Robert D. Anderson was a captain under command of General Forrest. There his men teamed up with Colonel Jacob Biffle, and help force the federal troops to Centerville.

The newest addition to the Perry County Art Initiative through Vision Perry can be found in Lobelville. It is a piece, by local artist Sonny Davis, that depicts The Battle of Beardstown, with the largest skirmish of this particular battle taking place where the golf course is now. The Battle of Beardstown happened to stretch almost the entire way from Lobelville to Centerville, giving it the nickname The Running Battle to Centerville. Colonel John Murphy and his men were making their way from their headquarters Hurricane Creek, in Humphery’s County, to scout for Confederate soldiers. Colonel Murphy moved his men to the mouth of the Duck River and camped for the night. The morning of September 27th 1864 Murphy and his men got word that Confederate Colonel Jacob Biffle was in the area with between 500 to 1000 men. Murphy and his men packed up camp and then headed out to find Biffle. The first time these two colonels and their men met was at the Buffalo Post Office area. This skirmish ended with Biffle and his men driving the Federal forces back. Later that same day however there was another skirmish at Beardstown that continued on up the Buffalo River. The ending changes here however depending on which side is telling the story. Some say that Biffle and his men kept Murphy on the run others say Murphy had Biffle on the run. One thing we do know however is that the battle between these two colonels and their men continued for several miles, each side losing men. Murphy halted for the night to make camp, near Cane Creek. At daybreak he sent men out to scout for Biffle and his soldiers. Murphy decided that his best course of action was to return to the railroad by way of Centerville. After traveling all day down Cane Creek and avoiding Biffle’s men Murphy stopped for the night near the Old Etna Furnace. Murphy found he was badly outnumbered the next morning and discovered that the roads to Centerville were blocked by Biffle’s men. At this point supporters of Murphy and his troop say that Murphy devised a plan to appear to attack while his troops went around the Confederates and fled rapidly to Centerville. While Biffle supporters say that the Federal troops fled to Centerville in a state of disorder. The Battle of Beardstown mural depicts this push down the rivers and creeks in Perry County between these two colonels and their men in a way that shows the true nature of this battle. When you look at the mural you see the troops battling in different stages and continue on to the vanishing point until they are gone.The new mural is located on the side of Lobelville Video so be sure to check out this piece of Perry County history.