Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Volume 6: Volume 6

14. The Battle of Perryville

162 • part 4: the war in 1862 his would-be rescuer, wounded in the attempt,taking his place upon the freshly bespattered canvas. A Union battery immediately commenced a hot controversy about the matter with the opposing guns,and in twenty minutes the argument was closed in our favor. But why prolong the story of the horrors of this fearful day? Of my meeting with my coadjutor, Edwin Forbes, on his horse, making a dash to see something of [Major General Ambrose] Burnside’s terrific struggle, the crushing of some Regular batteries, or the rest of it.A great raging battlefield is hell en fete, and one can surfeit of its burning, sulphurous attractions. Antietam’s battle ended with a lurid sunset,and with its subsiding rays faded the military luster of Major General George B. McClellan. 14 The Battle of Perryville William P. Carlin, Brigadier General, U.S.A. at that time, early September [1862], the weather was hot, the limestone turnpike dusty,water scarce away from streams,and marching was fatiguing . The army seemed to be huddled together. Marching on parallel roads did not seem to be practiced in that army as it was afterwards with Sherman’s Cavalry Videttes Guarding the Roads to the Potomac River after the Battle (Scribner’s Magazine) 04.101-196_Cozz 12/2/03, 8:47 AM 162 armies; but in that particular locality the turnpike was the only first-class road. But the troops suffered considerably from that point all the way back to Louisville , Kentucky, in consequence of having to march all on the same road. It was understood by the army generally and known positively to Buell that Bragg was moving into Kentucky on his right flank,but till we had gone far north of Nashville , or northeastward rather, we did not approach so near Bragg as to render a conflict possible. This junction with Buell’s army was gratifying in some respects .It enabled me to meet old acquaintances—[Major GeneralAlexander M.] McCook, [Brigadier General] J. M. Palmer, [Brigadier General] R. W. Johnson, Colonel [William B.] Hazen, and many others whom I had known before.I also met [Major General Don Carlos] Buell himself, and his distinguished chief of staff,Colonel James B.Fry,whom I had known from boyhood.I had often heard John M. Palmer pleading a case in the court-house at Carrollton, Illinois, long before I ever expected to see myself or him engaged in a great civil war and in command of United States troops. Andrew Johnson was at that time military governor of Tennessee. Buell was preparing to cut loose from Nashville and strike out for Kentucky, in order to head off Bragg or to fight him. This was a question that concerned Governor Johnson very deeply. It was rumored that he was very bitter against Buell, for taking the greater part of his army out of the state and leaving him cooped up in Nashville.But Buell did not talk to outsiders about his affairs,and all we could know was what leaked out through his staff or through Governor Johnson,who The Battle of Perryville • 163 Ohio and Indiana Militia Pouring into Cincinnati to Challenge Bragg’s Advance into Northern Kentucky (Loyal West) 04.101-196_Cozz 12/2/03, 8:47 AM 163 164 • part 4: the war in 1862 was by no means a reticent or forbearing man.I have no doubt Buell left as large a force at Nashville as it was safe for him to leave. Well,we commenced our march to Louisville from Nashville,and I must say that of all the many thousand miles of hard marching that I have done with troops,that from Nashville to Louisville in September 1862 with Buell’s army was the hardest. The road was so crowded with troops, artillery, supply trains, and ambulances that troops would frequently be compelled to halt for hours in order to let the road be cleared. Sometimes we had to march at night. Sometimes we had to leave the turnpike and march on the railroad.The road was very dusty, water scarce, and the worry caused by halts made everybody nervous and some ill-natured.Shortly before reaching Munfordville,we met the paroled command of Colonel [John T.] Wilder, who had surrendered to Bragg only that morning. These were the first Federal prisoners my command had ever seen, and...