The posting of Starkweather's brigade and Stone's and Bush's batteries saved my left and secured to us the Mackville road, upon which stood our entire ammunition train and ambulances. The ground to the right of the road being rough and rugged prevented the train from being taken off the road and parked.

I have previously stated that the firing on both sides ceased at dark. The enemy posted their pickets about 50 yards from ours, but the main body escaped during the night, and with such precipitation that they left their dead and wounded and could not carry the guns captured from the new batteries from the field. The guns were all recovered next morning, except two Napoleon guns of Parsons' battery, that were kindly exchanged by the enemy for two 6-pounder field guns. The enemy retreated across Chaplin River to the Harrodsburg turnpike, about 1 1/2 miles distant from the battle-field; thence to Harrodsburg.

The battle-field was a chosen one for the enemy. They marched from Harrodsburg to give our army battle at or near Perryville. The ground upon which the battle was fought was very much broken by hills and deep ravines, which afforded every facility to them for concealing their troops. I was assailed by at least three divisions of the enemy. The bluffs and dry channels of Chaplin River and Doctor's Fork afforded them every advantage for concealing and massing large bodies of troops.

I have since been reliably informed that General Bragg commanded the enemy in person and that Polk's and Hardee's corps were present upon the field.

Thus ends my account of the part taken in the battle of Chaplin Hills by my corps, the bloodiest battle of modern times for the number of troops engaged on our side. Rousseau had present on the field 7,000; Jackson, 5,500; the brigade of Gooding amounted to about 1,500. The battle was principally fought by Rousseau's division, and if there are or ever were better soldiers than the old troops engaged I have neither seen nor read of them.

Great discrimination must be exercised in making a perfectly fair statement respecting the conduct of the new regiments; exposed as some of them were to a terrific fire at the onset of the enemy, it would be extraordinary to expect in them the steadiness and composure of veterans. It was clearly perceptible that the resolution and obstinate resistance displayed by the old troops in the same brigade or in close proximity had a salutary effect in animating and encouraging the new troops; for instance, the Ninth Brigade. When the Second and Thirty-third Ohio, Thirty-eighth Indiana, and Tenth Wisconsin fought so well, I was proud to see the Ninety-fourth and Ninety-eighth Ohio vie with their brethren in deeds of heroism. Commanders have found occasion for severe reflection on individuals, whose conduct did not entirely justify the confidence reposed in them by their State and country. These cases, happily but few, compel me the more strongly to awaken the attention of our authorities to a more rigid and careful selection of officers who may join to their other qualifications the essential ones of courage and honor. The material of the new levies is evidently as good as in the old regiments. My apology for the misbehavior of some on this day is want of discipline and confidence in their field and line officers.

If it were not a great pleasure my duty compels me to call the attention of my superiors and my Government to the conspicuous gallantry and good conduct of Brig. Gen. L. H. Rousseau on this hotly contested field. The manner of posting his left and the way it was maintained render him one of the most conspicuous lights of the war.

The attention of my superiors is called to the good conduct and gallantry