On McCook getting his command into position, he reported to General Buell in person, who ordered him to send out a force to the Chaplin River, and find out the position of the enemy in his front.During McCook's absence Rousseau had advanced the right of his line a half mile to obtain a supply of water, for which the troops were suffering.On seeing this, the rebels opened a heavy fire with some twenty pieces of artillery.Rousseau moved his other troops to support his right, and, posting Simonson's and Loomis's batteries, returned the enemy's artillery fire.
When McCook returned to his command, seeing that a good position on high ground could be occupied by our troops on the left and front of Rousseau's new line and near the river, he at once sent skirmishers into the woods at that point, to find out if the enemy held the position.He also directed Jackson to form a new line of battle with his division nearer the stream, and sent the skirmishers forward to the river as soon as this was done, where they obtained the needed supply of water.On the formation of the new line, as no heavy force of the enemy had been encountered, McCook, at about half-past one o'clock, rode to the right of his line.About half an hour later, Hardee, in command of three divisions, under Cheatham, Buckner, and Anderson, some sixteen thousand strong, advanced to the attack on McCook, driving back the skirmishers, first striking those posted in the woods.McCook had formed his line of battle, with Rousseau's right near a barn on the right of the Maxville road, extending to the left and across that road on a ridge through a cornfield to the woods where the skirmishers were.The right of Jackson's line was holding a wooded elevation, running off to the left in rear of Chaplin River, while his left, north of Maxville road, was thrown back in a northwesterly direction, forming an obtuse angle, deflected about thirty degrees along broken heights from their centre and right, the point of the angle being near where the Maxville road crosses Doctor's Creek.The enemy considered the key of McCook's position to be at this crossing, and directed their main attack on that point.McCook had posted Starkweather's brigade in the rear of the left as support to Jackson, with Stone's and Bush's batteries of Rousseau's division, and had placed Webster's brigade of Jackson's division in rear of Rousseau's line.The enemy opened the attack on the extreme left of the Federal force posted in the angle.This was a very strong position, by reason of the character of the ground, which enabled these troops to sweep their front with a heavy fire.The troops here were protected by being posted behind stone fences, and were supported by batteries in the rear.In the attack on the left Jackson was killed by the first fire.Terrill's troops--nearly all new--were driven back, and McCook's left turned.In falling back, Terrill endeavored to rally his command near the batteries posted in his rear.While gallantly doing so, he fell, mortally wounded, and died in a few hours.
McCook sent to Sheridan, asking him to protect his right, and sent to Gilbert for reinforcements.
The advance of the enemy was checked by Starkweather's brigade, with Stone's and Bush's batteries, all well posted to meet the assault after Terrill's brigade had been driven back.The enemy made repeated assaults with fresh troops at this point, but was driven back each time with heavy loss until the troops and batteries were out of ammunition, when they fell back to the original line, and obtaining a supply renewed the fight.
On the right in Rousseau's front the enemy under Anderson made a vigorous charge on Lytle's and Harris's brigades, attacking in greatly superior numbers.They were however handsomely repulsed.
After fighting until their ammunition was exhausted, these troops retired on the line with Starkweather's command.The rebels then pushing forward under heavy fire from their batteries drove Lytle's brigade from the new line.Sloan's battery getting into position opened on the rebels with canister and checked their advance.
Colonel Gooding's brigade from Mitchell's division of Gilbert's corps, with Penney's Fifth Wisconsin Battery, was ordered up, and after a brisk engagement the enemy was driven back and the original line of battle reoccupied.Steedman's brigade of Schoepff's division also came up, and attacking the enemy aided in the final repulse.
When the heaviest attack was made on Rousseau the enemy assaulted Sheridan's division in the advanced position which he occupied after forcing back their line earlier in the day.He now withdrew his troops, and posting them in a more favorable position on the original line, opened on the rebels with heavy musketry fire and canister.The enemy pressing him very hard at this point, he called on Gilbert for support, who re-enforced him with Carlin's brigade from Mitchell's division.As the enemy moved forward in strong force to the attack, Carlin immediately ordered his troops to charge, which they did, and drove the rebels before them through Perryville, capturing in the town two caissons, fifteen wagons loaded with ammunition, and a guard of 138 men under command of three officers.Sheridan also drove the enemy for some distance, but did not consider it prudent to advance too far, leaving McCook's right exposed.He then directed his artillery fire on the enemy at his left, and aided in checking the advance in that quarter.
