Suddenly she stood up, taking the keys in her hands, and

whole day for want of orders, although it was near enough to the

field to take an active part in the fight; and, moreover, a large

part of Gilbert's corps was unengaged during the pressure on McCook.

Had these troops been put in on the enemy's left at any time after he

assaulted McCook, success would have been beyond question; but there

was no one on the ground authorized to take advantage of the

situation, and the battle of Perryville remains in history an example

of lost opportunities. This was due in some measure probably to