a half miles from Perryville, some pools of water were discovered, of which the enemy showed a determination to prevent us gaining possession.

"The thirty-sixth brigade, under command of Colonel Daniel McCook, from General Sheridan's division, was ordered forward to seize and hold a commanding position which covered these pools: it executed the order that night, and a supply of bad water was secured for the troops.

"On discovering that the enemy was concentrating for battle at Perryville, I sent orders on the night of the 7th to General McCook and General Crittenden to march at three o'clock the following morning, so as to take position, respectively, as early as possible, on the right and left of the centre corps, the commanders themselves to report in person for orders on their arrival, my intention being to make the attack that day, if possible.

"The orders did not reach General McCook until half-past two o'clock, and he marched at five. The second corps failing to find water at the place where it was expected to encamp on the night of the 7th, had to move off the road for that purpose, and consequently was some six miles or more farther off than it would otherwise have been.

"The orders did not reach it in time, and these two causes delayed its arrival several hours. Still, it was far enough advanced to have been pressed into the action on the 8th, if the necessity for it had been known early enough.

"The engagement, which terminated

495

at night the previous day, was renewed early on the morning of the 8th, by an attempt of the enemy to drive the brigade of Colonel McCook from the position taken to cover the water in Doctor's Creek; the design had been discovered, and the divisions of Generals Mitchell and Sheridan were moved into position to defeat it, and hold the ground until the army was prepared to attack in force. A spirited attack was made on Colonel McCook's position, and was handsomely repulsed. Between ten and eleven o'clock the left corps arrived on the Maxville road.

'General McCook was instructed to get it promptly into position, on the left of the centre corps, and to make a reconnoissance to his front and left. The reconnoissance had been continued by Captain Gay toward his front and right, and sharp firing with artillery was then going on.

"I had somewhat expected an attack early in the morning on Gilbert's corps, while it was isolated, but as it did not take place, no formidable attack was apprehended after the arrival of the left corps. The disposition of the troops was made, mainly, with a view to a combined attack on the enemy's position at daylight the following morning, as the time required to get all the troops. into position, after the unexpected delay, would probably make it too late to attack that day.

"The cannonading, which commenced with the partial engagement in the centre, followed by the reconnoissance. of the cavalry under Captain Gay, ex

tended toward the left, and became brisker as the day advanced, but was not supposed to proceed from any serious engagement, as no report to that effect was received. At four o'clock, however, Major-General McCook's aidde-camp arrived, and reported to me 'that the General was sustaining a severe attack, which he would not be able to withstand unless reinforced; that his flanks were already giving way.' He added, to my astonishment, 'that the left corps had actually been engaged in a severe battle for several hours, perhaps since twelve o'clock.' It was so difficult to credit the latter, that I thought there must even be some misapprehension in regard to the former. I sent word to him that I should rely on his being able to hold his ground, though I should probably send him reinforce

ments.

"I at once sent orders for two brigades from the centre corps-Schoepff's division to move promptly to reinforce the left. Orders were also sent to General Crittenden to move a division in, to strengthen the centre, and to move with the rest of his corps energetically against the enemy's left flank.

"The distance from one flank of the army to the other was not, perhaps, less than six miles, and before the orders could be delivered, and the right corps make the attack, night came on and terminated the engagement.

"The roads going from Maxville and Springfield enter Perryville at an angle of about fifteen degrees with each other. The road from Lebanon runs nearly par

allel to the Springfield road to within five miles of Perryville, and there forks, the left-hand fork going to Perryville, and the right continuing straight on to Danville, leaving Perryville four miles to the north. There is also a direct road from Perryville to Danville. Perryville, Danville, and Harrodsburg occupy the vertices of an equilateral triangle, and are ten miles apart. Salt River rises midway between Perryville and Danville, and runs northward two miles west of Harrodsburg. Chaplin Fork rises near and passes through Perryville, bending in its course so as to run obliquely away from the Maxville and Perryville road, on which the left corps advanced.

"Doctor's Creek, running north, crosses the Perryville and Springfield road at right angles, about two and a half miles west of Perryville, and empties into Chaplin Fork about three miles from town. The ground bordering the Chaplin is hilly, with alternate patches of timber and cleared land. The hills, though in some places steep, are generally practicable for infantry and cavalry, and in many places for artillery.

"The ground afforded the enemy great advantages for attacking a force on the Maxville road, taken in the act of forming, as was the case in the battle of the 8th.

"No doubt was entertained that the enemy would endeavor to hold his position. Accordingly, orders were sent

to the commanders of corps to be prepared to attack at daylight in the morning.

"They received instructions in person at headquarters that night, except General Crittenden, for whom instructions were given to Major-General Thomas, second in command.

"General McCook supposed, from indications in his front, that the enemy would throw a formidable force against his corps, in pursuance of the original attempt to turn our left.

"He represented also that his corps was very much crippled, the new division of General Jackson having in fact almost entirely disappeared as a body. He was instructed to move in during the night and close the opening between his right and General Gilbert's left. His orders for the following day were to hold his position, taking advantage of any opportunity that the events of the day might present.

"The corps of Generals Crittenden and Gilbert were to move forward at six o'clock, and attack the enemy's front and left flank.

where the indications seemed to be that he would make a stand.

"It will be impossible to form any correct judgment of the operations from this time, particularly without considering the condition of the two armies, and the probable intention of the enemy.

"The rebel army has been driven from the borders of Kentucky without a decisive battle. It is spoken of as if it were a comparatively insignificant force, and pursued by an overwhelming one, which had nothing to do but to send out patrols and gather in the fragments of a routed and disorganized army. The very reverse was the case. The rebel force which invaded Kentucky, at the lowest estimates, has been rated at from 55,000 to 65,000 men.

"It was composed of veteran troops, well armed, and thoroughly inured to hardship. Every circumstance of its march, and the concurrent testimony of all who came within reach of its lines, attest that it was under perfect discipline. It had entered Kentucky with the avowed purpose of holding the State; its commanders declared that to be their intention to the last; intercepted communications, disclosing their plans, and the disappointment experienced by the Southern press at the result, show that to have been their purpose.