OCTOBER 8, 1862.--Battle of Perryville, or Chaplin Hills, Ky.
No. 23.--Report of Brig. Gen. James B. Steedman, U. S. Army, commanding Third Brigade.
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HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., ARMY OF THE OHIO,
Camp near Crab Orchard, Ky., October 19, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 14, from corps headquarters, that late in the afternoon of the 8th instant, having been ordered with my brigade to support Major-General McCook, my command, in obedience to the orders of that officer, took position on the right of the division commanded by Brigadier-General Rousseau, where it was exposed to a quite severe fire of shot and shell and some musketry without being able to reply, except with the artillery attached (Company I, Fourth U.S. Artillery, commanded by Lieut. Frank G. Smith), which opened and fired with effect for about forty-five minutes, dismounting two guns, exploding one caisson, and effectually silencing the battery against which its fire was directed. The casualties of this command were: Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, Col. F. Van Derveer commanding--Lieut. Joseph S. Claypoole and 3 men taken prisoners (since paroled for exchange); Ninth Ohio Volunteers, Lieut. Col. Charles Joseph, commanding- 1 man severely wounded and 2 men taken prisoners (since paroled); Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, Col. K. G. Shryock commanding--2 men wounded, 1 severely; Eighteenth U.S. Infantry, Maj. F. Townsend commanding--3 men wounded, 1 severely; Second Minnesota Volunteers, Col. James George commanding--1 man taken prisoner; Company I, Fourth U.S. Artillery, Lieut. F. G. Smith commanding--1 man severely wounded and 1 man taken prisoner (since paroled); Lieut. Richard Schneider, serving on my staff, captured while conveying orders on the field (since paroled for exchange).
I avail myself of this opportunity to reassure you of my entire confidence in the officers and men of my command.
With esteem, respectfully, yours,
JAMES B. STEEDMAN, Capt. J. EDWARD STACY,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Third Brigade.
A. A. G., Third Corps, Army of the Ohio.