On this Date

On October 8th, 1862, the Union army was victorious at The Battle of Perryville. this was the largest Civil War combat to take place in Kentucky, and secured a key position in a very necessary swing state of the Civil War.

This battle is also often times called the Battle for Kentucky, because shortly after this combat, General Bragg, of the Confederate army, retreated and withdrew all troops from Kentucky to Tennessee. At this point, General Don Carlos Beull, of the Ohio Union army, secured a position that was absolutely vital in defending the northern states. Kentucky was just on the cusp, and was considered a border state, and securing it, meant easy access behind enemy lines with camps being set up all along the Kentucky/Tennessee border.

Hot on the heels of General Bragg, the union army moved into a small farm town in Kentucky known as Perryville. Once there, the union army divided into three sects and began a small skirmish on the Springfield Pike. the more general area of fighting occurred on Peter's hill when the Confederate Infantry made an appearance. Both sides were desperately fighting to be the controllers of a large supply of fresh water that was nearby.

The next morning on october 8th, the Union army was reinforced with two brigades and confederate attacks quickly came to a halt. Overwhelmed, the Confederate army retreat to Tennessee by way of the Cumberland Gap.

This event marks a turning point in the Civil War, the most influential war on America in history. this battle was a huge success for the Union and still effects people today because the Union army successfully reunited the nation. This battle held great influence in determining the outcome of the Civil War, and citizens of Kentucky and the US should be very proud.