Timeline: October 1862

Wednesday, October 1

Engagement - Mount Washington, KY

P

Wounded: Green Bouldin, Co. K

Wounded in the leg at Mount Washington, KY

Wounded: Roland K. Chatam, Co. B

Wounded by a gunshot to the face at Mount Washington, KY

Wounded: Aaron Compton, Co E

Wounded in the hand at Mount Washington, KY

Wounded: M. V. Dillard, Co. K

Wounded slightly in the head at Mount Washington, KY

Wounded: George D. Mitchell, Co. E

Wounded in the shoulder at Mt. Washington, KY

Death: Charles F. Reavill, Co. A

Died near Bardstown, KY.

ORs: (CS) Report of General Polk - October 2, 1862

"When preparing to make the reconnaissance you directed I was informed of a forward movement of the enemy in this direction. The movement was developed [October 1], and was made on all three of the roads I am on from this place to Louisville, to wit, via Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, and Taylorsville. Colonel Wharton’s pickets were driven in on all the roads, and have fallen back to Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, and Taylorsville. The enemy are reported to have appeared in strong force on all the roads, chiefly on the Mount Washington pike, with cavalry, infantry, and artillery. Wharton has thus far behaved very well; he has left small pickets on his right and left at Taylorsville and Shepherdsville, and concentrated his force at Mount Washington. I have intelligence from him up to 5.30 this morning. He had not been attacked up to that time."

ORs: (CS) Message from General Hardee to Colonel Wheeler- October 2, 1862

" Colonel Wharton, writing from Mount Washington at 9 p.m. [October 1], states that he was attacked in force at Wilsonville, Shepherdsville, and in front of Mount Washington; that the force on his left flank was forced back, thereby rendering his position at Mount Washington hazardous. Major-General Polk has instructed him to fall back on the Bardstown and Louisville pike to such position as he might deem advisable. Keep constantly communication with Wharton and conform your movements to the exigencies of the occasion, keeping me constantly informed of all that passes. Get information if possible of the movements of the enemy."

History - Claiborne's History of Terry's Texas Rangers

"They were not many at best, but of those that reported for duty on the 1st day of October, 47 percent had been killed, wounded and captured, and nearly one fourth off duty forever. The causalities did not all occur in this battle but in the daily skirmishes from the 18 or 20 days previous and the 20 days after. They were in the rear of the enemy no less than three times; attacked by charge five different batteries, and captured five times their number of prisoners. Taking everything into consideration this was their greatest fear during the war."

Thursday, October 2

ORs: (CS) Report of Colonol Wharton - October 3, 1862, 12 m

"My scout has just returned from within one mile of Taylorsville. They represent a large force of the enemy at that place, said to be under the command of General Rousseau. The scout informs me that the enemy discharged a great number of guns this morning, probably those that got wet this morning. The bearer of the flag of truce is awaiting a reply. I am told that the enemy availed themselves of the flag of truce to cross a portion of their infantry over Salt River. I have sent to investigate this. I received a dispatch from General Johnson, commanding the advance infantry force on Shepherdsville road this morning; everything indicates an advance of the enemy to give you battle. I find upon investigation that I am very short of artillery and Enfield-rifle ammunition. I send my ordnance sergeant to you for instructions."

Friday, October 3

ORs: (CS) Message from Col. Wharton to Col Wheeler - October 3, 1862

"Your dispatch of yesterday, advising me of the locality of your forces, was received yesterday during an engagement with the enemy. I have been engaged with the enemy every day for three days. My main force is here [ Louisville and Bardstown Pike, Ky.]; I have small force on Shepherdsville and Bardstown pike. The enemy are advancing in force on this road (Taylorsville and Shepherdsville road). Thomas’ division is said to have been at Shepherdsville yesterday evening, Rousseau’s near Taylorsville, and I think Boyle commands the force on this road. They are also advancing on the Louisville and Shelbyville road, so Colonel Scott advises me."

ORs: (CS) Report of Colonel Wharton - October 3, 1862, 7pm

"The enemy pressed me late this evening from the position I held. Without they march to-night they will encamp to-night at a small creek 3 1/2 miles from here in the direction of Louisville. I have annoyed them to such an extent to-day that they only advanced 3 miles. This morning about 8 a. m. they sent in a flag of truce with communications for General Bragg. The officer remained voluntarily with my advance for several hours awaiting a reply. During this time they fired upon my vedettes and moved a brigade on their right flank through the woods, emerging into this pike 200 yards in front of my position and 14 miles in the rear of my advance and this columnadvancing on the pike. I could have opened on them with terrible ef effect with small arms as well as grape, but I immediately sent the [illegible] flag of truce, telling him that there was a flag of truce 1 1/2 miles in his front. He withdrew his forces into a gorge not 300 yards from where my cannon was planted and men formed for battle. The entire division moved during the pendency of the truce, and a brigade moving 1 1/2 miles in the rear of my advance forces I addressed a communication to the general comnianding in reference to this violation of military etiquette and law, and I inclose you Major-General Thomas’ answer, which is false in three particulars, and does not touch the fact of his moving his army. No one detained his officer. The enemy are now about 4 miles from our infantry. I think it highly probable that the forces on the Taylorsville and Shepherdsville roads will join their columns by two roads leading into this pike from these two places about one mile from here toward Louisville. I go in a few moments to visit the general in command of our advance infantry and advise him of what I know. I am told by Major Smith that a lieutenant and 15 men, who were with him in advance, have not returned. The major says the enemy captured them while the truce was pending. I shall demand them in the morning."

