Originally known as Main St., the town's historic commercial center was renamed Buell St. to honor Union general D.C. Buell and is now called Merchants' Row, where most buildings were built in 1830-40. Temperance leader Carrie Nation lived there as a child. The buildings were damaged during the Battle of Perryville and used as field hospitals, and the row was later raided by pro-Confederate guerillas. The area also saw fighting during the Oct. 8, 1862 battle, when Southern troops retreated into town from the west pursued by Federal forces. The 21st and 38th Illinois regiments drove Confederate troops over Chaplin River and took position along Merchants' Row, capturing prisoners and wagons, while several buildings between 2nd and 3rd streets burned during the fight.