"From a splendid account in the Louisville Journal, of the victory at Perryville, we make such extracts as are of more special interest:
BATTLE-FIELD, Oct. 9, 1862.
When time shall have furnished an opportunity for truth to detail the incidents of the battle of yesterday in the hills where the now glorious Third Division lies, the battle of Chaplin Hills will be recorded as one of the hardest contested and bloodiest conflicts of the war. In all its features and incidents desperate—in its conduct reflecting honor and glory on the gallant Brigadier who commanded the brave men who fought it, this battle will be known for its terrible casualties on both sides, and for the fury with which immense masses of desperate rebels hurled themselves against the little band of determined men who repulsed them so bloodily. The long lists of the killed and wounded will tell how bravely our men have fought. The battle-field this morning reveals hundreds of evidences of how the rebels fought.
STARKWEATHER INTO LINE.
The brigade of Terrill, broken and scattered, fleeing to the rear, Gen. Rousseau hastily got Starkweather into position on the line originally chosen by him. At the same time, while his orders were being obeyed by Starkweather, Gen. Rousseau endeavored, but in vain, to rally the retreating column of Terrill. He drew his sword and attempted to drive them back, but his efforts were fruitless. His sword was broken in the attempt to drive them back the panic-stricken and raw troops. They fled in confusion many miles t the rear, and by night are said to have been in Springfield.
Gen. Rousseau returned to the brigade of Colonel Starkweather and pushed it forward to the west of the hill under which it had been stationed. Captain Stone's First Kentucky, and Capt. Bush's Fourth Indiana battery were placed on the summit overlooking the valley in the front. The First Wisconsin, Lieut. Col. Bingham, on the left, and the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania, Col. Hambright, on the right, supported the batteries, while the Twenty-first Wisconsin, Col. Sweet, and the Twenty-fourth Illinois, Captain Mauf commanding, were on the extreme left of the brigade. This line was finely formed. Capt. Stone's battery was soon in play and did splendid execution. The First Wisconsin was a noble support, and the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania left nearly a hundred noble fellows on the field while supporting Capt. Bush's battery.
THE ENGAGEMENT BECOMES GENERAL.
By this time the whole lines had become engaged, and the rebels found themselves confronted by a solid line, single, it is true, except upon the extreme right. The men were enthusiastic and determined. Gen. Rousseau had ridden along the line, loudly proclaiming that we were not whipped, though Terrill's brigade had fled, and declaring that "we will whip them yet." He rode along the whole line, now exposed to a withering fire, with his hat upon his sword, broken in the vain endeavor to rally the raw recruits of Jackson.
Along the whole lines of Starkweather and Harris the men with enthusiastic shouts hailed their General. The men of the First Wisconsin cried, "He's the General for us—puts us all in front," and from the Germans of the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania and the Twenty-fourth Illinois went up enthusiastic cheers for Rousseau. Amidst a hail storm of shell, bullets, and solid shot, their General remained among the men, ever present on the line—alas, the only line, their being, unfortunately, no supports. But that front line never wavered on the left, the presence of their gallant General being to inspiration to them, and that inspiration an enduring spirit of determination and bravery never excelled or defeated.
THE REBEL LINE OF BATTLE.
The enemy's line was a magnificent one, extensive and deep, there being not less than three columns advancing, and a heavy reserve visible far in the rear. As the whole line came simultaneously into view, it was a magnificent sight. The troops moved in magnificent style, and when the order came, the skirmishers deployed as if on dress parade. They rushed forward from the line, spreading as beautifully as a fan in the hand of a practiced ecquotte. As from the nest a covey of quails flies, spreading over the field, so did the beautifully drilled troops of the rebels deploy from the line as skirmishers. With desperate fury the front fell upon Terrill and drove him from the field, and then the whole column fell upon the line of Rousseau, admirable disposed, but without support.
Today it was known that the enemy was three divisions strong, composed of the divisions of Frank Cheatham, Buckner, and Humphrey Marshall. Cheatham was on their right and fought Starkweather; Buckner was in the centre and fought Lytle. The first line of the rebels is known to have been composed of the brigade of Gen. George Maney; their right, Donelson, (cousin to the candidate for Vice President with Fillmore,) Stewart, Jones and Johnston's. The second and third lines are not known at this time, but they were brigades of the three divisions named. Bragg was on the field and directed the battle. It will be consoling for Bragg to know that Rousseau—citizen and not West Pointer—gave him his sufficiency of grape.
THE CONFLICT ON THE LEFT.
Starkweather's brigade held our left. I have before described its disposition. Stone's First Kentucky battery and Bush's Fourth Indiana Battery fought with this brigade. Stone was, with great labor on his part, brought to the crest of the hill in time to give the rebels canister as they emerged from the woods in pursuit of Terrill's flying brigade, and came into the open corn field below. The Seventy-Ninth Pennsylvania and the First Wisconsin opened a terrible fire upon them. Stone's men shouted and laughed like devils at every shot. The gunners caught the pieces ere their recoil had been completed and pushed them into position again. The rapid firing of musketry and artillery here was never before excelled, and a perfect hailstorm of shell and solid shot fell among them.
It was a glorious sight, worth the danger and exposure to witness. At the left of Stone's battery stood Rousseau, his presence lending courage to the faintest, as his tall large figure was exposed to the fire of the enemy's sharp-shooters. By him his staff—Jones, Willard, McDowell, and the rest; gallant and brave boys they are. The tall, slim figure of Starkweather was visible in every part of the field.—On the left, seconding the efforts of Rousseau and holding his men gallantly to their work, Stone, with his battery, watched with calm anxiety the effect of his shots, and kept his men at their glorious work. His battery was worked with fine effect, as was that of Capt. Bush, and with their supports of infantry they retained their position until the very last. Bloody was their fight, and hundreds were left on the field in their front. In Capt. Stone's front I this morning saw four dead rebels who had been killed by a single shot.—The top of the head of the first was taken off, the entire head of the second was gone, the breast of the third was torn open, and the ball passed through the abdomen of the fourth. All had fallen in a heap, killed instantly.
There was no maneuvering of troops in Starkweather's brigade. The left of the line was never broken. This brigade was the only one posted on the line of battle originally chosen by Gen. Rousseau.—Harris and Lytle had to be advanced from Rousseau's chosen line to sustain Terrill's brigade, and they had eventually to fall back to the line which Rousseau had determined upon. But Starkweather's brigade never moved. The rebels advanced upon him three times, and three times were they repulsed. Along the whole line of his brigade he kept up a terrible fire, withering and destructive. In the woods and cornfields in his front the rebels lie thick, and the graves tell that officers have fallen in plenty. The rebels buried most of their officers, but many of their men lie on the field to-day, and we are in possession of it.
I cannot express in general terms the gallantry of the men and officers on our left. To say that Starkweather and Hambright and Bingham and Mauf were bravely at their posts in the heat of the fight is only to say what all who know them will guess. To say that Stone and Bush were at their guns is only to say that they did their duty. General terms cannot express it, and I leave it to the imagination of the reader. They all deserve the admiration and thanks of their country."
Bringing the