Saturday, October 4

Killed: George W. Wright, Co. Co. E

Killed at Bardstown, Ky.

Wounded: F. F. Hooper, Co. F

Slightly wounded at Bardstown, Ky.

Wounded: Henry Terrell, Co. F

Wounded in hip near Bardstown, Ky.

Wounded: John H. West, Co. K

Wounded badly in the leg at Bardstown, KY and left behind.

Captured: Roland K. Chatam, Co. B

Captured at Bardstown, Ky.

Captured: George Washington Littlefield, Co. I

Captured and promptly escaped near Bardstown, Ky.

ORs: (US) Report of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, Octobr 4, 1862

" Bardstown is in our possession, after a pretty sharp skirmish of our advance cavalry with Wharton’s brigade. I intended to have camped on Cox’s Creek, 4 miles from here, but the cavalry were drawn into a fight by the rebels, which made it necessary to send assistance, when the enemy retired and yielded the town. We have several hundred prisoners sick in hospital, all of whom I will have paroled to-morrow. . . . The loss sustained by our cavalry was about 20 killed and wounded and a great many missing."

ORs: (CS) Report of General Polk - October 5, 1862

"The cavalry under Wheeler and Wharton, after retiring the infantry from Bardstown, were ordered to cover our rear and retard the enemy as long as possible. whey made their appearance near the Fair-Ground about — o’clock, coming in through a by-road near railroad. The head of their cavalry were in the position between Wharton and the town before he was advised of it; when advised he put his force in rapid motion to the town."

Official Document: (CS) General Order No. 12, October 7, 1862

"The general commanding takes pleasure in bringing to the notice of the army under his command the gallant and brilliant charge made by Col. John A. Wharton, commanding the cavalry of the right wing, against a large force of the enemy, near Bardstown, Ky., on the 4th inst. Being posted four miles on the Louisville pike, which, as he believed, Col. Wharton occupied and guarded the town of Bardstown and its approaches, Col. Wharton received sudden intelligence that the enemy in force were within half a mile, to the east of the pike, between him and Bardstown. Immediately ordering his battery to follow after as soon as possible, he put himself at the head of the Texas Rangers and rode at half speed to the point of danger. In thirty minutes he passed the four miles and then found the First and Fourth Kentucky, Third Ohio, and Third Indiana regiments of cavalry---four times his own number---drawn up on the road and behind houses to receive him. In their rear, but not in supporting distance, was a battery of artillery and a heavy force of infantry. The enemy's cavalry was partially drawn up in columns of eight, prepared for a charge, and the rest as a reserve. The enemy was allowed to approach within forty yards, when Col. Wharton ordered a charge. The fearless Rangers responded nobly to the order, and in a few minutes the whole force of the enemy was drawn in confusion from the field with a loss of fifty killed and forty prisoners, among the latter a major. To this gallant action not only were the dangerous consequences of surprise obviated, but a severe chastisement was inflicted on the enemy and new luster added to the Confederate army. In complimenting Col. Wharton and the brave men under him for this daring feat of arms, the general commanding can not but mark the contrast with that which resulted so differently at New Harbor a short time before. Col. Wharton and the Texas Rangers have wiped out that stain. Their gallantry is worthy of the applause and emulation of their comrades of all arms in the army."

ORs: (CS) Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, October 30, 1862

"We picketed and scouted well down toward Elizabethtown, frequently skirmishing with the enemy, until we were ordered to Bardstown, at which place we arrived about daylight on the morning of the 4th instant, when I was ordered to follow and cover the rear of the left wing of the army, which was moving toward Glenville. All roads leading to the town were immediately picketed, and about noon we moved the remainder of the brigade on the road on which we were to march. Hearing firing in advance we moved rapidly in that direction, when I discovered that it emanated from a wood to our left and that a large force of the enemy had moved up between my position and the point where the firing took place. At this moment I received a message from General Johnson that his brigade—the infantry rear’ guard of the left wing—was but a short distance in front. A large portion of my command was left to protect his rear and I moved back with the remainder to reach the scene of the firing and relieve my pickets which had been left around Bardstown. On arriving at the town I found that Colonel Wharton had engaged the enemy but had passed on toward Springfield."

Memoir: Claiborne's History of Terry's Texas Rangers, New Birmingham Times, May 14, 1892

"At Bardstown Gen. Forrest was ordered to return to Middle Tennessee and the command of the brigade devolved upon Col. Wharton who was ordered to proceed to Mount Washington, between Bardstown and Louisville. Buell advanced upon Bragg from Louisville in heavy force upon the Bardstown pike, and about the first of October his advance drove in Col. Wharton's pickets at Mt. Washington. From this day until the 4th of October the enemy advanced, constant and heavy skirmishing was kept up by Col. Wharton with such skill and success to limit the progress of the enemy to about 9 miles in five days. On the 4th of October, when 6 or 7 miles in front of Bardstown, vigorously resisting the advance of the enemy, he received information that he had passed by his right flank and was already in his rear with a heavy force of cavalry near Bardstown, thus completely cutting him off from Bragg's army. This was entirely unexpected, as he supposed his right was guarded by Gen. Wheeler (then colonel) with a brigade of cavalry. Nothing but the prompest, most courageous and skilled conduct could extricate the command from his dangerous and critical position. He at once resolved upon his course and in five minutes was going down the Bardstown pike at full gallop; the Texas Rangers in front, led by Maj. Harrison, to execute his fearless plan. The enemy was advantageously posted on each side of the pike and in heavy column immediately upon it. Putting himself at the head of the Rangers and by the side of Maj. Harrison, unchecked by the heavy volleys which the enemy poured in upon them, he heroically dashed through them, scattering them like chaff; breaking to atoms their well formed lines, and columns; scattered them in the wildest confusion and dismay, driving them from their chosen position--a routed and panic stricken herd. Without the loss of a man killed, he killed and captured over 160 of their select cavalry which had been sent around especially to capture him and his brigade. This gallant and most brilliant exploit gained for him an enviable reputation with the entire army and called forth a special order from Gen. Polk, who was commanding, complimentary in the highest terms to himself and the Texas Rangers."

