Perryville Kentucky - October 8, 1862

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The Battle of Perryville Historian Page Perryville was the most important battle waged in Kentucky. This particular battle was claimed to be the bloodiest battle of the Civil war. This battleinvolved the confederate army (south) trying to free Kentucky from the Union (North) who basically, had control over a majority of Kentucky. The confederates launched the campaign to "free" Kentucky in 1862, under the direction of General Braxton Bragg. While up in the north about Twelve thousand men under General E. Kirby Smith fought and gained the central part of Kentucky. Bragg then moved his army towards the north with the intention to link up with Smith and then take control of the entire state. The Union forces in Kentucky, who was under the control of Don Carlos Buell, raced towards Louisville to save the major Union base from capture. Buell got there before Bragg giving him a certain tactical advantage. Then Bragg moved his army into Central Kentucky to join Smith but was followed close behind. The two armies met in battle on October 8. There were about 40,000 men involved in the fighting and casualties surpassed 7,500. This was considered one of the "bloodiest battles of modern times." In the end the confederates had done very well but only a small portion of the Union army was engaged in battle. So in fear that more union forces would come, began a midnight retreat to Harrodsburg, where he joined up with Smith but dismissed the wishes of their superiors to reengage with the now out numbered union. This action caused the south to lose the battle and give another win to the North. All though the two generals engaged in the battle were on opposite sides of the fight they shared some similar facts. The both went to West Point where they both did very well in school, but Buell came close a few times to being expelled. Another fact that they share is that they both established their toughness, in different ways. Buell established it in street fights while Bragg established it on the battlefield. So you see you can share the same qualities as your enemies. *Pictures* top right: General Braxton Bragg of the south (confederates) Bottom left: General Don Carlos Buell of the North (union)

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