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

The Bloodbath At The Crib

Perryville • The Battle For Kentucky

— October 8, 1862 —

The Bloodbath At The Crib Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2025

1. The Bloodbath At The Crib Marker

Inscription.

The Bloodbath At The Crib. Perryville . The Battle For Kentucky. , When Donelson's shattered command reached this position, nearly half of his men had been killed and wounded. Despite the appalling casualties, the Confederate attack continued to the west., With the 16th Tennessee Infantry Regiment taking the lead, the stubborn Confederate advance moved past the ridge in front of you. Driving the Union defenders away from the Widow Gibson cabins, Donelson's persistent soldiers were finally stopped by a Union brigade commanded by Colonel George P. Webster., With his brigade in shambles from the crossfire of several Federal batteries and the obstinate Union defense, Donelson's men held until reinforced by Wood's Brigade on the left, a portion of Stewart's brigade from behind, and Maney's brigade on the left. Their losses were severe. In the four-hour battle, the 16th Tennessee Infantry suffered 46 killed, 170 wounded, and 3 missing for a total of 219. With a beginning strength of 370 men, that translated to nearly 60 percent casualties. These Tennesseans lost more men killed and wounded than any other Southern regiment in the battle., We advanced through a field where the grapeshot and shrapnel were rattling against the cornstalks . . . - Confederate Private Davis Biggs, 38th Tennessee Infantry, A man was standing just in front of me while I was loading my gun and I happened to have my eyes on him just as a canister struck him in the breast and I saw the white flesh before it bled. He was a dead man. - Confederate Private Robert C. Carden, 16th Tennessee Infantry, As we passed the little cabin on the hill I was severely wounded through my right side above my hip. - Confederate Private Carrol H. Clark, 16th Tennessee Infantry, While standing between the cabins a Minié ball passed through my leg without breaking the bone, and the wood off of a canister shot struck the opposite cabin, and glancing knocked me down, paralyzing me for a time. - Confederate Colonel John H. Savage, 16th Tennessee Infantry, (Caption):, Sergeant Major Thomas Benton Potter was wounded in this area. He was one of the 219 Casualties suffered by the 16th Tennessee in this battle. The 16th Tennessee suffered the second highest casualty percentage of any regiment at Perryville at 59%., Dedicated to: Captain N.M. Bearden, 8th Tennessee Infantry Reg't C.S.A.

When Donelson's shattered command reached this position, nearly half of his men had been killed and wounded. Despite the appalling casualties, the Confederate attack continued to the west.

With the 16th Tennessee Infantry Regiment taking the lead, the stubborn Confederate advance moved past the ridge in front of you. Driving the Union defenders away from the Widow Gibson cabins, Donelson's persistent soldiers were finally stopped by a Union brigade commanded by Colonel George P. Webster.

With his brigade in shambles from the crossfire of several Federal batteries and the obstinate Union defense, Donelson's men held until reinforced by Wood's Brigade on the left, a portion of Stewart's brigade from behind, and Maney's brigade on the left. Their losses were severe. In the four-hour battle, the 16th Tennessee Infantry suffered 46 killed, 170 wounded, and 3 missing for a total of 219. With a beginning strength of 370 men, that translated to nearly 60 percent casualties. These Tennesseans lost more men killed and wounded than any other Southern regiment in the battle.

We advanced through a field where the grapeshot and shrapnel were rattling against the cornstalks . . . - Confederate Private Davis Biggs, 38th Tennessee Infantry

A man was standing just in front of me while
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I was loading my gun and I happened to have my eyes on him just as a canister struck him in the breast and I saw the white flesh before it bled. He was a dead man. - Confederate Private Robert C. Carden, 16th Tennessee Infantry

As we passed the little cabin on the hill I was severely wounded through my right side above my hip. - Confederate Private Carrol H. Clark, 16th Tennessee Infantry

While standing between the cabins a Minié ball passed through my leg without breaking the bone, and the wood off of a canister shot struck the opposite cabin, and glancing knocked me down, paralyzing me for a time. - Confederate Colonel John H. Savage, 16th Tennessee Infantry

(Caption):

Sergeant Major Thomas Benton Potter was wounded in this area. He was one of the 219 Casualties suffered by the 16th Tennessee in this battle. The 16th Tennessee suffered the second highest casualty percentage of any regiment at Perryville at 59%.

Dedicated to: Captain N.M. Bearden, 8th Tennessee Infantry Reg't C.S.A.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.

Location. 37° 40.278′ N, 84° 58.378′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Kentucky, in Boyle County. It can be reached from Park Road 0.3 miles west

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 17, 2025

2. The Bloodbath At The Crib Marker

of Battlefield Road (Kentucky Route 1920). Marker is located on the Confederate Right Trail at the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1825 Battlefield 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: A different marker also named Widow Gibson Cabin (approx. 0.2 miles away); Act of Mercy (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sanctuary (approx. 0.2 miles away); Jones' Ridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); Defense of the Union Center (approx. ¼ mile away); Simonson’s Battery (approx. ¼ mile away); “For God’s Sake, Save That Battery” The 38th Indiana at Perryville (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Starkweather’s Hill (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perryville.

Other markers no longer nearby. Donelson Persists (was here, next to this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); The Bloodbath at the Crib (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Stewart's Attack (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); Widow Gibson Cabin (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Act of Mercy

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(was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Defense of Loomis’ Heights (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Starkweather's Hill (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding The Bloodbath At The Crib. Marker includes a map: Battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, 3:45 PM.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced another at this location.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 22, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.