Kentucky.  There were 72,196 combatants (55,396 Union and 16,800 Confederates) in the area during the Battle of Perryville.  Of this total, 20,000 Union troops and 16,000 Confederates engaged in combat during the battle.  These numbers make Perryville the largest battle to have been fought in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky.  There were 72,196 combatants (55,396 Union and 16,800 Confederates) in the area during the Battle of Perryville.  Of this total, 20,000 Union troops and 16,000 Confederates engaged in combat during the battle.  These numbers make Perryville the largest battle to have been fought in the Bluegrass State.

The Confederate Heartland Campaign.   The Battle of Perryville was the largest and final battle of the 1862 Heartland Campaign. This Confederate campaign which started in August 1862, was designed to bring Kentucky more fully into the Confederacy.

The Confederate Heartland Campaign.   The Battle of Perryville was the largest and final battle of the 1862 Heartland Campaign. This Confederate campaign which started in August 1862, was designed to bring Kentucky more fully into the Confederacy.

The Confederate Heartland Campaign.   The Battle of Perryville was the largest and final battle of the 1862 Heartland Campaign. This Confederate campaign which started in August 1862, was designed to bring Kentucky more fully into the Confederacy.

Don Carlos Buell.   Despite having overwhelming numbers at Perryville, Buell failed to employ this advantage.  Angry at his poor performance, Buell was relieved of command on October 24, 1862 and replaced by Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans.

Don Carlos Buell.   Despite having overwhelming numbers at Perryville, Buell failed to employ this advantage.  Angry at his poor performance, Buell was relieved of command on October 24, 1862 and replaced by Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans.

Don Carlos Buell.   Despite having overwhelming numbers at Perryville, Buell failed to employ this advantage.  Angry at his poor performance, Buell was relieved of command on October 24, 1862 and replaced by Maj. Gen. William Rosecrans.

Water. In the Summer and Fall of 1862, eastern Kentucky was suffering from an extensive drought.  Water had become a scarce resource.  The area around Perryville had a number of streams and rivers of great value to the parched soldiers and horses of both the North and South.

Water. In the Summer and Fall of 1862, eastern Kentucky was suffering from an extensive drought.  Water had become a scarce resource.  The area around Perryville had a number of streams and rivers of great value to the parched soldiers and horses of both the North and South.

Water. In the Summer and Fall of 1862, eastern Kentucky was suffering from an extensive drought.  Water had become a scarce resource.  The area around Perryville had a number of streams and rivers of great value to the parched soldiers and horses of both the North and South.

Maj. Gen. Alexander McCook.  McCook, an 1852 West Point graduate, was the commander of the I Corps at the Battle of Perryville.

Did you Know? Alexander McCook came from an Ohio family that included a father, seven brothers, and five cousins who all fought in the American Civil War - "The Fighting McCooks."

Maj. Gen. Alexander McCook.  McCook, an 1852 West Point graduate, was the commander of the I Corps at the Battle of Perryville.

Did you Know? Alexander McCook came from an Ohio family that included a father, seven brothers, and five cousins who all fought in the American Civil War - "The Fighting McCooks."

Maj. Gen. Alexander McCook.  McCook, an 1852 West Point graduate, was the commander of the I Corps at the Battle of Perryville.

Did you Know? Alexander McCook came from an Ohio family that included a father, seven brothers, and five cousins who all fought in the American Civil War - "The Fighting McCooks."

Cut Telegraph Wires.  Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, recuperating from a horseback riding fall, was highly dismissive of early reports indicating that a major battle was taking place near Perryville.  Buell's preconceived notions were reinforced by an unfortunate acoustic shadow that prevented him from hearing the sounds of battle.    

Cut Telegraph Wires.  Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, recuperating from a horseback riding fall, was highly dismissive of early reports indicating that a major battle was taking place near Perryville.  Buell's preconceived notions were reinforced by an unfortunate acoustic shadow that prevented him from hearing the sounds of battle.    

Cut Telegraph Wires.  Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell, recuperating from a horseback riding fall, was highly dismissive of early reports indicating that a major battle was taking place near Perryville.  Buell's preconceived notions were reinforced by an unfortunate acoustic shadow that prevented him from hearing the sounds of battle.    

