American Civil War: Armies Clash at Perryville

October 8, 1862 - Union and Confederate forces meet in the Battle of Perryville. In August 1862, Gen. Braxton Bragg (left) began moving north with the goal of invading Kentucky. To block this thrust, the Union Army of the Ohio, led by Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, raced north prevent the capture of Louisville. Beating the Confederates to the city, the two armies encountered each other to the west of Perryville. While both commanders wished to avoid a general engagement, fighting broke out as units from each side attempted to gather water. Attacking the Union position throughout the day, Bragg's men were able to force the Union troops back numerous times, but were unable to break their line. At dusk, with Union forces in a strong defensive position, Bragg broke off the engagement. Alerted to additional Union troops approaching from the southwest, which could severe his supply lines, he elected to fall back to Tennessee.

Photograph Courtesy of the National Archives & Records Administration

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