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short in this respect on the eve of the battle。 I had then
endeavored to persuade him to modify his iron…clad interpretation of
the order； but without effect； and the only wagons we could bring up
from the general parks in rear were ambulances and those containing
ammunition。 So to gain access to our trains was a great boon； and at
that moment a more welcome result than would have been a complete
victory minus this concession。
When the battle ceased General Gilbert asked me to join him at
Buell's headquarters； which were a considerable distance to the rear；
so after making some dispositions for the evening I proceeded there
as requested。 I arrived just as Buell was about to sit down to his
supper； and noticing that he was lame； then learned that he had been
severely injured by a recent fall from his horse。 He kindly invited
me to join him at the table； an invitation which I accepted with
alacrity； enjoying the meal with a relish known only to a very…hungry
man； for I had eaten nothing since morning。 Of course the events of
the day were the chief topic of discussionas they were during my
stay at headquartersbut the conversation indicated that what had
occurred was not fully realized； and I returned to my troops
impressed with the belief that General Buell and his staff…officers
were unconscious of the magnitude of the battle that had just been
fought。
It had been expected by Buell that he would fight the enemy on the
9th of October； but the Confederates disposed of that proposition by
attacking us on the 8th； thus disarranging a tactical conception
which； with our superior numbers； would doubtless have proved
successful had it not been anticipated by an enterprising foe。
During the battle on the 8th the Second Corps； under General Thomas
L。 Crittenden； accompanied by General George H。 Thomas； lay idle the
whole day for want of orders； although it was near enough to the
field to take an active part in the fight； and； moreover； a large
part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook。
Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he
assaulted McCook； success would have been beyond question； but there
was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the
situation； and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example
of lost opportunities。 This was due in some measure probably to
General Buell's accident； but is mainly attributable to the fact that
he did not clearly apprehend Bragg's aim； which was to gain time to
withdraw behind Dick's River all the troops he had in Kentucky； for
the Confederate general had no idea of risking the fate of his army
on one general battle at a place or on a day to be chosen by the
Union commander。
Considering the number of troops actually engaged； the losses to
Buell were severe； amounting to something over five thousand in
killed； wounded； and missing。 Among the killed were two brigade
commanders of much promiseGeneral James S。 Jackson and General
William R。 Terrill。 McCook's corps lost twelve guns； some of which
were recovered next day。 The enemy's loss in killed and wounded we
never learned； but it must have equalled ours； and about four
thousand prisoners； consisting principally of sick and wounded； fell
into our hands。 In the first report of the battle sent North to the
newspapers I was reported among the killed； but I was pleased to
notice； when the papers reached us a few days later； that the error
had been corrected before my obituary could be written。
The enemy retired from our front the night of the 8th； falling back
on Harrodsburg to form a junction with Kirby Smith； and by taking
this line of retreat opened to us the road to Danville and the chance
for a direct march against his depot of supplies at Bryantsville。 We
did not take advantage of this opening； however； and late in the day…
…on the 9thmy division marched in pursuit； in the direction of
Harrodsburg； which was the apex of a triangle having for its base a
line from Perryville to Danville。 The pursuit was slow； very slow；
consuming the evening of the 9th and all of the l0th and 11th。 By
cutting across the triangle spoken of above； just south of the apex；
I struck the Harrodsburg…Danville road； near Cave Springs； joining
there Gilbert's left division； which had preceded me and marched
through Harrodsburg。 Here we again rested until the intention of the
enemy could be divined； and we could learn on which side of Dick's
River he would give us battle。 A reconnoissance sent toward the
Dickville crossing developed to a certainty that we should not have
another engagement； however； for it disclosed the fact that Bragg's
army had disappeared toward Camp Dick Robinson； leaving only a small
rear…guard at Danville； which in turn quickly fled in the direction
of Lancaster； after exchanging a few shots with Hescock's battery。
While this parting salute of deadly projectiles was going on； a
little； daughter of Colonel William J。 Landram； whose home was in
Danville； came running out from his house and planted a small
national flag on one of Hescock's guns。 The patriotic act was so
brave and touching that it thrilled all who witnessed the scene； and
until the close of the war； when peace separated the surviving
officers and men of the battery； that little flag was protected and
cherished as a memento of the Perryville campaign。
Pursuit of the enemy was not continued in force beyond Crab Orchard；
but some portions of the army kept at Bragg's heels until he crossed
the Cumberland River； a part of his troops retiring to Tennessee by
way of Cumberland Gap； but the major portion through Somerset。 As
the retreat of Bragg transferred the theatre of operations back to
Tennessee； orders were now issued for a concentration of Buell's army
at Bowling Green； with a view to marching it to Nashville； and my
division moved to that point without noteworthy incident。 I reached
Bowling Green with a force much reduced by the losses sustained in
the battle of Perryville and by sickness。 I had started from
Louisville on October 1 with twelve regiments of infantryfour old
and eight new onesand two batteries； but many poor fellows；
overcome by fatigue； and diseases induced by the heat； dust； and
drought of the season； had to be left at roadside hospitals。 This
was particularly the case with the new regiments； the men of which；
much depressed by homesickness； and not yet inured to campaigning；
fell easy victims to the hardships of war。
At Bowling Green General Buell was relieved； General W。 S。 Rosecrans
succeeding him。 The army as a whole did not manifest much regret at
the change of commanders； for the campaign from Louisville on was
looked upon generally as a lamentable failure； yet there were many
who still had the utmost confidence in General Buell； and they
repelled with some asperity the reflections cast upon him by his
critics。 These admirers held him b