RICHMOND (Ky.), Battle of, the most decisive Confederate victory of the Civil War. On 14 Aug. 1862, Gen. E. Kirby Smith left Knoxville, Tenn., to unite with General Bragg iii northern Kentucky, He passed through Big Creek Gap of the Cumberland Mountains and, leaving General Stevenson's division to observe the Union forces at Cumberland Gap, penetrated Kentucky with about 6,000 men. Preceded by Col. J. S. Scott's cavalry force of 900 men, he moved in the direction of Frankfort, threaten ing both Louisville and Cincinnati. Gen. Lew Wallace, with a regiment; hastened from Louis ville to Lexington, and there found other forces, over which he was placed in command; new regiments came from north of the Ohio; but as Wallace was about to move forward and op pose Smith he was superseded by General Nel son, who had been ordered by General Buell to take charge of affairs in Kentucky. Upon his arrival Nelson organized the troops at Lexing ton into a division of three 'brigades, under Gens. M. D. Manson, Charles Cruft and J. S. Jackson; and hearing that the Confederates were approaching, he sent forward some Ken tucky cavalry to oppose them. There were sev eral sharp cavalry affairs, in which the Union cavalry showed such aggression that Kirby Smith determined to make an immediate attack upon the Union forces at Richmond, although his troops were jaded by long and laborious marches, and General Heth's division of 4,000 men was still far to the rear. He had for the attack Cleburne's and Churchill's divisions of 6,000 men and Scott's cavalry brigade of about 850, and the advance was ordered for the morning of 30 August. Scott's cavalry en countered Manson's brigade about half a milt south of Rogersville, and Cleburne, coming up with two brigades, attacked Manson, who, rein forced by a regiment of Cruft's brigade and a battery, endeavored to turn Cleburne's right, but was repulsed. Meanwhile Churchill's divi sion had come to Cleburne's support; a brigade flanked Manson's right and drove it back in dis and as the rout became general, another of Cruft's regiments came up, but was quickly repulsed with heavy loss. Another posi
tion was taken farther to the rear, where the troops were under partial cover, with artillery on the flanks. This the Confederates soon at tacked ; Churchill's division struck Cruft's brigade, which was on the right, and drove it back in disorder; and Cleburne advancing in front, Manson's entire line went back, the Confederates in close pursuit. Manson had but partially formed another line in front of Rich mond, when General Nelson came on the field and selected a new line near the town and ceme and the troops, barely 2,200 in number, had scarcely taken position when the Con federates were upon them in flank and front, fired about three volleys, and the Union troops gave way in titter rout. Early in the day Scott's cavalry had gained the road in rear of Richmond, and the knowledge of the fact in creased the demoralization. Nelson, wounded, narrowly escaped to Lexington and thence to Louisville. Manson was wounded and taken prisoner, with over 4,000 of his men, while nine guns, over 6,000 muskets and the entire wagon-train were lost. The fragments of the army made their way to Louisville. The Union troops engaged numbered 6,509 raw men; the Confederates about 6,800 veteran troops. Union loss was 206 killed. 844 wounded and 4,303 captured or missing, an aggregate of 5,353. The Confederate loss was 78 killed, 372 wounded, and one missing, an aggregate of 461. General Heth, with his division of 4,000 men, joined Smith after the battle, and marched to Lexington, where he arrived 2 September, and the legislature, then in session • at Frankfort, fled to Louisville. Heth marched northward to Cynthiana, and.to within a few miles of Cov ington, to threaten Cincinnati, which he found too well defended to attack, and being in turn threatened, he withdrew to join Smith, who waited at Lexington to join forces with General Bragg, then operating against General Buell.
g, BATTLE OF). COnstilt Official Records) (Vol. XVI) ; Van Home, History of the Army of the Cumberland) (Vol. I) ; The Centiwy Company's (Battles and Leaders of the Civil War) (Vol. III).