CHANNAHON, Ill. — The battle of Perryville, Ky., on Oct. 8, 1862, is considered one of the bloodiest battles fought during the Civil War. Casualties and losses were great — 4,276 on the Union side and 3,401 on the Confederate side.

It would become known as the Battle for Kentucky, with the Confederate Army eventually pulling back into Tennessee. But not before Union soldiers retreated for a time and then gained back their ground to keep control of the critical border state through the end of the war.

The win was a strategic victory for the Union.