COL. POPE'S ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF PERRYVILLE, OCTOBER 21, 1862

We publish with pleasure the following letter from Col. Curran Pope, a patriot and hero whom all patriots and heroes will ever be proud to honor.  He seems to have affixed his name to the manuscript letter with his own hand, but the chirography shows that the wound in his arm must have been pretty severe:

                                                                                DANVILLE, Oct. 10, 1862

To the Editors of the Louisville Journal:

A correspondent of the Journal represents that Gen. Rousseau rallied this regiment to the top of a hill near the battlefield.  It is not true, for this regiment was never out of line or out of order or in confusion during any time of the day.  Mr. Fure, the regular correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, has given by far the most truthful, accurate, and satisfactory account of the battle I have seen.  But he represents us as retreating shortly after the fall of Col. Jouett and Major Campbell.  We fought there without moving from our tracks three long hours at least after their bodies were removed from the field.

I present the following as a statement of the part taken by the 3d Ohio, Col. Beatty, and my own regiment, during this dreadful day.  The 3d Ohio and 15th Kentucky were the only two regiments belonging to Gen. Rousseau's division placed in advance on the right of the road leading from Mackville to Perryville.  The 3d was placed on the brow of the same hill where the batteries were all placed, along a rail fence.  A little to the right of their centre was a large barn filled with hay.  This was immediately set on fire by the enemy's batteries, and caused intense trouble to the regiments during the whole day.  A cornfield extended from the fence about a hundred and fifty yards, down to a stone fence, and further over to the right was a farm house.  We saw the enemy was in largely overpowering numbers.  As soon as the 3d came up and occupied its ground, it was fired upon, and a desperate fire was kept up until the ammunition of the 3d was exhausted, when the 15th went forward with fixed bayonets and relieved the 3d.  Shortly afterwards, Lieut. Col. Jouett was shot in the leg, and Lieut. McGrath went to his assistance.  After raising him, he was himself shot dead through the head.  Major Campbell was shot through the body about the same time, and was borne from the field to a house, where he died immediately afterwards.  I have been within view of these three gentlemen for more than a year.  I believe I never saw purer men, and as officers, I know they deserved positions far higher than had been assigned them.

The firing of the regiment had not been interrupted by these events at all, but was kept up with overwhelming effect, and we had succeeded in driving the enemy entirely behind the stone fence.  We saw them beginning to file around our right, but our ammunition was exhausted, and the sun was down, and the enemy had passed to our rear in the fields on our left, so I faced the regiment about and marched it in good order to the foot of the hill where I united with the third and filed out into the road and marched back, and coming to the same place I had occupied in the morning, I turned them in there to rest themselves, and was placing them below the hill, for the brow was raked by cannon from both sides, but Gen. Rousseau rode up and desired them to be placed on the brow.  I immediately faced the regiment about and marched it to the top and the hill and made it lie down.  This order must have been obeyed very readily, for Gen. Rousseau put his cap on the point of his sword and shouted for Old Kentucky.  But the regiment was completely exhausted with thirst, and I marched them to a wood where I succeeded in getting water for them, and spent the night.  I do not believe a regiment could have behaved more bravely than the 3d Ohio, Colonel Beatty, all his officers and soldiers, and what I say of them I say of my own regiment.  My horse was killed under me as soon as I reached the line, and, after stepping from him, I received the wound in the fleshy part of my arm.

I remain very respectfully,

                                                                               CURRAN POPE

                                                                            Col. 15th Regiment Ky. Vol.

Louisville Journal, October 21, 1862