My instructions required me to advance on the Perryville road until I reached a point 3 or 3 1/2 miles of Perryville or until I came up abreast with Gilbert's corps. The head of my column reached the point designated at 10.30 a.m. General Rousseau advanced his cavalry and a portion of his infantry to the front in order to see if the ground was clear, the artillery [Loomis' battery] being halted on the hill in rear. General Rousseau soon sent me word that the enemy was reported advancing in force on the position assigned my corps. I then rode forward and examined the ground, and saw a few of the enemy skirmishing with the left of Gilbert's corps. My attention was then directed to General Gilbert's left. I saw his infantry in line about 400 or 500 yards to our right. I called General Rousseau's attention to this fact, marked out my line of battle, and ordered him to form on it, having directed Loomis' battery to be brought up and put in position on a commanding piece of ground to the left and near Russell's house [called Clarke's on your map]. I had previously ordered General Rousseau to throw forward a line of skirmishers to examine the woods on our left and front; also sending Captain Wickliffe, with his company of the Second Kentucky Volunteer Cavalry, to reconnoiter the ground on the left of the skirmishers. General Gay's cavalry was making a reconnaissance in front and toward Perryville. I was then well satisfied that the enemy that had engaged Gilbert's left had retired from the field.

I then informed General Rousseau that my instructions required me to report in person to General Buell: that I was about to leave the field, but would return in a short time. I had given particular instructions to Capt. J. A. Campbell, my assistant adjutant-general, to post General Jackson's two brigades on a commanding piece of ground immediately to the right of the Mackville and Perryville road, and to hold them there in column, so that they could be moved in any direction that occasion required. I then galloped off to report to General Buell, whose headquarters were about 2 1/2 miles in rear and right of my line. Having reported, I then received verbal instructions from General Buell to make a reconnaissance down to Chaplin River. I immediately returned to my troops, finding that General Rousseau had advanced the line on the right, occupying a commanding ridge about 800 yards in front and to the left of Russell's house. The enemy had placed three batteries in position and were firing upon his line; Loomis' and Simonson's batteries were replying. There being then no infantry of the enemy in sight, I sent an order for these batteries to cease firing and economize their ammunition. The command suffering greatly for water, I then prepared to make the reconnaissance toward Chaplin River, as ordered. Having been informed by my guide, Capt. Beverly D. Williams, acting assistant quartermaster on General Jackson's staff, and also by Col. L. A. Harris, commanding the Ninth Brigade, that by moving a short distance to the left of the Perryville road I could get high commanding ground for a portion of my line, I went forward in person to the high ground overlooking a portion of Chaplin River, advanced to within 600 yards of the river, and saw the water. Having previously ordered a portion of the Thirty-third Ohio Volunteers into the woods on the right as skirmishers to ascertain if any enemy was present in that vicinity, I then sent for Generals Jackson and Terill, showed them the water, marked their line of battle, and ordered a battery to be posted on this line, with strong support. General Terrill was ordered to advance a body of skirmishers cautiously down the slope of the hill to the water as soon as the line was formed.