On Sunday afternoon, October 20, 2013, Ronald H. Koehn will present a PowerPoint program entitled “A Bloody Draw: The Battle of Perryville.” Sponsored by the Lyndon Area Historical Society (LAHS), the program is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at the society’s facility, 405 4th Street W. in Lyndon, IL. The public is invited to attend, and refreshments will be served. This event is free of charge. Your donations are most welcome!
On October 8, 1862, the Confederate Army of Mississippi and the Union Army of the Ohio clashed on farm fields surrounding the small community of Perryville, KY. Before the day was over, nearly 1425 men lay dead, and more than 5000 wounded filled every house, barn, and church in the area. About a thousand of the wounded later died, raising the total death toll to approximately 2400.
At least 21 states out of 34 were represented at the Battle of Perryville. The 75th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was composed of men from Whiteside, Lee, and Ogle Counties and organized at Camp Dement in Dixon, IL. Mustered into service on September 2, 1862, the 75th was heavily engaged in the fighting. This included the contingent known as the Lyndon Rangers. About 50 soldiers from the 75th Illinois were killed in the battle. Others were wounded, some of whom later died from their wounds. The casualty rate for this regiment alone approached 30%.
This often-forgotten battle decided Kentucky’s fate during the Civil War. Unable to sustain its occupation of the border state of Kentucky, the Confederate government was forced to abandon its military aspirations in the Commonwealth. It remained within the fold of the Federal Union for the duration of the war.
The Confederate withdrawal from Kentucky, along with strategic Confederate defeats elsewhere, enabled President Abraham Lincoln to finally issue the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Koehn will review this important, though often overlooked, Civil War battle with a local connection.
Ron Koehn earned his Bachelor of Science degree in history and political science and his Master of Science degree in history at Illinois State University. Now retired, he was formerly employed as a social studies instructor at Fulton High School from 1974 to 2003, primarily teaching United States history, sociology, and American government.
He will be assisted by Constance H. Koehn, his wife, who taught social studies for several years before she became a project manager for John Deere in Moline, IL.
Check the calendar on our website for other upcoming events at www.lyndonareahistoricalsociety.org.