McFadden's Ford.   McFadden's Ford is a part of the Stones River Battlefield in Tennessee.  Open Knob, the Squire Bottom House, and the Dixville Crossroads are all prominent landmarks on the Perryville Battlefield.

Did you Know?  That there is a "Bull Run" and a "Wilson's Creek" on the Perryville Battlefield?

McFadden's Ford.   McFadden's Ford is a part of the Stones River Battlefield in Tennessee.  Open Knob, the Squire Bottom House, and the Dixville Crossroads are all prominent landmarks on the Perryville Battlefield.

Did you Know?  That there is a "Bull Run" and a "Wilson's Creek" on the Perryville Battlefield?

McFadden's Ford.   McFadden's Ford is a part of the Stones River Battlefield in Tennessee.  Open Knob, the Squire Bottom House, and the Dixville Crossroads are all prominent landmarks on the Perryville Battlefield.

Did you Know?  That there is a "Bull Run" and a "Wilson's Creek" on the Perryville Battlefield?

Sam Watkins.  Sam Watkins, a private in the 1st Tennessee, wrote Company Aytch, one of the most famous memoirs of the American Civil War.  Despite having fought at places like Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Franklin, Watkins exclaimed "I do not remember of a harder contest and more evenly fought battle than that of Perryville."

Sam Watkins.  Sam Watkins, a private in the 1st Tennessee, wrote Company Aytch, one of the most famous memoirs of the American Civil War.  Despite having fought at places like Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Franklin, Watkins exclaimed "I do not remember of a harder contest and more evenly fought battle than that of Perryville."

Sam Watkins.  Sam Watkins, a private in the 1st Tennessee, wrote Company Aytch, one of the most famous memoirs of the American Civil War.  Despite having fought at places like Shiloh, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Franklin, Watkins exclaimed "I do not remember of a harder contest and more evenly fought battle than that of Perryville."

Leonidas Polk.  With the sun setting and smoke covering the battlefield, Gen. Polk went forward to learn more about a "dark line" of soldiers just to his front.  Learning that this line was made up of the 22nd Indiana, a startled Polk regained his composure and bluffed his way out of this certain jam.  Returning to his lines he told his Confederate troops to open fire with devastating effect.

Did you Know?  That Leonidas Polk was an Episcopal bishop from Louisiana and was nicknamed "The Fighting Bishop."

Leonidas Polk.  With the sun setting and smoke covering the battlefield, Gen. Polk went forward to learn more about a "dark line" of soldiers just to his front.  Learning that this line was made up of the 22nd Indiana, a startled Polk regained his composure and bluffed his way out of this certain jam.  Returning to his lines he told his Confederate troops to open fire with devastating effect.

Did you Know?  That Leonidas Polk was an Episcopal bishop from Louisiana and was nicknamed "The Fighting Bishop."

Leonidas Polk.  With the sun setting and smoke covering the battlefield, Gen. Polk went forward to learn more about a "dark line" of soldiers just to his front.  Learning that this line was made up of the 22nd Indiana, a startled Polk regained his composure and bluffed his way out of this certain jam.  Returning to his lines he told his Confederate troops to open fire with devastating effect.

Did you Know?  That Leonidas Polk was an Episcopal bishop from Louisiana and was nicknamed "The Fighting Bishop."

1954.  After many years of neglect, the Perryville State Historic Park was established in 1954, ninety years to the day after the Battle of Perryville.  Today the park includes more than 890 preserved acres of this historic battlefield.

Did you Know?  The the Civil War Trust has worked to save more than 520 acres of this Kentucky battlefield.

1954.  After many years of neglect, the Perryville State Historic Park was established in 1954, ninety years to the day after the Battle of Perryville.  Today the park includes more than 890 preserved acres of this historic battlefield.

Did you Know?  The the Civil War Trust has worked to save more than 520 acres of this Kentucky battlefield.

1954.  After many years of neglect, the Perryville State Historic Park was established in 1954, ninety years to the day after the Battle of Perryville.  Today the park includes more than 890 preserved acres of this historic battlefield.

Did you Know?  The the Civil War Trust has worked to save more than 520 acres of this Kentucky battlefield.