Article: Confederate_Veteran, August 1898, "Several Errors Corrected"

"General Order No. 12, by Gen. Polk, I never saw before. The facts are: Wharton was colonel commanding a cavalry brigade near the fair grounds at Bardstown, Ky., October 4, 1862, when he was surrounded. He obeyed Folk's order to remain at a given point until a given minute. The enemy were met, Rangers in front. The enemy in their front were on a pike (macadam road), with a five foot stone fence on each side, and in column of platoon of sixteen file. They were charged by the Rangers and repulsed, by the bugle sound of charge, but no man gave the order. It was the quick perception of the situation by the bugler, Ben C. Polk. Wharton's gray mare was shot in the fore leg by the first Yankee platoon. In the confusion every man fought on his own hook. The Federals reported two hundred and eighty four killed and wounded, but it freed the army of Bragg for three days, or until the 7th of October, when there was planned by Bragg and executed by Wharton the most brilliant move he ever was connected with, culminating in the saving of Bragg's army at Perryville, Ky. October 1, 1862. The charge was led by the Rangers, as usual, every man doing his level best to get in first and do all the damage he possibly could by staying in and shooting all the time and hitting a man in a vital spot every time he shot. This charge was one of three made by Terry's Rangers that surpassed any others made by any troops during the war. "In the charge at Perryville they killed three times their number."

Memoir: Terry's Texas Rangers By L.B. Giles, 1911

"Early in October Buell began to move with some vigor. An enterprising brigade of cavalry got between us and our main army. They took position at Bardstown and thus we were 'cut off.' When intelligence of this move reached Wharton he called in his outposts, threw his command into column, Rangers in front, Company D leading. At a gallop we started for the seat of trouble. The enemy had chosen a strong position at the mouth of the lane in which we were traveling, and had their courage been equal to their enterprise they could have given us a warm entertainment. When we came in sight of them our bugle sounded the charge and we went at them as fast as our horses could carry us. They broke almost at once, firing only a few shots. It was now a chase for miles. We caught over 200 of them, and strewed the woods with their dead and wounded. General George H. Thomas, of the Federal army, says they lost about 'twenty killed and wounded, and a great many missing"; these missing'were our prisoners. Our loss was small--I can not recall the casualties. It was one of the softest snaps in the way of a fight that we had during the war."

Article: Confederate Veteran, April 1924, "A Story of Terry's Texas Rangers

"In the fight at Bardstown, Ky., in July, the Terry Rangers had engaged in the most desperate fight of their career. Thirty-five hundred Federal cavalry were between us and our army, but Wharton ordered us to charge them. Yelling and shooting, we rode toward them, and we made such a fierce demonstration they thought the whole Confederate army was upon them and ran like sheep. We captured seven hundred and fifty of the cavalry. Our next engagement was at Shell Mound; we had completly circled Rosecrans's army."

History: Eighth Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA by Paul Robert Scott, 1977

"When Bragg began withdrawing about the twentieth, Buell sent his forces out to exploit the situation. The Eighth Texas, in conjunction with the other cavalry, fought several engagements to frustrate the Federals. This culminated in a highly successful skirmish at Bardstown on October 4. The brigade was on the Louisville pike some four miles west of Bardstown guarding it from the enemy. A large force of Federal cavalry, infantry, and artillery managed to get between the Confederates and Bardstown about half a mile from town. Wharton immediately headed for this force at a rapid pace. He found the Union cavalry drawn up on line of battle while the infantry and artillery were in the rear too far back to support their horsemen. Wharton, with the Rangers, charged the Federals who broke and ran. The Texans pursued the enemy shooting some and capturing thirty-six men and four officers. General Thomas reported that he had about twenty dead and wounded and a large number missing. Bunting listed only one man killed and three others wounded. After the Rangers had cleared the cavalry from the path, the remnant of the brigade dashed past the infantry and artillery without trouble."

History: John A. Wharton: The Forgotten General by Paul R. Scott, 1981

"Meanwhile, largely because of a failure in Bragg's leadership, Don Carlos Buell caught up with Bragg and the two armies began maneuvering for a favorable position. The cavalry fought several skirmishes the principal one being on October 4 at Bardstown, Kentucky. Wharton's Brigade was guarding the Louisville Pike when a large Federal force of infantry, cavalry, and artillery managed to cut them off from the town. Upon learning of this, Wharton rapidly closed with the enemy coming upon them before they were ready. Seeing that the cavalry was unsupported, Wharton led the Rangers in an immediate charge easily scattering them killing and wounding 20 and capturing 40, all at a lost of one dead and three wounded. The Confederate brigade then dashed past the blue-clad infantry and artillery whose resistance was ineffective."

