Baptism of Fire: The 42nd Indiana Story

Baptism of Fire: The 42nd Indiana Story. Perryville . The Battle For Kentucky. , The 490 soldiers of the 42nd Indiana were suffering from an intense thirst. Their canteens dry from a recent drought, their commanders allowed these troops to find pools of water in Doctor's Creek located in front of you. The men stacked their rifles and filled their canteens with the muddy water. Many of them moved down the creek to your left, where they searched for water near some rock bluffs that rise 20-40 feet above the creek., Suddenly, the Confederates attacked, and the 42nd Indiana was caught by surprise. The high bluffs trapped many inside of the creek bed, ending any hope of escape. Casualties mounted as survivors dashed out of the banks and up the hill behind you., Regrouping, these troops joined the main Union battle line. Like many Northern soldiers who fought here, Perryville was their first fight. At Perryville the 42nd Indiana suffered 20 killed, 133 wounded, and 21 missing. It was a brutal baptism of fire., We finally reached a creek near the Bottom's farm house, but found that the creek was dry except for a few puddles of water with green scum over it. But in our desperate need, we skimmed the water, and put it into a pot and boiled it, making ourselves some coffee. While we were doing this, the [Rebels] came down on us out of the woods. Colonel Jones called to "Fall back," and saying "Get up," to his horse, over the stone fence he went. Our baptism had begun. We fell back on our Brigade three hundred yards. They lay in a corn field. , - G.W. Kilpatrick, 42nd Indiana Infantry U.S., The first indication we had of the immediate presence of the enemy was a shot from a cannon, which passed directly over the heads of the field and staff officers, cutting limbs and branches away . . . the next one was aimed lower, which knocked away a stack of guns. , - S.F. Horrall, 42nd Indiana Infantry U.S., I said jokingly [to Captain James Bryant] "suppose a couple of regiments of cavalry should come down on us through this ravine, wouldn't we be in a nice fix". I had hardly finished my remark to Captain Bryant when he said" Listen - do you hear that?" I stopped and the command was plainly heard given by the Colonel of some regiment up in the woods marching towards us by the flank - "By company into line - March"; and immediately afterwards - "Forward into line; by company left half wheel &c". So confident was I even then that there was no enemy up there that I said to Captain B: "that is one of our regiments taking position on our right." The men were lying around with their guns stacked in perfect confidence when the enemy immediately poured down a volley of musketry., About 10 o'clock the 42nd was ordered to take position in a dry creek, at the foot of a rugged hill, about three hundred yards in advance, and one hundred to the right of Loomis' battery. There we remained till the fight began. It was discovered that the enemy was advancing, in solid compact columns, beginning the fight with small arms upon our right. For fifteen or twenty minutes the regiment stood against much fearful odds, and not a man faltered. We were then ordered to fall back, as it was impossible for us to stand against such superior numbers. Though we were compelled to climb a rugged cliff of rock, we fell back in good order, under a most terrible fire of the enemy's small arms, shot and shell. , - Unknown Member of Company G, 42nd Indiana Infantry U.S., (Caption):, Brothers Reubin and Henry Hunter joined Company G of the 42nd Indiana Infantry together. , Together, they marched here on October 8, 1862 for their first battle. Reubin (left) was wounded and his brother Henry (right) was killed instantly.