Perryville in Boyle County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Confederate Cemetery
Perryville • The Battle For Kentucky
— October 8, 1862 —
Although the Confederate army won a tactical victory, they were outnumbered and left Perryville that night. In their haste, they left all of their dead and most of their wounded lying on the battlefield.
While the Union army buried their own dead in regimental plots, the Confederates remained unburied. Within days, hogs were rooting up the bodies and hundreds of buzzards and crows scoured the battlefield.
Henry P. Bottom, a farmer who owned most of the land upon which the battle was fought, organized a civilian burial detail for his property. Bottom, his slaves, and a number of his neighbors buried most of the Southern bodies in two large pits. Bottom recorded as many names as he could, but most of the soldiers buried here remain unknown to this day. It is likely that several hundred soldiers are buried in this mass grave.
The Union dead were later removed to Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Jessamine County, Kentucky. Despite the soldiers’ and citizens’ efforts to mark the burial sites, it is probable that dozens of unmarked graves still exist around the battlefield.
In 1901, the Commonwealth of Kentucky erected this monument at the Confederate cemetery, which began efforts to preserve this historic site.
All around us was evidence of the death struggle the day before. Bodies of men and horses lay scattered about. In the fields and by the roadside every house and barn was filled with the maimed and dying and the dead… Many of them were in the most horrible condition that the mind can conceive. Some were shot through the head, body or limbs. Other mangled by fragments of shell and all suffering the greatest torments.
Anonymous Union soldier
(caption) In this 1885 photograph, Henry P. Bottom, who organized the burial of Confederate soldiers in this cemetery, sits atop the original cemetery wall.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is October 8, 1862.
Location. 37° 40.477′ N, 84° 58.241′ W. Marker is in Perryville, Kentucky, in Boyle County. Marker can be reached from Park Road, 0.3 miles west of Battlefield Road (Kentucky Route 1920). Located in Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Perryville KY 40468, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Squire Henry P. Bottom (a few steps from this marker); Perryville Confederate Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Perryville and the Emancipation Proclamation (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Perryville (within shouting distance of this marker); Perryville Battlefield (within shouting distance of this marker); Soldiers' Reaction to Lincoln's Emancipation (within shouting distance of this marker); Army of the Ohio (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Monument (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Perryville.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,378 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 23, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on February 27, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. 5. submitted on September 16, 2013, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee.