The Battle of Perryville, 1862

In 1862, the South launched a campaign to bring the indecisive border state of Kentucky into the Confederacy. Full of blunders and missed opportunities, the campaign convinced the Kentuckians that the Confederacy was incapable of holding the state against determined Union forces. Among the disasters was the bloody battle of Perryville.
Drawing on research in letters, diaries and regimental histories, this book tells the story of the South’s ill-fated effort. The main focus is Perryville, where inexperience on both sides and the lack of cohesive Confederate action turned what could easily have been a Southern victory into a disheartening retreat, forever relegating General Braxton Bragg to the annals of military mediocrity. Appendices include lists of Confederate and Union commands, strategic placements of the inexperienced regiments, and casualties. Photographs and an index are included.

Robert P. Broadwater has written more than 35 books of military history and more than 100 magazine articles dealing with the American Civil War and the Revolutionary War. He lives in Bellwood, Pennsylvania.

Robert P. Broadwater
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 207
Bibliographic Info: 49 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2011 [2005]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6080-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0452-7
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1
Introduction      3

1. Kentucky Invaded and On to Richmond      7
2. Delay at Munfordville      25
3. New Generals, New Men      43
4. Bragg Maneuvers for a Battle      62
5. Opening Shots      73
6. The Fire and the Fury      105
7. The Retreat      131
8. Back in Tennessee      146
Epilogue      155

Appendix I. The Opposing Forces—Cumberland Gap      163
Appendix II. The Opposing Forces—Perryville      166
Appendix III. The Inexperience of Union Regiments      175
Appendix IV. Casualties      178
Appendix V. “The Charge of the First Tennessee at Perryville”      183
Chapter Notes      187
Bibliography      192
Index      197

“captivatingly written”—Midwest Book Review; “well-written…an enjoyable read”—The Civil War News.