History - Claiborne

At Bardstown Gen. Forrest was ordered to return to Middle Tennessee and the command of the brigade devolved upon Col. Wharton who was ordered to proceed to Mount Washington, between Bardstown and Louisville. Buell advanced upon Bragg from Louisville in heavy force upon the Bardstown pike, and about the first of October his advance drove in Col. Wharton's pickets at Mt. Washington. From this day until the 4th of October the enemy advanced, constant and heavy skirmishing was kept up by Col. Wharton with such skill and success to limit the progress of the enemy to about 9 miles in five days. On the 4th of October, when 6 or 7 miles in front of Bardstown, vigorously resisting the advance of the enemy, he received information that he had passed by his right flank and was already in his rear with a heavy force of cavalry near Bardstown, thus completely cutting him off from Bragg's army. This was entirely unexpected, as he supposed his right was guarded by Gen. Wheeler (then colonel) with a brigade of cavalry. Nothing but the prompest, most courageous and skilled conduct could extricate the command from his dangerous and critical position. He at once resolved upon his course and in five minutes was going down the Bardstown pike at full gallop; the Texas Rangers in front, led by Maj. Harrison, to execute his fearless plan. The enemy was advantageously posted on each side of the pike and in heavy column immediately upon it. Putting himself at the head of the Rangers and by the side of Maj. Harrison, unchecked by the heavy volleys which the enemy poured in upon them, he heroically dashed through them, scattering them like chaff; breaking to atoms their well formed lines, and columns; scattered them in the wildest confusion and dismay, driving them from their chosen position--a routed and panic stricken herd. Without the loss of a man killed, he killed and captured over 160 of their select cavalry which had been sent around especially to capture him and his brigade. This gallant and most brilliant exploit gained for him an enviable reputation with the entire army and called forth a special order from Gen. Polk, who was commanding, complimentary in the highest terms to himself and the Texas Rangers.

Sunday, October 5

ORs: (CS) Report of Colonel Wharton - October 5, 1862

"I dispatched you at 1 a. in. this morning. Nothing from the enemy save that a lieutenant and 10 men (whom I had near Bloomfield last night) report the enemy moving from Bloomfield to Bardstown. The lieutenant and party are still near Bloomfield. General Hardee has ordered me to defend this road until his column passes through Springfield. One of my scouts has just returned and reports the rear of General Hardee’s command 6 miles from Springfield and that Colonel Wheeler was 1 1/2 miles in the rear."

Monday, October 6

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Tuesday, October 7

Letter - G. Q. Turner

To his father from Anderson, TX

new_birmingham_times/1892_05_14.html

Following on the rear of our army, he came up with Gen. Polk at Perryville, where on the 17th of October, 1862, that bloody, terrific battle was fought and won. During this engagement his brigade was posted on the right of our army and was frequent hotly engaged with the enemy. Again his conduct on the field was such as to procure favorable notice and commendation from the commander-in-chief in his reports of the battle. From Perryville he skirmished every day and sometimes at night in protecting the rear of the army, in concert with Gen. Wheeler back to London, where the enemy gave up the pursuit. Thence the brigade was moved to Kingston, Tenn., via Cumberland Gap and Knoxville.

 

Wednesday, October 8

Captured: James M. Howell, Co. G

Captured, very likely near Perryville, KY.

Wounded: Simeon Riley Bruce, Co. E

Suffered gunshot to calf of leg at Perryville, KY; captured at Harrodsburg, KY; also said to have been assigned to saddle shop on October 8, 1862.

Wounded: Marcus L. Evans, Co. C

Mortally wounded by gunshot to the head at Perryville, KY.

Wounded: David Alexander McGonigal, Co. F

Wounded in the side by shell while acting as vidette at Perryville, KY and left behind.

Wounded: James Duncan, Co. B

Mortally wounded (both legs shot off below the knee, apparently from artillery shell) and left at Perryville, KY.

Memoir: Terry's Texas Rangers By L.B. Giles, 1911

"The enemy was on the west side of the creek and our army on the east. The valley between was open field and the tops of the hills covered in places with timber. It was an ideal battlefield; there were no breastworks, but the hills on both sides were crowned with artillery. Polk was in command of the Confederate forces and expected the enemy to attack and waited for them until about 2 p.m. In the meantime the artillery was making the very earth tremble with a duel of nearly 100 guns. We lay in a little valley a few hundred yards to the rear, partially sheltered from this storm of shells. At 2 p.m. we were moved in column through the lines of infantry and the smoking batteries to the front. The open valley was before us with a deep creek spanned by a wooden bridge. Down we charged in column of fours across the bridge. After crossing, each squadron formed left front into line, which made us present five lines, one behind the other, and in this order we charged up the hill, into the woods and among the Yankees. This whole movement was made in a sweeping gallop and as if on parade. How different from the way we were handled at Shiloh! The Yankees were brushed back from the hill and woods and when the bugle sounded the recall and we returned, our own infantry and artillery had crossed the creek and were taking position on the hills from which we had driven the enemy. But again we had lost our commander, the gallant Lieutenant Colonel Mark Evans, who fell mortally wounded at the head of the regiment."

