Battle of Richmond, Kentucky
Part of the American Civil War
Date August 29 August 30, 1862 Madison County, Kentucky
Result Confederate Victory
Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America
Commanders: William "Bull" Nelson and E. Kirby Smith
Strength 1st and 2nd Brigades, Union Army of Kentucky
Confederate Army of Kentucky Casualties
4,900 - Union
750 - Confederate
Confederate Heartland Offensive
Military units: 12th, 16th, 55th, 66th, 69th, and 71st Indiana, 95th Ohio,
18th Kentucky, 6th and 7th Kentucky Cavalry, Batteries D and G Michigan Artillery.
Losses: Union 200 killed, 700 wounded, 4,000 missing; Confederacy 250 killed, 500 wounded.
The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky
arguably the most complete Confederate victory in the American Civil War
took place on what is now the grounds of the Bluegrass Army Depot.
In Maj. Gen. Kirby Smith's 1862 Confederate offensive into Kentucky,
Brig. Gen. Patrick Cleburne led the advance with Col. John S. Scott's cavalry out in front.
The Rebel cavalry, while moving north from Big Hill on the road to Richmond, Kentucky,
on August 29, encountered Union troopers and began skirmishing. After noon,
Union artillery and infantry joined the fray, forcing the Confederate cavalry
to retreat to Big Hill.
At that time, Brig. Gen. Mahlon D. Manson, who commanded Union forces in the area,
ordered a brigade to march to Rogersville, toward the Rebels. Fighting for the day stopped
after pursuing Union forces briefly skirmished with Cleburnes men in late afternoon.
That night, Manson informed his superior, Maj. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson, of his
situation, and he ordered another brigade to be ready to march in support, when required.
Kirby Smith ordered Cleburne to attack in the morning and promised to hurry reinforcements
(Churchill's division). Cleburne started early, marching north, passed through Kinston,
dispersed Union skirmishers, and approached Mansons battle line near Zion Church.
As the day progressed, additional troops joined both sides. Following an artillery duel,
the battle began, and after a concerted Rebel attack on the Union right,
the Yankees gave way. Retreating into Rogersville, the Yankees made another futile
stand at their old bivouac.
By now, Smith and Nelson had arrived and taken command of their respective armies.
Nelson rallied some troops in the cemetery outside Richmond,but they were routed.
Nelson and some men escaped but the Rebels captured approximately 4,000 Yankees.
The way north was open.
Civil War historian Shelby Foote remarked in the first volume of his opus,
The Civil War: A Narrative, that Smith "accomplished in Kentucky the nearest thing to
a Cannae ever scored by any general, North or South, in the course of the whole war."