History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1078 SEVENTY-NINTHE REGIMENT. 1863
enteenth Kentucky, and Fourth Indiana Battery. About this time the regimental band was mustered out by general order of the War Department, and
returned home.
Early in September the movement of Buell's Army north, commenced.
Bragg with a strong force had broken into Kentucky, ravaging and destroying
on every hand, and was directing his course towards Louisville. Buell made
forced marches to reach it in advance of him and was successful, arriving in
front of the town on the 26th. Foiled in his purpose, Bragg soon turned back,
and, having collected immense stores, began to make his way south. Encumbered with his trains, his progress was slow. Buell moved in pursuit and came
up with him near Perryville. To save his trains Bragg was obliged to turn
and give battle. Artillery firing commenced early on the morning of the 8th
of October. Rousseau's Division was hastened forward and drawn up in line,
Barn's and Lytle's Brigades on the right, Harris' in the centre, and Starkweather's on the left, with Terrill's Brigade of Jackson's Division on the left,
in front of, and some whatin advance of the main line. Favored by irregularities of ground, and woods in his front, the enemy was enabled to approach
upon the left in heavy force unobserved, and at a little after noon, fell upon
Terrills Brigade in great violence, accompanied with unearthly yells. This
brigade, composed of raw troops, staggered under the terrible blow, and soon
fled in confusion. General Jackson was killed by the first volley.* Starkweather's Brigade stood in rear of Terrill, the First Kentucky and Fourth Indiana Batteries on the hill, the Twenty-first Wisconsin in front, the Seventyninth Pennsylvania, the First Wisconsin, and Twenty-fourth Illinois in rear and
in support of the batteries. As soon as the panic stricken troops of Terrill
had passed to the rear, the enemy followed up his advantage, with intent to
crush and turn M'Cook's left, but was met by Starkweather who stood firm.
The batteries of Bush and Stone did fearful execution, and the infantry poured
in a steady fire. Three times the rebels charged with determined valor, but
were as often bloodily repulsed. At length, the ammunition having been exhausted, the infantry retired to replenish it, the guns were moved back near,ussell's House, and the infantry again returned to its place in the line. The
battle raged upon the right with equal violence, and the line was carried back;
but the divisions of Mitchell and Sheridan, of Gilbert's Corps, stubbornly held
their ground and the enemy was at length forced to give up the contest. Upon
advancing on the following morning, it was discovered that he had fled
during the night. The Seventy-ninth lost in this engagement, thirty-seven
killed, one hundred and forty-nine wounded, and three missing, an aggregate
of one hundred and eighty-nine. Captain Samuel J. Boone and Lieutenant
Henry J. Test, were of the killed.
The army followed up the retreating rebels, harrassing their rear, passing
Drainesville, where a large number of their wounded were found, Stanford,
Crab Orchard, Lebanon, and Bowling Green, at which place the pursuit was
stayed, and General Buell was superseded by General Rosecrans. While here
sanitary stores from the "Patriot Daughters of Lancaster" were received.
I* e was struck in the right breast by a piece of an exploded shell, and, with the exclamation "Oh God!" fell from his horse and died without a struggle. Eventhe enemy paid a tribute
to his gallantry. Terrill also fell directly after, and h'Cook's left, flank was uncovered and
would have been destroyed with the loss of the train, but for the pluck of Starkweather's
men.-Harper's Pictorial History, Part I, p. 314.