History: Eighth Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA by Paul Robert Scott, 1977

"Four days later the campaign climaxed in the Battle of Perryville when a portion of Bragg's army engaged three Union Corps to the west of the town. Wharton's brigade was at the extreme right of the line protecting that flank with the exception of a detail of eight men from each company detached to screen the left. The battle began in the morning with an artillery duel while the other elements remained behind slopes out of harm's way. About 2:00 p.m. the battle began in earnest on the Confederate right in a move to drive the Federals from Doctor's Creek, the only available water. Wharton's cavalry led the attack. The cavalrymen charged down the slope, across the bridge, and up a hill amongst the Federals in the woods. The cavalry was finally stopped at a stone fence where Benjamin F. Cheatham's infantrymen came up and took over the assault. The cavalry, now out of its element, began flanking the enemy. An ordnance train was discovered, but artillery prevented its capture and did some damage to the regiment. The rest of the day was spent following the infantry. Four Rangers were injured in this fight including the mortally wounded Lieutenant Colonel Mark L. Evans. The Texans spent the night picketing on the battlefield. Some men took this opportunity to take needed materiel from the dead. Bragg succeeded in driving the Federals from their positions and inflicted more casualties than they, but it was at best a marginal victory. The Federals were still present in superior force. The next morning it was the Confederates who were withdrawing towards Harrodsburg. The cavalry covered the retreat."

History: John A. Wharton: The Forgotten General by Paul R. Scott, 1981

On the eighth Bragg and Buell fought the Battle of Perryville. Wharton's Brigade on the extreme right flank launched one assault but after initial gains was stopped and the butternut clad infantrymen had to take over. The rest of the day the horsemen spent following the footmen. At night the cavalry picketed the front and the next morning covered the Confederate retreat.

History - Reminiscences of the Terry Rangers by J. K. P. Blackburn

Except at Perryville our losses were generally light, but coming so frequently they amounted to many in the aggregate. Before I leave Perryville in my narrative I shall relate incidents on that field not to be easily forgotten. My bedfellow during the trip was D. A. McGenagil. At Perryville, a piece of shell bursting in our line of battle struck him in the side, breaking two of his ribs. He was sent off to the hospital for repairs so I was without a bedfellow that night, and as the nights were frosty I looked out for some other person to get the benefit of his blanket for a covering while mine should be spread on the ground for the pallet. We only had one blanket each, hence the necessity of having a partner. The battle had continued to rage until eight o'clock at night or thereabouts, the Confederates driving back their antagonists steadily until the firing ceased. Our regiment was required to go on picket along the space where the last fighting was done. It was in a corn field near a little branch. The Federals had withdrawn but a short distance without noise, and without fires had retired after putting out their pickets on the side next to us. We were instructed to go to the place to be picketed with great caution and keep silent. We found the place we stopped on and had to stay that night on ground covered with flint rocks from the size of a man's fist to the size of his head and many dead of both armies lying around. The wounded had been removed, or most of them. I looked around or searched around among my company; we only had a poor star light, as it was mostly cloudy. I found Sam Woodward of my company with a good blanket and no bedfellow for the night, and we soon arranged to bunk together. I said, "Sam, you look for a place as smooth as you can find, as clear of the flint rock as possible, and let me know and we will fix for bed." In fifteen or twenty minutes he came to me and said, "I have found a fairly good place, but there are two dead men on it." I said, "They are as dead as they will ever be, are they not?" He said, "Yes," and I said, "Then we will remove them a little space and occupy their place." He said, "All right," and we went to the spot selected and turned one man over one way and the other the other way (they were lying parallel with each other), made our bed between them and slept sweetly until daylight next morning; and behold one of the dead was a Confederate and other one a Federal soldier. Both had fallen on the same spot and died near each other. Some of our boys, nearly barefooted, were searching around among the dead for footwear, all in the darkness. They had to judge of what they were getting by the way it felt. Mullins of Company D found a good pair of boots on Wheeler, I think, another ranger who was asleep among the dead. He immediately decided the boots would suit, grabbed one of them, and jerked it off Wheeler's foot. This aroused Wheeler to consciousness and he called out, "What in the h-ll are you doing there?" "Nothing, d--n you, I thought you were dead and I needed those boots." John P. Humphries, of whom I have spoken before, needed footwear and went out after daylight to see what were the chances. He found a Yankee, dead, sitting against a tree, with a good pair of shoes. John got down on his knees to take off the fellow's shoes and, just as he got one unlaced and ready to pull off, took another glance at the Yankee's face and the Yankee winked at him. He left the shoes on his dead man and came to camp and told it, and laughing that peculiar laugh, said he didn't want any shoes anyway...
One other incident of the Perryville Battle I will mention. There were two young men, about eighteen and twenty years old, brothers, named George and Simeon Bruce who came to Texas to live, from Vermont, about eight months before the commencement of hostilities. They had no relatives or interests in Texas, but when the war came up they volunteered in our regiment, saying the South was right in its contentions, and they freely offered their lives in its defense. At Perryville Simeon Bruce was shot through the calf of his leg with a grapeshot and George was left with him to care for him. They communicated with homefolks in Vermont and told of their whereabouts and conditions. An answer soon came back with money for every need and urging their return home. They were informed, also, that one of their brothers was a colonel in the Federal army and another one a surgeon in the same army. The family where they were staying also urged them to go home when they learned the facts concerning them. The boys didn't entirely consent to return, but said they would give it favorable consideration, not fully committing themselves to any certain course, but rather left the impression when Sim recovered they might go home. Sim after a long time got so he could ride horseback without much discomfort and then the boys bought horses with the money sent them and hastened South to their command and remained with it, making splendid soldiers until the war ended and returned to Texas and are there or in Oklahoma yet, or were when I last heard from them. When they returned to us I said, "I love my country and have offered my life in her defense, but I believe you Bruce boys are truer patriots than I am." As to the losses in this battle, I cannot recall. It was quite sanguinary and losses were heavy on both sides.

