Perryville in Boyle County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

The John C. Russell House

Perryville • The Battle For Kentucky

— October 8, 1862 —

The John C. Russell House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2025

1. The John C. Russell House Marker

Inscription.

The John C. Russell House. Perryville . The Battle For Kentucky. , The Russell House was used as the headquarters of Union First Corps, commanded by Major General Alexander M. McCook. As the Battle progressed, it was used as a hospital, was captured, recaptured, and survived until 1962., A two-story white Federal style home and farm structures (barn, smokehouse) stood here. The home was built around 1835 and burned to the ground in 1962. The farm was owned by John Calvin Russell during the Battle of Perryville. The Russell family owned approximately 140 acres consisting of 20 acres in corn, 15 in wheat, and 5 or 6 in meadow, and some land in oats., On the morning of October 8 1862, General Alexander McDowell McCook took possession of the house as Federal headquarters for the I Corps of the Army of the Ohio. The location of the house on the high knoll offered an excellent opportunity to view the battle taking place to the South, East, and West., Just before the battle, John was feeding his hogs when a man approached warning him to take his family to safety to avoid the conflict. John took his wife Frances, his children Isophenia, Amanda, Susan, John, Waller, George, Emily, Sarah, and Lucretia, and his mother-in-law, Susannah Bailey Laws to a school house, about a mile to the southwest., The family returned 2 days after the battle to find their land being used as a hospital for wounded Union and Confederate troops. Fine mahogany furniture was used as feed troughs for army animals and all the home-spun linens were used as bandages for the wounded. Fence rails were used as firewood and most of the food and animals were taken by the troops. During the battle, the house was shelled by confederate cannon that tore off the top of the east chimney. The battle claimed one family member as Susannah Bailey Laws a few weeks after returning home. She died at the age of 83 from complications of exposure after being forced to flee from the Battle of Perryville.,

Arriving at the first, known as the Russell House, I found about one hundred and fifty wounded, most of them lying on the ground in the yard, and no surgeon, except Surgeon G.D. Beebe, U.S.V., medical director of McCook's Corps, and three or four from the 1st division. They had labored all night as best they could. No supplies having reached this hospital, they were compelled to amputate without chloroform. , Union Surgeon James G. Hatchitt, In the yard several of the enemy's dead were lying - in the smoke house near by several more lay dead, having crawled there during the fight to breathe their last. Several more were still groaning in the last agonies of death. Lieutenant Martin who has accompanied me helped two out of the smoke house into the yard where we gave them water and covered them with blankets. We then turned our attention to the main building. It had been used for a hospital by the enemy early in the fight, and it was afterwards badly torn by our shot and shell. The Surgeons had left in a hurry, their tables and instruments were scattered around in confusion. A dozen dead and wounded still remained there some groaning piteously. Among them was a boy of not more than twelve summers, badly wounded in the thigh. He begged us to carry him inside our lines where he might never see another Yankee. He said his father was a Southern soldier and belonged to General Morgan's command, that they had forced him with them, and made him fight against his will. While Martin was holding him in his arms he became sick and vomited. Martin then laid him on the grass, covered him with a blanket and told him we would care for him and he need not fear falling into Yankee hands again. But he did, for before daylight we retreated and all of our wounded were left in the enemy's possession. , Confederate Officer William L. Trask, I reached Mr. Russell's white house. Here was the center of great battle. The house was dotted over with hundreds of marks of musket and cannon balls. All around lay dead bodies of the soldiers, Union and Rebel. Many long trenches were made ready for their burial. In a skit of woods close by were scattered hundreds of the dead of both armies. The whole scene beggars description. The ground was strewn with soiled and torn clothes, muskets, blankets and the various accouterments of the dead soldiers. Trees not more than one foot in diameter contained from twenty to thirty musket-balls and buckshot, put into them during the battle. Farms all around were one unfenced common. I counted four hundred and ten dead men on a small spot of ground. My heart grew sick at the sight, and I ceased to enumerate them. , Dr. Jefferson J. Polk, Perryville Doctor.

, (Captions):, Rutherford Birchard Hayes-May and Morland Russell at the House in 1927, John Calvin Russell (1821-1896)

The Russell House was used as the headquarters of Union First Corps, commanded by Major General Alexander M. McCook. As the Battle progressed, it was used as a hospital, was captured, recaptured, and survived until 1962.

A two-story white Federal style home and farm structures (barn, smokehouse) stood here. The home was built around 1835 and burned to the ground in 1962. The farm was owned by John Calvin Russell during the Battle of Perryville. The Russell family owned approximately 140 acres consisting of 20 acres in corn, 15 in wheat, and 5 or 6 in meadow, and some land in oats.

