engagement the enemy was driven back and the original line of battle reoccupied。 Steedman's brigade of Schoepff's division also came up； and attacking the enemy aided in the final repulse。
When the heaviest attack was made on Rousseau the enemy assaulted Sheridan's division in the advanced position which he occupied after forcing back their line earlier in the day。 He now withdrew his troops； and posting them in a more favorable position on the original line； opened on the rebels with heavy musketry fire and canister。 The enemy pressing him very hard at this point； he called on Gilbert for support； who re…enforced him with Carlin's brigade from Mitchell's division。 As the enemy moved forward in strong force to the attack； Carlin immediately ordered his troops to charge； which they did； and drove the rebels before them through Perryville； capturing in the town two caissons； fifteen wagons loaded with ammunition； and a guard of 138 men under command of three officers。 Sheridan also drove the enemy for some distance； but did not consider it prudent to advance too far； leaving McCook's right exposed。 He then directed his artillery fire on the enemy at his left； and aided in checking the advance in that quarter。 Wagner's brigade of Wood's division became engaged； and did good service on the right of Mitchell's division。 The rest of Crittenden's corps was not engaged in the action。 Thomas； on arriving on the battlefield with this corps； was directed to take position in the line of battle on the right and wait for orders。 Here he waited during the entire day； and received none。 Only part of Gilbert's corps was engaged in the fight； the heavy blow striking McCook's； which he failed to report to Buell until after two hours' fighting。 The battle was closed by night coming on； and a general engagement was anticipated the next day。 Thomas was directed to move Crittenden's and Gilbert's corps forward in the morning at six o'clock； and attack the enemy's front and left flank。
Buell ordered McCook during the night to close the opening between his right and Gilbert's left。 His orders for the following day were to hold his position and take advantage of any opportunity that the events of the day might present； the main attack to be made by the other corps。 On the following morning； the advance being made in accordance with these orders； it was discovered that the enemy's main body had retired during the night； and was falling back on Harrodsburg； with indications that he would there make a stand。 Bragg left his dead and wounded on the field； but retired leisurely and in good order。
Buell reported the strength of his command before the engagement at 58；000 effective men。 Of these he claimed 22；000 were raw troops； not drilled； and undisciplined。 Less than one…half of this entire force was in the action。 His reports show a loss of 4；348； being 916 killed； 2；943 wounded； and 489 missing。 Nearly all the losses were from McCook's command； which bore the brunt of the heavy fighting。 Bragg referring to his loss in his official report says： 〃In such a conflict our own loss was necessarily severe； probably not less than 2；500 killed； wounded； and missing。〃 During the campaign General Buell captured nearly five thousand prisoners。
The enemy's troops engaged in the battle were under the immediate command of General Polk。 Bragg had been with Kirby Smith at Frankfort； where these active operations found him engaged in superintending 〃the ceremony of installing the Provisional Governor into office。〃
In his official report of the battle of Perryville； made from Bryantsville； October 12； 1862； Bragg says： 〃After consulting with the General （Polk） and reconnoitering the ground and examining his dispositions； I declined to assume the command； but suggested some changes and modifications of his arrangements； which he promptly made。〃 In a subsequent report of Perryville； made while he was at Shelbyville； of date May 20； 1863； he reflects very severely upon Polk's movements at Perryville。 He says that he ordered the attack to be made by Polk on Gilbert early in the morning of the 8th； that he waited until 10 A。M。； and hearing no firing started to see Polk and have an explanation of the delay。 Here he was 〃informed that it was determined not to attack； but to assume the 'defensive offensive。'〃 Bragg gave orders for some changes in the line of battle； restoring certain portions of the command that had been withdrawn； and again ordering Polk to bring on the engagement。 The execution of this order was delayed by Polk； and Bragg； becoming 〃impatient at the delay after this order；〃 〃despatched a staff officer to repeat it to the General； and soon thereafter followed in person and put the troops in motion。〃
Bragg's intention was not to fight a general engagement at Perryville； but merely to check the advance of Buell's army； thereby gaining time to gather his supplies and men together and leave the State。 Bragg had been urged； by leading Kentuckians in his command and others； to undertake