 

Thursday, October 9

Letter - Frank Shannon

to

History - Reminiscences of the Terry Rangers by J. K. P. Blackburn

Next morning our army moved to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and the other army stayed near where they had camped before, not seeming to want to follow us, except at a considerable distance from us.

Friday, October 10

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Saturday, October 11

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Sunday, October 12

Enlistment - Alsey Silvanus Miller, Co. I

Enlisted by Lt. W. E. Jones in Gonzales Texas

Enlistment - T. Harris, Co. I

Enlisted by Lt. W. E. Jones in Gonzales Texas

Enlistment - John L. Norwood , Co. I

Enlisted by Lt. W. E. Jones in Gonzales Texas

Enlistment - Levi Moses Kokernot, Co. I

Enlisted by Lt. W. E. Jones in Gonzales Texas

Enlistment - C. M. Bradshaw, Co. I

Enlisted by Lt. W. E. Jones in Gonzales Texas

Reenlistment: J. J. Coulter, Co. E

Reenlisted in Co. I at Gonzales, TX, being sworn in by Lt. Jones.

Monday, October 13

ORs - J. Wheeler

On the morning of the 13th I received orders directing me to assume control of all our mounted forces as chief of cavalry and make the necessary dispositions to cover the movement our army was about to commence. I therefore recrossed Dick’s River, and finding that the general advance of the enemy was toward Lancaster and Stanford, I left small forces, with all necessary orders to guard the several fords and the Bryantsville road, and with the bulk of my own and Wharton’s brigades moved over to the roads leading from Danville to Lancaster and Stanford. My own brigade was placed on the former road and Colonel Wharton’s on the latter. The enemy were pushing forward, but, by continually fighting them, they repeatedly deployed their lines for battle, and consequently progressed very slowly.

Tuesday, October 14

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Wednesday, October 15

ORs - J. Wheeler

We arrived at Lancaster on the afternoon of the 15th [14?], and after a fight, in which we disabled a battery, prevented the enemy from approaching nearer than to within 2 or 3 miles of the town. Col. John H. Morgan and Colonel Ashby reported to me with their brigades, but they were not called into action.
Having received information from Colonel Wharton, then near Stanford, that he was warmly pressed, after ascertaining from a personal reconnaissance that the enemy in my front were not in large force, and that they had fallen back and gone into camp for the night, I started at about 10 p. m. to assist Colonel Wharton, leaving Colonels Morgan and Ashby to cover the road from Lancaster to Big Hill.

History: Eighth Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA by Paul Robert Scott, 1977

"From Harrodsburg Bragg went on to Bryantsville where it became apparent that Kentucky was untenable. Buell was in the vicinity with a superior force and Bragg's reinforcements had been defeated at Corinth on the fourth. Supplies were insufficient, and the Kentuckians were not rallying to the cause. Consequently, Bragg ordered the evacuation of Kentucky. The Confederates started for Cumberland Gap on October 13 and all forces were out by the twenty-second. The cavalry engaged in daily skirmishes with the enemy to help safeguard the main army. The withdrawal took Wharton's brigade to Stanford about the fifteenth and to London on the seventeenth. From London the cavalry withdrew to Wild Cat."

Thursday, October 16

ORs - J. Wheeler

We arrived at Colonel Wharton’s position early on the morning of the 16th [15?], and allowed him to move in toward the main army with his brigade, while with my own we engaged a large force of the enemy, falling back slowly through Crab Orchard. We engaged the enemy all day and reached Mount Vernon late that night.

Captured: David Alexander McGonigal, Co. F

Captured near Crab Orchard, KY.

 

Friday, October 17

Battle - Perryville

Wounded: G. W. Price, Co. A

Wounded at Wildcat, KY.

 

ORs: (US) Report of General W. S. Smith, US 4th Division - October 17, 1862

"My advanced brigade has passed Camp Wild Cat. We are pressing the rebel cavalry back, skirmishing with them at every turn of the road; have killed one of their men and wounded several. Three of our men wounded. They have so obstructed the road by felling timber that our progress is very slow. A cavalry force could prevent this, but our infantry cannot get ahead fast enough. They fell trees until we come up to them, then fall back rapidly and chop away again. We push them as closely as possible."

 

ORs: J. Wheeler

"The next morning, together with Colonel Wharton, we commenced obstructing the road, continuously skirmishing with the enemy until the evening of October 22, we having then arrived at London, where the enemy ceased to pursue us. At Wild Cat we were directed to hold our position for two days, which we had but little difficulty in accomplishing. "

History: Eighth Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA by Paul Robert Scott, 1977

"From Harrodsburg Bragg went on to Bryantsville where it became apparent that Kentucky was untenable. Buell was in the vicinity with a superior force and Bragg's reinforcements had been defeated at Corinth on the fourth. Supplies were insufficient, and the Kentuckians were not rallying to the cause. Consequently, Bragg ordered the evacuation of Kentucky. The Confederates started for Cumberland Gap on October 13 and all forces were out by the twenty-second. The cavalry engaged in daily skirmishes with the enemy to help safeguard the main army. The withdrawal took Wharton's brigade to Stanford about the fifteenth and to London on the seventeenth. From London the cavalry withdrew to Wild Cat."

History Claiborne

Following on the rear of our army, he came up with Gen. Polk at Perryville, where on the 17th of October, 1862, that bloody, terrific battle was fought and won. During this engagement his brigade pas posted on the right of our army and was frequent hotly engaged with the enemy. Again his conduct on the field was such as to procure favorable notice and commendation from the commander-in-chief in his reports of the battle. From Perryville he skirmished every day and sometimes at night in protecting the rear of the army, in concert with Gen. Wheeler back to London, where the enemy gave up the pursuit. Thence the brigade was moved to Kingston, Tenn., via Cumberland Gap and Knoxville.

