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| The H.P. Bottom House Today |
Background
It's a sleepy little town, located about 30 miles southwest of Lexington, Kentucky. Even if you are a Civil War buff, you don't simply "swing over" to Perryville on a road trip, like you might do with Gettysburg, Antietam, or Chickamauga. No, you have to intend to go to Perryville to visit the site of Kentucky's largest Civil War battle.
And that's, perhaps, what makes it, in my mind, the best battlefield to visit for those who enjoy visiting battlefields. At Perryville, the rock walls are still where they were in the battle. Unlike other battlefields, where woods are no longer where they were, or new growth shadows what was an open area during the battle, Perryville looks like it was nearly 140 years ago. With its rolling terrain, artillery positions stand in stark relief against their opposing number. Stand on Loomis Heights. amd stare across the valley of Doctors and Bull Run creeks, and you can easily identify the Confederate counterparts to the positions held by Loomis and Simonson.
Perryville was not a large battle, at least in terms of the areas of engagement. One can walk along preserved trails that front the entire battle line of Union corps commander Alexander McDowell McCook in 30 minutes. But what a walk it is! Change viewpoint from the Union defensive line to that of the charging Confederates, and your entire perspective changes. Stand on the Open Hill where Charlie Parsons fought his battery so capably, and turn towards Starkweather Heights, and you get a wholly new perspective of what Maney's brigade faced as they struggled to continue the Confederate attack. If you're like me, and enjoy vistas of rocks, trees, and hills fought over by Americans during the 1860s - well, you simply need to come here.
Why This Site?
This question ought to be fairly obvious. Perryville, a battle that represented the culmination of General Braxton Bragg's Kentucky invasion, needs a Web site. We hope you enjoy it.
About Tom Breiner:
The first two sections of this Web site have been written by Tom Breiner - twice a past president of the Cincinnati Civil War Round Table. Tom has been active in the Cincinnati CWRT since the early 1980s, and is a fine Civil War scholar in his own right. Several of Tom's outstanding presentations may be found on the Cincinnati CWRT Web stie.
About Alan Hoeweler:
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| Alan and Historian Emeritus Ed Bearss |
Alan Hoeweler is a Cincinnati, Ohio businessman as well as avid Civil War artifact collector and battlefield preservationist. Alan served for years on the Board of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites (APCWS), as well as serving as that organization's Chairman for several years. Alan made his first trip to Perryville over 30 years ago after making an unauthorized "appropriation" of his father's automobile on a weekend, and has been in love with the battlefield ever since. Alan is also active with the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association, and with the preservation of historic "Merchant's Row" in downtown Perryville.
The Historic H.P. Bottom House:
While you can read about the historical significance of the H.P. Bottom House, the Bottom House is a significant part of the Perryville landscape. Owned today by Alan Hoeweler, the house was the epicenter of attacks made by Confederate generals Bushrod Johnson, Pat Cleburne, and Dan Adams, and defended by the brigade of Cincinnatian William Haines Lytle. Alan bought the Bottom House in a distressed condition back in the 1990s, and preserved the house, saving as much as possible its war-time look. Alan has also been quite actively involved with the PBPA, and the preservation of the "Merchant's Row" area of downtown Perryville.
A visit to the Perryville battlefield is not complete without a stop at the Bottom House.
Closing Thoughts:
Some visitors to this site may recognize that I write a monthly colum for Civil War News titled The Civil War on the Internet. I realize that any amateur site like this comes with a great degree of personal commitment and dedication, often without recompense or personal reward. So be it. It is, I believe, what makes a good Civil War Web site great. I hope you enjoy it.
Dave Smith
Villa Hills, Kentucky
November, 2001
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