Perryville The Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862

James, I got another chance to see the rest of your thread on Perryville. It is very good. I wish I could go back to Perryville, but at least I got to see the sites again. Thank you for your photo tour again.

My pleasure! Perryville had been on my "bucket list" ever since the 1962 Centennial when I sent for a large tabloid souvenir program that accompanied the reenactment. It was all about the Civil War in Kentucky, not only the battle, and had all sorts of tempting information - I still have it somewhere but haven't looked at now for many years.
 
Great thread, I went to Perryville in 2016 for the reenactment, my first East of the Mississippi, and it along with a stop by the Civil War museum in Bardstown was a trip to remember, especially with a memorable prank on the company cook I'm still laughing over. The battlefield park was beyond impressive, when I was there they were working to remove most modern influences on the park, including moving power lines to restore the 1862 appearance, and I have to say they were doing an impressive job, I have to return again one day.
 
Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, was sidelined during the campaign acting as Buell's second-in-command accompanying Crittenden's force where he exercised no influence over coming events, since this force of some 22,000 took no part in the battle!
Probably the best performance Joe Wheeler's cavalry ever put in on a battlefield, immobilizing 20,000 Yankee infantry!:wink:
 
Probably the best performance Joe Wheeler's cavalry ever put in on a battlefield, immobilizing 20,000 Yankee infantry!:wink:
I think they were more immobilized by Buell's and Thomas' lackadaisical performance (admittedly aversely affected by the sound inversion); Gilbert's timorous advance; and effects of the unseasonable heat and drought.
 
This thread needs a bump! This is awesome! I would really like to go to Perryville for my Birthday, but convincing my mom and dad to make the three hour drive, and have my brother complain about it all the way...slim chance.
You just need to make a convincing argument and find someone to take your side. After all, it’s your birthday. Then your family will forever tell the story of the time you dragged them to Perryville. 25 years later, my younger brothers still complain about a detour we made to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, in the middle of winter, where I looked at everything in their then-extensive collection, indoors and out. They stayed in the car after they lost feeling in their extremities.

Make those family memories! Perryville is worth it. And Harrodsburg isn’t too far away either!
 
You just need to make a convincing argument and find someone to take your side. After all, it’s your birthday. Then your family will forever tell the story of the time you dragged them to Perryville. 25 years later, my younger brothers still complain about a detour we made to the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, in the middle of winter, where I looked at everything in their then-extensive collection, indoors and out. They stayed in the car after they lost feeling in their extremities.

Make those family memories! Perryville is worth it. And Harrodsburg isn’t too far away either!


NOBODY can out debate my mom, lol!
 
I love these posts. The meat of the forum! Lumsden's Battery unlimbered on the hill just north of Widow Bottom. They had a 3" iron rifled gun that was very accurate. Pvt. Isaac Mason was not yet with the battery. He joined the battery after the Confederate victory at Stone's River as they went to Chattanooga to whoop'm agin.
 
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Would someone happen to have an up close picture (high resolution if possible) of the Simonson's Battery signage at Perryville they would share? I've been looking for a picture of Simonson himself for years but have yet to find one.
Thank You,
Tony Patton
Resaca Battlefield Historic Site
 
A great overview of the battle. It has been several years since I visited Perryville and I forget all the details. You covered all the main spots.
Your photos taken inside the museum are rather fuzzy. I thought I took several photos but I only have 2.

When I visit a battlefield, I usually focus on one brigade or a few regiments or batteries. I was interested in the 30th Mississippi Regiment, which is the regiment my gr-grandfather enlisted a year AFTER Perryville. The 30th Mississippi was in Jones Brigade.

Map shows how they crossed the creek and advanced up the hill.
Map Perryville.JPG


KYtrip_ 111.JPG

KYtrip_ 112.JPG


I believe this photo shows the view of their advance. In the center is a soggy depression which I think played a role in slowing their advance---as well as they didn't know what they would find over the ridge to their front and their flank.
KYtrip_ 113.JPG
 
A great overview of the battle. It has been several years since I visited Perryville and I forget all the details. You covered all the main spots.
Your photos taken inside the museum are rather fuzzy. I thought I took several photos but I only have 2.

When I visit a battlefield, I usually focus on one brigade or a few regiments or batteries. I was interested in the 30th Mississippi Regiment, which is the regiment my gr-grandfather enlisted a year AFTER Perryville. The 30th Mississippi was in Jones Brigade.

Map shows how they crossed the creek and advanced up the hill.
View attachment 327943
Thanks; for some reason, my camera has trouble focusing in most interiors, and unfortunately this was no exception. I too was "following' a particular unit, the 33rd Alabama in S.A.M. Wood's brigade - it was their very first fight and I presume my G-G-Grandfather was present, but who knows? You can see them in the center of the line at far left making the final assault of the day after trekking across the battlefield in the wake of everybody else.
 
General Lowrey.JPG

Mark Perrin Lowrey, CSA
Colonel of 32nd Mississippi
Later Brig-General



Mark Lowrey was born in McNairy County, Tenn in 1828, of Irish & Enlish immigrants. His family was poor and his father died from yellow fever in Natchez, Mississippi, when he was quite young. His mother moved to Tishimingo County in NorthEast Mississippi. When war erupted with Mexico, Mark enlisted in the 2nd Mississippi Volunteers but they never saw combat. He Sarah Holmes married in 1849 and to supplement their income they took a boarder who was a Baptist preacher. This preacher gave Lowrey tutoring classes. Lowrey soon discovered he had a desire to preach, also. He became a Southern Baptist preacher in the vicinity of Kossuth, MS, and continued to preach for 8 years. He also acted as Captain of a militia unit.
At the outbreak of the war, his congregation urged him to join. He helped organize and was elected Colonel of the 4th Mississippi Volunteer Infantry. On the eve of the Battle of Shiloh, Colonel Lowery was given command of the 32nd Mississippi Infantry. At the Battle of Perryville, Colonel Lowrey was severely wounded in his left arm. He recovered in time to join his troops at the Battle of Murfreesboro, Jan. 1, 1863, where he was praised for as a intrepid leader. At Chickamauga, he received notable distinction and was promoted to Brigadier General. In the defense of Georgia, he served in Hardee's Corps. He became known as "The Preacher General".
General Pat Cleburne said of Lowrey: "He is the bravest man in the Confederate army".

After the war, he returned to Mississippi and his studies. He began a religious newspaper "The Christian Index" and served as president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention from 1868 to 1877. This lead him to founding Blue Mountain Female Institute. He became a major railroad shareholder with Gen. William Falkner of Ripley and gained a rail line through Blue Mountain. Lowrey remained president of what is now Blue Mountain College. His doctor said his heart had grown very weak. On December 27th 1885, while buying a train ticket at the station in Middleton, TN, he suddenly fell dead. He was 56 years old. He is buried in Blue Mountain.

Source: Article by David Smight in Fayette Record paper.
 
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