Early in August 1862, the Confederate forces under Gens. Bragg
and E. Kirby Smith united for an invasion of Kentucky, in the
hope of forcing the state to secede from the Union. Smith
entered Kentucky via of Cumberland gap and moved toward
Lexington.

Bragg's column crossed the Tennessee river at Chattanooga,
moved rapidly through middle Tennessee, and on Sept. 13 was at
Glasgow, Ky., the objective point being Louisville. If
Louisville could be seized and held the states north of the
Ohio river would be in danger of invasion. Leaving a
sufficient force to hold Nashville, Buell pushed forward with
the remainder of his army in a race with Bragg for Louisville,
where the Federal advance arrived on Sept. 25, and the rear
division four days later.

At daylight on the 9th the Federal camps were astir and at 6
o'clock the corps of Crittenden and Gilbert moved forward to
attack the enemy's front and left flank. When the advance
reached the town it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned
his position during the night and fallen back toward
Harrodsburg. The Union losses in the battle of Perryville were
845 killed, 2,851 wounded and 515 missing. Bragg reported his
losses as being 510 killed, 2,635 wounded and 251 missing.

This engagement ended the Confederate invasion of Kentucky.
The effort to force the state to secede had failed. On Oct. 12
Bragg made a report from Bryantsville, in which he said: "The
campaign here was predicated on a belief and the most positive
assurances that the people of this country would rise in mass
to assert their independence.

No people ever had so favorable an opportunity, but I am
distressed to add there is little or no disposition to avail of
it. Willing, perhaps, to accept their independence, they are
neither disposed nor willing to risk their lives or their
property in its achievement."