The Slaughter Pen

The Slaughter Pen. Perryville . The Battle For Kentucky. , "God knows that our regiment, almost to a man, had unbounded respect and confidence in the 22d Indiana and the 59th Illinois, as proved on many a hard-fought battlefield, Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold and many others. But first and worst of all was that slaughter pen of Perryville, Kentucky." , , Lieutenant J.L. Newton, Company H, 75th Illinois, The climax of the Battle of Perryville happened in the field in front of you. Late in the day, the long awaited reinforcements arrived from Union Third Corps, just as all seemed lost for Union First Corps. These reinforcements were led by the 30th Brigade, commanded by Michael Gooding. Forming their line behind John C. Russell's house, they attacked through Russell's yard, driving the remnants of S.A.M. Wood's brigade before them. Soon, however, St. John Liddell's Arkansas brigade arrived on the scene and tore into Gooding. To meet Liddell's threat, the 22nd Indiana was moved from the right of the brigade, to the left. By this time, it was dark. The scene was only illuminated by a bright full moon. There was a pause because there was confusion on both sides as to who was friend and foe. The opposing lines were within shouting distance. When correct identification was made, Liddell's brigade opened a devastating fire, inflicting almost 40% casualties on the unsuspecting Federals. This final slaughter ended the Battle of Perryville., The news was circulated loudly - "Yankees!" The trumpet sounded to "fire!", a tremendous flash of musketry for the whole extent of the line for nearly one quarter of a mile in length followed and was continued for some 13 minutes or more, by which time I discovered that the return fire had ceased, and therefore directed the trumpeter to signal the cessation on our part. , - Brigadier General Sr. John R. Liddell C.S., We poured into their ranks the most destructive volley I ever witnessed. Loading as we advanced, two other volleys were fired, the last being not over five paces from their lines. The Seventh Arkansas Regiment, which I then commanded, was fronting the Twenty-Second Indiana, and I have been told that the latter was almost annihilated. , - Captain John C. McCauley, 7th Arkansas C.S., I was not touched but there were hundreds of balls came so close to my head and face that I could feel the wind of them and when one would come close to the ear with its keen whistling sound it would make a fellow involuntanily duck his head. Add to the musketry the whirring of solid shot, the screaming and bursting of shell, the shouts of officer giving commands, the dead and dying all around, the wounded staggering to the rear and the sulphurous smell of the smoke made it as near pandemonium as I care to get. I did not expertence the sense of fear I expected to, but remained cool, and perfect master of my own mind and actions. , - Sergeant William Cunningham, 59th Illinois Infantry U.S., [I was approached] by the approach of a squad of the enemy who were picking the pockets of friend and foe alike. I called to them and asked them to send me a surgeon, which they promised to do, and treated me very kindly, although they took my hat, jacket and boots, with the encouraging information that they did not think I would need them. , - James Hunter, 2nd MN (Hotchkiss') Battery U.S., (Captions):, Brigadier General St. John R. Liddell, Colonel Michael Gooding , Wounded and Captured