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Confederate commander's political projects were perfected。
Much time was consumed by Buell's army in its march on Perryville；
but we finally neared it on the evening of October 7。 During the
day； Brigadier…General Robert B。 Mitchell's division of Gilbert's
corps was in the advance on the Springfield pike； but as the enemy
developed that he was in strong force on the opposite side of a small
stream called Doctor's Creek； a tributary of Chaplin River； my
division was brought up and passed to the front。 It was very
difficult to obtain water in this section of Kentucky； as a drought
had prevailed for many weeks； and the troops were suffering so for
water that it became absolutely necessary that we should gain
possession of Doctor's Creek in order to relieve their distress。
Consequently General Gilbert； during the night； directed me to push
beyond Doctor's Creek early the next morning。 At daylight on the 8th
I moved out Colonel Dan McCook's brigade and Barnett's battery for
the purpose； but after we had crossed the creek with some slight
skirmishing； I found that we could not hold the ground unless we
carried and occupied a range of hills； called Chaplin Heights； in
front of Chaplin River。 As this would project my command in the
direction of Perryville considerably beyond the troops that were on
either flank； I brought up Laiboldt's brigade and Hescock's battery
to strengthen Colonel McCook。 Putting both brigades into line we
quickly carried the Heights； much to the surprise of the enemy； I
think； for he did not hold on to the valuable ground as strongly as
he should have done。 This success not only ensured us a good supply
of water； but also； later in the day； had an important bearing in the
battle of Perryville。 After taking the Heights； I brought up the
rest of my division and intrenched； without much difficulty； by
throwing up a strong line of rifle…pits； although the enemy's
sharpshooters annoyed us enough to make me order Laiboldt's brigade
to drive them in on the main body。 This was successfully done in a
few minutes； but in pushing them back to Chaplin River； we discovered
the Confederates forming a line of battle on the opposite bank； with
the apparent purpose of an attack in force； so I withdrew the brigade
to our intrenchments on the crest and there awaited the assault。
While this skirmishing was going on； General Gilbertthe corps
commanderwhose headquarters were located on a hill about a mile
distant to the rear； kept sending me messages by signal not to bring
on an engagement。 I replied to each message that I was not bringing
on an engagement； but that the enemy evidently intended to do so； and
that I believed I should shortly be attacked。 Soon after returning
to the crest and getting snugly fixed in the rifle…pits； my attention
was called to our left； the high ground we occupied affording me in
that direction an unobstructed view。 I then saw General A。 McD。
McCook's corpsthe First…advancing toward Chaplin River by the
Mackville road； apparently unconscious that the Confederates were
present in force behind the stream。 I tried by the use of signal
flags to get information of the situation to these troops； but my
efforts failed； and the leading regiments seemed to approach the
river indifferently prepared to meet the sudden attack that speedily
followed； delivered as it was from the chosen position of the enemy。
The fury of the Confederate assault soon halted this advance force；
and in a short time threw it into confusion； pushed it back a
considerable distance； and ultimately inflicted upon it such loss of
men and guns as to seriously cripple McCook's corps； and prevent for
the whole day further offensive movement on his part； though he
stoutly resisted the enemy's assaults until 4 o'clock in the
afternoon。
Seeing McCook so fiercely attacked； in order to aid him I advanced
Hescock's battery； supported by six regiments； to a very good
position in front of a belt of timber on my extreme left； where an
enfilading fire could be opened on that portion of the enemy
attacking the right of the First Corps； and also on his batteries
across Chaplin River。 But at this juncture he placed two batteries
on my right and began to mass troops behind them； and General
Gilbert； fearing that my intrenched position on the heights might be
carried； directed me to withdraw Hescock and his supports and return
them to the pits。 My recall was opportune； for I had no sooner got
back to my original line than the Confederates attacked me furiously；
advancing almost to my intrenchments； notwithstanding that a large
part of the ground over which they had to move was swept by a heavy
fire of canister from both my batteries。 Before they had quite
reached us； however； our telling fire made them recoil； and as they
fell back； I directed an advance of my whole division； bringing up my
reserve regiments to occupy the crest of the hills； Colonel William
P。 Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division meanwhile moving forward
on my right to cover that flank。 This advance pressed the enemy to
Perryville； but he retired in such good order that we gained nothing
but some favorable ground that enabled me to establish my batteries
in positions where they could again turn their attention to the
Confederates in front of McCook； whose critical condition was shortly
after relieved； however； by a united pressure of Gilbert's corps
against the flank of McCook's assailants； compelling them to retire
behind Chaplin River。
The battle virtually ended about 4 o'clock in the afternoon； though
more or less desultory firing continued until dark。 Considering the
severity of the engagement on McCook's front； and the reverses that
had befallen him； I question if； from that part of the line； much
could have been done toward retrieving the blunders of the day； but
it did seem to me that； had the commander of the army been able to be
present on the field； he could have taken advantage of Bragg's final
repulse； and there would have remained in our hands more than the
barren field。 But no attempt was made to do anything more till next
morning； and then we secured little except the enemy's killed and
most severely wounded。
The operations of my division during the engagement pleased。 General
Gilbert very much； and he informed me that he would relax a rigidly
enforced order which General Buell had issued some days before；
sufficiently to permit my trains to come to the front and supply my
almost starving troops with rations。 The order in question was one
of those issued； doubtless with a good intent； to secure generally
the safety of our trains； but General Gilbert was not elastic； and on
the march he had construed the order so illiberally that it was next
to impossible to supply the men with food； and they were particularly
short in this respect on the eve of the battle。 I had then
endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron…clad interpretat