Saturday, October 18

Death: Marcus Legrand Evans

Dying from October 8 wounds in Union hospital at Harrodsburg, KY on October 18 or 21.

Sunday, October 19

ORs - J. Wheeler

On the evening of the 19th I took a small portion of Colonel Frazer’s infantry regiment, which was sent back to assist me, to feel the enemy, during which my brave young aide, Lieutenant Pointer, was severely wounded.
This was the only occasion where any infantry engaged the enemy after the battle of Perryville, although the enemy used infantry almost continually to engage our cavalry.
After guarding the roads at London and Barboursville until our infantry had reached Cumberland Gap I moved on to Tennessee with my brigade, Colonel Wharton having preceded me the previous day.
When our army first left Camp Dick Robinson I issued the most stringent orders to the several cavalry commanders that all stragglers from the infantry should be forced on to the main body. As far as I could observe this duty was most thoroughly performed. In my own brigade a company was kept at work gathering up the foot-sore and weary, whom the troopers placed on their horses and walked themselves by their side.
In this manner all stragglers on the roads we traveled were conveyed to their commands, no one being left behind to be taken by the enemy except those who willfully left the road for a great distance to avoid our guards.

Monday, October 20

Wounded: George Jefferson Boothe, Co. I

Suffered arm wound at Wildcat, KY.

Tuesday, October 21

-

Wednesday, October 22

-

Thursday, October 23

-

Friday, October 24

-

Saturday, October 25

History: Eighth Texas Cavalry Regiment, CSA by Paul Robert Scott, 1977

"On October 25, the Rangers arrived at Knoxville, Tennessee where they rested a few days. During the period in Kentucky the Rangers had been continuously employed in support of the army. They had fulfilled their mission and had been successful in their fights. One man recalled: '. . . from the day we entered Kentucky until the day we passed out of the state, thirty-eight days, our regiment in part or as a whole had been under the fire of the enemy's guns forty-two times, including Perryville Battle as one of the times.'"

 

Sunday, October 26

Letter - J. W. Hill

to his sister, from Knoxville, TN

Monday, October 27

Letter - B. F. Burke

to his parents from Knoxville, TN

Letter - Isaac Fulkerson

to his sister, from Knoxville, TN

Letter - J. W. Rabb

to his mother from Knoxville, TN

Tuesday, October 28

-

Wednesday, October 29

Letter - B. F. Batchelor

to George Turner from Camp Lenores, TN

Thursday, October 30

Diary - G. L. Macmurphy, Co. H

"We arrived at this place “Lenore E.T. & Geo RR” 18 miles from Kingston day before yesterday. Since 30th ult and up to within a few days before crossing the mountains we were daily skirmishing with the enemy. So busily engaged have we been at that kind of business that I could not find time to keep a daily record of passing events will therefore be compelled to trust to memory. – We were driven by the enemy from Mt Washington and from there to Bardstown at which place 4 Regiments of cavalry attempted to cut us off. (they had a battery, and about a brigade of Infantry, but beyond supporting distance) and met as they justly deserved a very severe chastizement, We took 40 prisoners besides killing & wounding about that same number. our loss 1 man wounded. From thence we go to Stanford where the enemy did some of the best shooting with cannon I have ever seen. every shot fell among us as we were drawn up in line. but nobody hurt. At Perrysville 8th we attacked the enemy with the forces under Gen Hardee. Our Regiment Brigade made a charge at the enemy on a thick wooded hill so as to cover the advance of our Infantry. and it was successful that far but we could not sustain ourselves against the numbers brought to bear on us. meantime our Infantry advanced across an open field unperceived when the enemy finding out the movement fell back behind a battery on a bald hill overlooking the wooded hill they had just left, our Infantry advanced steadily to the foot of the hill, the enemy laying upon the top of it at that place I saw the most desperate fight at close quarters it has ever been my lot to witness The distance could not have exceeded 30 yards when the firing first began and after the first fire our troops commenced advancing, the enemy falling back, I became separated from the regiment on the wooded hill spoken of above, and got with the Infantry cheering them and doing all I could to add success to our cause. The battle ended at night, we sleeping on the battle field from which we had driven the enemy (some 2 miles) the ground was literally covered with his dead. Their loss must have exceeded ours as 3 to 1. never have I seen so many, such a sacrifice of human life as at that place. It is sad to think of – A most glorious victory was gained, the enemy very severely chastized did not attempt a renewal of the fight the next morning when we commenced retreating – fall back to Harrodsburg where I learn Mitch is with Kirby Smiths command do not see him there but met him afterwards. retreat to Cumberland gap and suffer greatly for the want of food on the way thither. eat parched corn with no salt or meat. Cumberland Gap is as strong as nature and the wisdom of man could well make it. and I do not regret that we passed through it, for the place is well worth seeing. – We had dress parade today when an order of Genl Polk was read out to us. thanking us for the repulse of the enemy cavalry at Bardstown and also for the charge made at Perrysville. We left Knoxville on 28th ult."

Friday, October 31

Diary - G. L. Macmurphy, Co. H

"No move today. Steele arrived and looks well from the rest he has had."

Discharged - Thomas J. Burrows, Co. K

Discharged.

Unidentified October Events

Disappeared: Perry Affleck

Disappeared near Knoxville, TN in October 1863.

Wounded: Benjamin Franklin Batchelor, Co. C

Wounded by horse kick to leg.

