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

Sad And Weary

The Karrick-Parks House After the Battle of Perryville

— War Visits Perryville —

Sad and Weary Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

1. Sad and Weary Marker

Inscription.

Sad And Weary. The Karrick-Parks House After the Battle of Perryville. , On October 7, 1862, Confederate officers arrived at the Karrick family's home. They warned of an imminent battle and told the house's inhabitants to leave. The family fled town after packing up what little belongings they could. When Harriett Karrick came home, she faced the full horror of the Civil War. Her house had been commandeered by Federal surgeons and hundreds of wounded and dying men occupied every structure around her house. The family's belongings ransacked, their clothes turned into bandages, their spring ran bone dry from thirsty casualties, and their food stores were gone. It would be a long hard winter for the Karrick family., Among the doctors occupying the house was Federal Surgeon Robert McMeens, 3rd Ohio Infantry. The doctor was already suffering from an illness of "congestive chills and pulmonary apoplexy." His wife Anna pleaded with him to return home, but he refused to leave the wounded.

"My Dear Wife, , I feel some better this morning, but still very weak. Dr. Weber is here and bids me remain another day. He would give me an order home on furlough, but so long as my life holds out. I feel it my duty to follow my friends in their fate. My blessings on you." , - Robert

Dr. McMeens succumbed to heart failure and died on October 30th, 1862, at the Karrick-Parks House. Anna McMeens received many condolences from the men who served with her husband., "He administered to the wants and alleviated the suffering of many of our wounded and dying patriotic soldiers and many of them thank him with tears in their eyes and pray God to bless him. The doctor's last thoughts were of you... he spoke very often of you in the most kind and loving terms and his greatest suffering was his anticipation of your suffering upon hearing of his death." , Colonel William P. Reid, 121st OVI, Harriet Karrick witnessed many sad sights in her once quiet town. The terrible conditions in Perryville would last for months after the battle. There were deaths every day until December 24, 1862. No one died on Christmas Eve, but deaths continued the next day. The regular army hospitals closed in Perryville on March 23, 1863, but the hardships suffered by the citizens continued for years., (caption) Robert McMeens , Army Surgeon, USA

On October 7, 1862, Confederate officers arrived at the Karrick family's home. They warned of an imminent battle and told the house's inhabitants to leave. The family fled town after packing up what little belongings they could. When Harriett Karrick came home, she faced the full horror of the Civil War. Her house had been commandeered by Federal surgeons and hundreds of wounded and dying men occupied every structure around her house. The family's belongings ransacked, their clothes turned into bandages, their spring ran bone dry from thirsty casualties, and their food stores were gone. It would be a long hard winter for the Karrick family.

Among the doctors occupying the house was Federal Surgeon Robert McMeens, 3rd Ohio Infantry. The doctor was already suffering from an illness of "congestive chills and pulmonary apoplexy." His wife Anna pleaded with him to return home, but he refused to leave the wounded.

"My Dear Wife,
I feel some better this morning, but still very weak. Dr. Weber is here and bids me remain another day. He would give me an order home on furlough, but so long as my life holds out. I feel it my duty to follow my friends in their fate. My blessings on you."
- Robert

Dr. McMeens succumbed to heart failure and died on October 30th, 1862, at the Karrick-Parks

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House. Anna McMeens received many condolences from the men who served with her husband.

"He administered to the wants and alleviated the suffering of many of our wounded and dying patriotic soldiers and many of them thank him with tears in their eyes and pray God to bless him. The doctor's last thoughts were of you... he spoke very often of you in the most kind and loving terms and his greatest suffering was his anticipation of your suffering upon hearing of his death." —Colonel William P. Reid, 121st OVI

Harriet Karrick witnessed many sad sights in her once quiet town. The terrible conditions in Perryville would last for months after the battle. There were deaths every day until December 24, 1862. No one died on Christmas Eve, but deaths continued the next day. The regular army hospitals closed in Perryville on March 23, 1863, but the hardships suffered by the citizens continued for years.

(caption) Robert McMeens
Army Surgeon, USA

Erected by Americana Corner, Friends of Perryville Battlefield.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is October 7, 1862.

Location. 37° 38.884′ N, 84° 57.133′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Kentucky, in Boyle County

Sad and Weary Marker on the left next to another marker, rear side of the Karrick-Parks House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

2. Sad and Weary Marker on the left next to another marker, rear side of the Karrick-Parks House

. It is on West 4th Street west of South Buell Street (U.S. 68), on the left when traveling west. The marker is located on the west side of the Karrick-Parks House. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 403 S Buell St, 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: First Settlement of Perryville (a few steps from this marker); Karrick-Parks House / Harberson's Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Letter Box (within shouting distance of this marker); Green's Drug Store (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); In The Crucible Of War (about 600 feet away); The Hard Hand Of War (about 600 feet away); The Battle of Perryville (about 700 feet away); Bragg's Invasion of Kentucky (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perryville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Perryville in the Crucible of War (was about 400 feet away but has been permanently removed); “If You Meet the Enemy, Overpower Him” (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing); The City of Perryville (was about 400 feet away but has been confirmed missing).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Front view of Karrick-Parks House. Sad and Weary Marker on the rear side of the house image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, August 18, 2025

3. Front view of Karrick-Parks House. Sad and Weary Marker on the rear side of the house

Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on September 12, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.