Perryville

Wedged between Donelson’s and Maney’s brigades, Stewart’s Confederates continued their advance. Two Union infantry regiments initially held this area, but Stewart’s attack hurled them back.

There was more work to be done. From the second ridge ahead of you, Union captain Samuel Harris’ artillery battery fired toward this position, into the advancing Southern line. Soon, this field was filled with the wounded, dead, and dying.

Eventually, Stewart’s regiments intermingled with other Confederate units and pressed toward the battery. The Union troops on the ridge made a strong stand, but they were overwhelmed and the battery was overrun.

By dark, the Confederates had pushed the Federal soldiers past the ridges in front of you. With the sunlight fading, Stewart’s command ran out of ammunition and withdrew. His timely arrival on the battlefield helped ensure a Confederate tactical victory.

...[I]n one hour and three-quarters we lost two hundred and eleven men out of our regiment. We went into the fight with forty-three men in our company and came out with eighteen, having had twenty-five wounded and killed; two killed dead and two dying the next day. I myself was unfortunate enough to be shot through the left leg, about two inches below the knee...

Union soldier Adam S. Johnson

79th Pennsylvania Infantry

Marker can be reached from Park Road west of Battlefield Road (Kentucky Route 1920).

Courtesy hmdb.org

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