Peters Hill is just about an even mile SSW of the Federal I Corps right flank, and 1.3 miles due west of the town of Perryville. It overlooks a valley through which runs "Doctors Fork" of the Chaplin River. Doctors Fork is spring fed, and although largely dry at the time of III Corps arrival, pools of water were seen in it's bed by Gay's Cavalry scouts. This was after a severe drought of six weeks duration, and the previous spring the III Corps had come across had been put under guard," for use by the General Staff" by acting Maj. General Charles Gilbert, commanding the III Corps. It was the presence of the III Corps that had prompted CS Maj. General Wm. Hardee to request Polk be sent back to Perryville to help him defeat the strong Federal force pursuing him, in detail, before continuing the march north to concentrate with the forces of Edmund Kirby-Smith. Hardee had sent Wheeler's cav brigade with a section of Calverts artillery and a brigade of infantry to ascertain the strength of the pursuing force at Pottsville on Oct 7th. Sheridans' division blew them aside like a leaf in a gale, and Gruesel's brigade had been part of that engagement prior to moving forward to Peters Hill that night.

You are probably correct in finding suspect a Cav unit standing guard as they should have been scouting/chasing Braggs rear guard. That is one of those things that does not make sense to me - but then this is Gen. Buell's Army. Gruesel's brigade in the area to assist the CS hospital and cleanup the mess on the field makes far more sense. From our records it looks like many CS prisoners were sent for exchange through Louisville and down the Mississippi, while some others were paroled.

I would love to see the book pages you reference, for annotation into our database. We have the full sets of O.R.s', Supplements and Confederate Veterans. We have compiled 433 pages of AAR's [all known to us], as well as a large number of other first person documents. We always enjoy working through new material though. Should you care to share your material you may email me at charles050101@yahoo.com or Kurt.Holman@ky.gov .