John William Sutton is mentioned in this Essay: Private John Huber and The Battle of Perryville By James Joseph Huber (Great Grandson) Prologue I have always been intrigued with the part my Great Grandpa John Huber, played in the Battle of Perryville as a member of Stones’ artillery unit. Having served with the 138th Field Artillery myself, which traces its lineage to great grandpa John’s unit, I know the experiences of serving in an artillery unit. I stood at the same spot at Perryville where he stood and imagined what it was like on top of that hill with the Confederates charging up toward him. I know I can never fully comprehend what he went through but do what to record for my children, grandchildren and his descendents so they know the part he played in the battle that day. Grandpa Huber, as well as his comrades are unsung heroes. Colonel Starkweather’s unit of which he was a part, stopped the Confederate advance when other units had failed and helped saved Kentucky for the Union at Perryville. Private John Huber and the Battle of Perryville Little did Great Grandpa John know when he left Switzerland with his brothers, he would become involved in one of the most dramatic chapters in the history of our country. Grandpa John, at the age of 21, would fight and be wounded while defending his adopted country. A butcher by trade, blood was part of his everyday surroundings, but nothing could have prepared him for scenes he would witness on the battlefield at Perryville. In September of 1862 Kentucky was in turmoil. Confederate forces under the command of Kirby Smith captured Frankfort and the Confederate Army of the Mississippi under the Command of Braxton Bragg neared Louisville. The citizens of Louisville were in panic. Many crossed the Ohio to Indiana with their valuables and belongings. Grandpa John marched out of Louisville with trepidation born of the atmosphere prevailing in the city. He marched out of Louisville with his brother-in law, John William Sutton, leaving his beloved Hestor, whom he had married in Louisville only a few years before. John William Sutton had joined the Army of Ohio also and he would survive his service in Kentucky but would be killed a few months later on December 31st 1862 at the Battle of Murfreesboro in Tennessee. Earlier Grandpa John had joined David C Stones' Company (A), 1st regiment KY artillery Volunteers on July 4th 1861 in Louisville. Grandpa John, fondly known as Hubee to his friends in Company A, would see many of his company killed or wounded in battle. Having share more than a year with these men through the rigors of training followed by service in Bowling Green, KY; Nashville, Tennessee; the March to Savannah, Tennessee; and siege of Corinth, Mississippi; he remembered their last hours together with a heavy heart. He would survive but many would not. The Confederates hoped to take Kentucky and recruit within, with plans to further advance into the North's heartland. The Confederates divided their armies, Kirby Smith located forces in central Kentucky expecting to raise an army of Kentuckians loyal to the South. Confederate General Bragg hearing of reinforcements in Louisville marched his troops toward Bardstown. Grandpa Huber, part of General Alex Mccook's I Corps, with about 13,000 men came from Louisville marching down Taylorsville Road. One of the main problems to facing both armies was the lack of water. In 1862 Kentucky was in a major drought. Grandpa Huber experience what most never do; a thirst causing your body to cry out for water while under a blistering sun; heat of battle; and exhaustion that followed. The first shots fired at Perryville were at Doctor's Creek with both armies’ looking for water. Grandpa John's first taste of battle was at 1:30 P.M. when his battery fired on Union Colonel John Wharton cavalry brigade which was leading an assault at Walker’s Bend of the Chaplin River. General William Terrill, 33rd Brigade Commander and General James Jackson advance on the river, claiming, in Terrill's words; "that's my water." Grandpa John stood top Starkweather's hill, he witness the battles taking place on Peter's Hill. The Confederate 9th Tennessee and Maney;'s Brigade were behind a fence line at the bottom of Peter's Hill. On top, Union lieutenant Charles Parsons had an eight cannon battery. The attack began at 2:P.M. The 136 men of Parsons battery where infantrymen pressed into duty with the artillery. Parson’s men had little or no training or experience and were face with battle hardened Confederates under Maney attacking. Although suffering many causalities Maney’s Brigade were