Wounded: James Harper Cobb, Co. I

Said to have been bayonetted in ribs, likely in KY.

Wounded: James Doris, Co. H

Wounded during KY campaign.

Wounded: William A. Gill, Co. A

Suffered ankle wound at Salt River, KY.

Wounded: Thomas Haynes, Co. K

Wounded and apparently left at Taylorsville, KY.

Wounded: Albert Jankes, Co. K

Slightly wounded (and discharged).

Wounded: Ausitn R. Robinson, Co. A

Suffered gunshot wound to side at Salt River or Bardstown, KY and left behind.

Wounded: Joseph W. Yearby, Co. B

Wounded very likely in KY.

Captured: George H. Bruce, Co. E

Captured at Harrodsburg, KY.

Captured: Richard A. Jarman, Co. F

Captured in KY.

Captured: William G. Kroeger, Co. G

Captured.

Captured: A. F. Logan

Citizen, apparently; captured in KY while with regiment in an unofficial capacity.

Captured: Alanzo T. Logan, Co. D

Captured, apparently in KY.

Captured: Charles H. C. Maigne, Co. C

Captured in Whitley Co., KY.

Captured: Charles T. Pelham, Co. D

Captured in KY.

Discharged: H. E. Allen

Discharged due to underage.

Discharged: N. W. Grant, Co. C

Discharged.

Discharged: Theodore U. Lubbock, Co. K

Discharged as 1st sergeant.

Discharged: Thomas H. Newby, Co. I

Discharged.

Discharged: John W. Routt, Co. K

Discharged.

Discharged: John M. Staton, Co. B

Discharged.

Discharged: Samuel H. Tillery, Co. B

Officially discharged with "phthisis pulmonalis."

Discharged: John Henry Washington, Co. D

Discharged.

Furloughed: L. M. Rayburn, Co. E

Furloughed.

Left regiment: Henry Stevens, Company L

Returned to TX.

Left behind: John S. Hubbard, Co. B

Left behind on road to Cumberland Gap due to horse.

Transferred: Samuel A. Bryan, Co. B

Transferred to Robert's Texas Cavalry Battalion.

Absent: Henry Sharpe, Co. B

May have been absent.

Ill: Hugh E. Allen, Co. D

Apparently ill much of time following enlistment up to time of discharge due to underage.

Ill: Eugene Griffin, Co. H

Ill in AL.

Reenlisted: A. K. Neal, Co. E

Probably reenlisted in Co. I.

Promoted: John W. Baylor, Co. C

Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Promoted: William R. Doak, Co. D

Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Promoted: Marcus L. Evans, Co. C

Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

Promoted: Stephen C. Ferrill, Co. D

Promoted to Major.

Promoted: Ferg Kyle, Co. D

Promoted to Captain.

Promoted: Alexander May Shannon, Co. C

Promoted to Captain, following death of M. L. Evans, Co. C.

Regained regiment: John Dale Palmer, Co. H

Regained regiment.

Regained regiment: James Thomas Pryor, Co. G

Returned to duty.

Regained regiment: David Smith Terry, Co. H

Regained regiment at Murfreesboro, TN with two companies of men, with rank of Lieutenant.

Regained regiment: William Ward, Co. B

Regained regiment.

History - Reminiscences of the Terry Rangers by J. K. P. Blackburn

After the battle of Perryville the Confederate army moved towards Cumberland Gap in eastern Kentucky. The Federal army followed at a safe distance; our cavalry was rearguard to the Confederates. Skirmishes light and heavy with the enemy's advancing column was our daily pastime, sometimes twice or three times a day. Rations became scarcer day by day as we traversed the poor mountainous regions of eastern Kentucky. The people in there were generally poor with small patches in cultivation and few live stock, and all they had to live on had been consumed by the infantry which preceded us; so it must be clear to the reader that the cavalry suffered for want of food supplies. They were kept too busy to make excursions off the line of march to get food so they fasted and fought for days without anything worth mentioning. I saw men trimming beef bones left by the infantry, where they had killed the beeves and issued the meat to the men, thus getting a little of the stringy leaders off of them. Then they would break them and get the marrow inside. I saw a number of men, of whom I was one, pick out the scattered grains of corn tramped in the ground by some infantry officer's horse where he had been fed a day or two ahead of us, and eat them with a relish, thus proving the adage that hunger is a good appetizer. One day we were fighting a large force of the enemy's infantry and our Colonel thinking we would not be able to check them sent to our infantry for help. A brigade of our men came back to our assistance, and General B. F. Cheatham came with them, but they reached us after we had driven the enemy back and didn't need their help. General Cheatham had eight or ten ears of corn tied on his saddle behind him to feed his horse. A hungry Texan spied him and said, "Old man (addressing Cheatham), I will give you a dollar apiece for those ears of corn." The general with a haughty, dignified look said, "Do you know whom you are talking to?" The soldier said "No, and I don't care a damn, but I will do what I said I would about that corn." The general smiled, untied his corn, and threw it to the hungry men who scuffled over it as very hungry hogs would have done. In a few more days we passed out of Kentucky through Cumberland Gap, moved on to Knoxville, Tennessee, and camped a few days to rest. The first night we were at Knoxville it snowed all night and next morning the ground and the army was covered with a three inch snow. We had no tents or covering of any kind, but our sleep was sound and restful. The leaves were still green on the trees and the contrast in colors between the leaves and the snow was quite impressive, and very unusual. This was in October, 1862, if my memory serves me correctly.

 

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