Battle of Perryville, Oct. 8, 1862
Historical marker location:The battle was brought on by Confederate Lieut. Gen. Braxton Bragg as a delaying action to insure safe withdrawal of a huge wagon train of supplies and to enable him to effect a junction with the army of Maj. Gen. E. Kirby Smith in the vicinity of Versailles.
In overall command of the Union Army (Army of the Ohio) was Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, with Maj. General George H. Thomas second in command. Buell had three corps. First: Maj. Gen. Alexander McDowell McCook. Second: Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden. Third: Maj. Gen. Charles C. Gilbert.
In overall command of the Confederate Army (Army of the Mississippi) was Gen. Bragg, with Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk commander of the Right Wing and Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee of the Left Wing. Bragg had three divisions: Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham’s; Brig. Gen. J. Patton Anderson’s; and Maj. Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner’s.
The main action began at 2:00 p.m. with a fierce charge by Brig. Gen. John A. Wharton’s cavalry, on the extreme Confederate right, followed immediately by a rapid advance of Cheatham’s entire line. Simultaneously, Buckner’s and Anderson’s moved forward, amid heavy cannonading from numerous batteries on both sides.
Cheatham’s charge caught a large number of McCook’s men (many fresh enlistees) unaware and off guard, far in advance of their lines, seeking water in the vicinity of Doctor’s Creek. Both Cheatham’s and Buckner’s divisions drove McCook’s men back to their former ill-formed positions and, after heavy, often desperate, hand-to-hand fighting, dislodged his entire corps, pushing him back a distance of approximately a mile west of the Creek. On the Con-federate left, however, Anderson was unable to dislodge the division of Brig. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, timely enforced by Brig. Gen. Albin Schoepf’s division.
Late afternoon, Anderson’s advancing left was struck by a determined charge of Col. William P. Carlin’s brigade (R. B. Mitchell’s division, Gilbert’s Corps) between the Springfield and Lebanon roads, the charge carrying through Perryville and out on the Danville and Harrodsburg roads. Toward dusk, desperate staying actions by brigades of Col. John C. Stark-weather (Rousseau’s division) and Col. Michael Gooding (Mitchell’s division) enabled McCook to stabilize his battered corps along a line immediately beyond the Russell house and Benton road. In his favor too were the coming of darkness and near exhaustion of the Confederates.
General Buell, headquarters at the Dorsey house on Springfield road, was not aware that the battle was in progress until 4:00 p.m., too late to have Crittenden’s corps, along Lebanon road, pivot around in an attempt to envelop the enemy forces.
After nightfall, Bragg finally realized that his small force faced practically Buell’s entire army. This knowledge caused him to order withdrawal at midnight toward Harrodsburg. On the whole, the Con-federate troops were better handled and used than these of the Union. The battle ended as a tactical victory for Bragg; a strategic victory for Buell, who held the field.
The Confederate commander employed only 16,000 men and sustained 3,396 casualties; 510 killed, 2,635 wound-ed, and 251 missing. Buell used between 22,000 and 28,000; sustained 4,421 casualties; 845 killed, 2,851 wounded and 515 captured or missing. The battle was one of the fiercest and bloodiest of modern times.
Had Buell and Bragg been better informed and more aggressive, the battle of Perryville might have been the decisive engagement of the Civil War in the West. After this battle, the Confederates never returned to Kentucky in great force; the state remained firmly in the Union.
Dedicated October 6, 1962
April 12, 1861: The Civil War begins with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, located in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor.
April 15, 1861: President Abraham Lincoln issues a call for 75,000 volunteers to serve in the Union Army to suppress the rebellion.
May 24, 1861: The first major land battle, known as the First Battle of Bull Run (or First Battle of Manassas), takes place in Virginia. It ends in Confederate victory.
September 17, 1862: The Battle of Antietam in Maryland becomes the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with heavy casualties on both sides. The Union forces, commanded by General George McClellan, manage to halt Confederate General Robert E. Lee's advance into Union territory.
January 1, 1863: President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territories are to be set free. However, the proclamation does not immediately free all slaves in the United States.
July 1-3, 1863: The Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania takes place, resulting in a significant Union victory and inflicting heavy casualties on Confederate forces. It marks a turning point in the war.
November 19, 1863: President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address, emphasizing the principles of liberty, equality, and the preservation of the Union.
April 9, 1865: General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending the Civil War.
April 14, 1865: President Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C.
May 10, 1865: Confederate President Jefferson Davis is captured, signaling the collapse of the Confederate government.
December 6, 1865: The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified, officially abolishing slavery throughout the country.
While this timeline provides an overview of key events, it is important to note that the Civil War spanned over four years, from 1861 to 1865, and encompassed numerous battles, campaigns, and political developments that shaped the course of American history.
During the Civil War, Kentucky was officially neutral, but the state was divided in its loyalties, with many citizens fighting on both sides of the conflict.
During the 19th century, Boyle County became known as an important center for agriculture. The county's vast farms produced tobacco, hemp, and livestock, which were primarily transported along the nearby Kentucky River. In addition to agriculture, the county also developed a strong manufacturing industry, with businesses specializing in textiles, furniture, and iron works.
One significant event in Boyle County's history was the Battle of Perryville, which took place during the Civil War in 1862. This battle, one of the largest in Kentucky, saw Union and Confederate forces clash near the town of Perryville. Although the Confederate army was eventually forced to retreat, the battle left a lasting impact on the county and is remembered today through reenactments and historic sites.
In the 20th century, Boyle County experienced a transformation as it became home to one of the largest military training camps in the country during World War II. Known as Camp Atterbury, the camp provided training for hundreds of thousands of soldiers. After the war, the camp was converted into a rehabilitation hospital for veterans, playing a crucial role in helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life.
Today, Boyle County remains a vibrant community with a diverse economy and a strong sense of history. Its rich agricultural heritage, coupled with its scenic natural beauty, attracts visitors and residents alike. The county continues to preserve its historic sites, such as the Perryville Battlefield, and celebrates its past through community events and festivals.
Boyle County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Boyle County, Kentucky.
- 1775: The area now known as Boyle County was first explored by settlers.
- 1785: The county was officially formed and named after John Boyle, a U.S. Congressman.
- 1787: Danville, the county seat, was established as the first post office in Kentucky.
- 1803: Centre College, the oldest college in Kentucky, was founded in Danville.
- 1813: The Perryville Battlefield, the site of the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky, was established.
- 1840: The Louisville and Nashville Railroad reached Danville, spurring economic growth.
- 1851: The Constitution Square Historic Site was opened in Danville, commemorating the drafting of Kentucky's first constitution.
- 1920: Dr. Ephraim McDowell's home became the first site recognized as a national historic landmark in Kentucky.
- 1942: Camp Boyle, a World War II training camp, was established in the county.
- 1993: The Great American Brass Band Festival, an annual event celebrating brass music, began in Danville.