able to take the hill and with inexperienced Union artillerymen running away leaving their guns. Between 2:20 and 2:50 on the other side of the hill battle again raged with the Confederates attacking other inexperienced union troops. The ranks of the union line were in chaos and the line collapsed with the survivors fleeing west. Battle continued at the cornfield at approximately 3 P.M. General Terrill’s Union Brigade was in disarray and fleeing up the side of the hill past the cornfield. The 21st Wisconsin and Starkweathers Brigade were lying in ambush in the cornfield when the confederates pushed through. The Wisconsin men stood up and fired; however the Confederates continued to advance and indiscriminate fire was coming from Union forces on the hill behind. Faced with fire from all sides, the 21st Wisconsin fell back behind the hill to their rear in complete disarray. Grandpa Huber was on top of Starkweather’s Hill and was in full view of the action below. The Confederates were flush with victory. They had beaten the Union forces on Peter’s hill. Pushed back the units at the bottom right of the hill and now were in control of the cornfield. The union forces had been inexperience and when retreating had done so as individuals, with no organization. The only thing now between the Confederate forces and the Union’s supplies and ammunition was a ragtag band of men from units that had fallen apart in the earlier fighting and Colonel Starkweater’s Units. Grandpa Huber’s commander Colonel John C. Starkweather managed to place his troops at Benton road. By coordinating with the artillery on top of the hill he managed to halt the confederate advance. Confederate forces after fierce fighting up Peter’s hill which continued down to Benton road desperately needed rest. Some were momentarily too exhausted to continue the battle up Starkweather’s Hill. But Maney’s four Tennessee regiments, the cream of the Confederate forces were a different matter. The Union had twelve cannon on top of Starkweather’s hill with Grandpa Huber’s unit of Company A included. The Confederates were faced with a different foe on this hilltop. Included in Starkweather’s command were Kentucky volunteers, veterans fighting on their own soil, with Great Grandpa being one. Other of Starkweather’s troops were well train and disciplined. However, as the Confederates advanced up the hill the artillery could no longer lower their guns to confront the Confederates. The Confederates fraught their way up the hill, ending with hand-to-hand combat and capturing the guns. The victory was short lived as Union troops recapture the hill. A first hand account describes the scene at the top of the hill, “We moved up the hill and nestled close in under the guns, many of the Artillerists had been killed and the ground was slippery with blood, many a poor dark looking powered begrimed artillery man laying stretched out upon the ground around us, torn and mutilated, their countenance plainly indicating the awful manner of their death.” Grandpa Huber survived the attack, but lay wounded with many of his Battery either dead or injured. He must have crawled off the hill after the Confederates took the top, because he lay on the field all night. He may not have made it till morning if had not been for a black man who brought him water and comfort. Grandpa’s unit after the Union forces retook the hill assisted forcing the 5th Tennessee into retreat. The final assault by the Confederates on the hill failed. Colonel Starkweather with his line now stable withdrew to the hilltop directly behind him to keep the Confederates from flanking his forces. The Union line had held. What had Grandpa Huber witnessed that day? We can only guess but one survivor of the battle said, “…you cannot imagine the horror of war. No pen nor tongue can begin to tell the misery that I have seen.” – Charles W. Carr, 24 Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Great Grandpa was paid less than 50 cents for his part in the battle that day. That was the pay for a private in the Union Army. What he experienced during his early years were many losses. Two bothers-in-law were killed fighting in the war. Grandpa Huber had to have his right leg amputated from his wounds and used a wooden leg. His own brothers, he was never to see after the war. Two of his children were to die at an early age. Lewis Henry at age 2 and Dolly Lavenia at 11. He was successful in life starting several businesses and raising a family. His children were John J Huber, Samuel L Huber, William F Huber, Lizzy Huber, Walter L Huber. But that is another story.