Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the warStephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
History
Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2) : $b A complete and reliable history of the war from its commencement to its close ... together with a complete chronological analysis of the war
Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
the armies met, however, General Wallace had been relieved of his
command.
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and eastern Kentucky were
organized into a military district, entitled the Department of the Ohio,
General U. S. Wright being appointed to its chief command, and
Major-General Nelson transferred to the command of the Army of Kentucky.
The latter officer adopted tactics very different from those of his
predecessor, and, as events presently demonstrated, far less prudent.
Casting aside the spade, he at once advanced beyond his intrenchments,
to meet the enemy and give him battle. The result was a defeat at the
BATTLE OF RICHMOND, KY.
AUGUST 30, 1862.
Richmond, Kentucky, is a small village south of the Kentucky river,
southeast of Frankfort, and about twenty-five miles from Lexington.
Richmond is the capital of Madison county, situated about fifty miles
south-southeast of Frankfort, the capital of the State. The Federal
force there consisted of one Ohio regiment, five Indiana regiments and
part of a sixth, two Kentucky regiments, all raw troops, and a squadron
of Kentucky cavalry, under the command of Brigadier-Generals Mahlon D.
Manson and Crufts, with nine field-pieces, making in all six thousand
five hundred men. The number of the enemy’s forces, known to be in
front, could not be ascertained. Information was brought to General
Manson, Friday, August 29th, that the enemy were approaching in large
force. General Manson at once sent a dispatch to Colonel Munday,
commanding a small detachment of cavalry in the neighborhood of
Kingston, directing him to hold the enemy in check; and, if possible to
ascertain his strength and position. The first brigade was then ordered
to stand to arms, and hold themselves in readiness to act at a moment’s
notice.
Four additional companies were sent forward, to strengthen the pickets
at the fort of Big Hill, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Wolfe, of
the Sixteenth Indiana.
At two o’clock, General Manson received intelligence that the infantry
picket, the cavalry of Lieutenant-Colonel Munday, and a similar force
under command of Colonel Metcalf, were retreating with all speed toward
the camps, hard pressed by a rebel force numbering four or five thousand
men. Without loss of time, General Manson ordered out the First brigade,
consisting of the Fifteenth, Fifty-fifth, Sixty-ninth and Seventy-first
Indiana regiments; and the artillery under command of Lieutenant
Lamphere. After an advance of three-quarters of a mile, General Manson
descried a heavy column of rebel cavalry, hardly a mile east of the
road, and ordered a section of the artillery into position, to fire upon
the enemy. The firing was commenced with such excellent effect, as to
scatter the enemy in every direction. General Manson then continued his
advance, bivouacking for the night at Rogersville.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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