On the morning of October 8 1862, General Alexander McDowell McCook took possession of the house as Federal headquarters for the I Corps of the Army of the Ohio. The location of the house on the high knoll offered an excellent opportunity to view the battle taking place to the South, East, and West.

Just before the battle, John was feeding his hogs when a man approached warning him to take his family to safety to avoid the conflict. John took his wife Frances, his children Isophenia, Amanda, Susan, John, Waller, George, Emily, Sarah, and Lucretia, and his mother-in-law, Susannah Bailey Laws to a school house, about a mile to the southwest.

The family returned 2 days after the battle to find their land

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being used as a hospital for wounded Union and Confederate troops. Fine mahogany furniture was used as feed troughs for army animals and all the home-spun linens were used as bandages for the wounded. Fence rails were used as firewood and most of the food and animals were taken by the troops. During the battle, the house was shelled by confederate cannon that tore off the top of the east chimney. The battle claimed one family member as Susannah Bailey Laws a few weeks after returning home. She died at the age of 83 from complications of exposure after being forced to flee from the Battle of Perryville.

Arriving at the first, known as the Russell House, I found about one hundred and fifty wounded, most of them lying on the ground in the yard, and no surgeon, except Surgeon G.D. Beebe, U.S.V., medical director of McCook's Corps, and three or four from the 1st division. They had labored all night as best they could. No supplies having reached this hospital, they were compelled to amputate without chloroform. —Union Surgeon James G. Hatchitt

In the yard several of the enemy's dead were lying - in the smoke house near by several more lay dead, having crawled there during the fight to breathe their last. Several more were still groaning in the last agonies of death. Lieutenant Martin who has accompanied me helped two out of the smoke house
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2025

2. The John C. Russell House Marker
The site of the Russell House is marked with stakes behind the marker.
into the yard where we gave them water and covered them with blankets. We then turned our attention to the main building. It had been used for a hospital by the enemy early in the fight, and it was afterwards badly torn by our shot and shell. The Surgeons had left in a hurry, their tables and instruments were scattered around in confusion. A dozen dead and wounded still remained there some groaning piteously. Among them was a boy of not more than twelve summers, badly wounded in the thigh. He begged us to carry him inside our lines where he might never see another Yankee. He said his father was a Southern soldier and belonged to General Morgan's command, that they had forced him with them, and made him fight against his will. While Martin was holding him in his arms he became sick and vomited. Martin then laid him on the grass, covered him with a blanket and told him we would care for him and he need not fear falling into Yankee hands again. But he did, for before daylight we retreated and all of our wounded were left in the enemy's possession. —Confederate Officer William L. Trask

I reached Mr. Russell's white house. Here was the center of great battle. The house was dotted over with hundreds of marks of musket and cannon balls. All around lay dead bodies of the soldiers—Union and Rebel. Many long trenches were made ready for their burial. In a skit of woods
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 16, 2019

3. Site of the John C. Russell House
close by were scattered hundreds of the dead of both armies. The whole scene beggars description. The ground was strewn with soiled and torn clothes, muskets, blankets and the various accouterments of the dead soldiers. Trees not more than one foot in diameter contained from twenty to thirty musket-balls and buckshot, put into them during the battle. Farms all around were one unfenced common. I counted four hundred and ten dead men on a small spot of ground. My heart grew sick at the sight, and I ceased to enumerate them. —Dr. Jefferson J. Polk, Perryville Doctor.

(Captions):

Rutherford Birchard Hayes-May and Morland Russell at the House in 1927

John Calvin Russell (1821-1896)

Erected by Allan "Ray” Russell and children; Tess Blevins, Verna Morse, DeWayne Russell and families, Chuck and Jason Kays and families. Descendants of John Calvin Russell.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is October 8, 1862.

Location. 37° 40.089′ N, 84° 58.744′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Kentucky, in Boyle County. It is on Hays Mays Road 0.1 miles east of Whites Road, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located on the Russell House Trail at the Perryville Battlefield State

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Historic Site. Parking for the trailhead is located at 1826 Hays Mays Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2050 Hays Mays Road, Perryville KY 40468, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Region.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Minnesota (a few steps from this marker); General Polk Behind Enemy Lines (within shouting distance of this marker); Russell House (within shouting distance of this marker); George P. Webster's Brigade (about 700 feet away); Illinois Soldiers at Perryville (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Harris' Battery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dixville Crossroads (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Slaughter Pen (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perryville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Webster's Brigade (was about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named George P. Webster's Brigade (was about 700 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named General Polk Behind Enemy Lines (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Harris' Battery (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Dixville Crossroads (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Kentucky State Parks (Submitted on February 25, 2021.)

Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 984 times since then and 83 times this year. Last updated on February 25, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos: 1. submitted on November 11, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 2. submitted on November 12, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 3. submitted on February 25, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.