Overview
The Battle of Richmond was fought near Richmond, Kentucky, from August 29–30, 1862, during the Confederate Heartland Campaign. General Edmund Kirby Smith led the Confederate Army of Kentucky, while General William “Bull” Nelson commanded the Union Army of Kentucky. Nelson was in Lexington when the fighting started, leaving General Mahlon D. Manson in field command of about 6,800 Union soldiers.
On August 29, Confederate cavalry under Colonel John S. Scott discovered the Union force near Richmond. Although Nelson had ordered Manson to avoid a major battle, Manson decided to attack the next morning. Smith also ordered an attack and placed General Patrick R. Cleburne in the lead.
Before dawn on August 30, Cleburne advanced toward Union positions near Zion Church. Union troops initially moved against the Confederate right flank, but Smith arrived with General Thomas James Churchill and reinforcements. Churchill attacked the Union flank, stopped the advance, and helped push the Union troops backward.
At about 10:30 a.m., inexperienced Union soldiers panicked and fled. Union officers tried to form new defensive lines at Rogersville and near Richmond, but Confederate attacks broke them. Nelson arrived and tried to rally his army, but he suffered a leg wound. The Confederates won a decisive victory, capturing or scattering most of the Union force.
Essential Facts
- Date: August 29–30, 1862.
- Location: Richmond, Kentucky.
- Participants: The United States of America (USA) and the Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: William “Bull” Nelson, Mahlon Dickerson Manson, Charles Cruft, and James S. Jackson.
- CSA Commanders: Edmund Kirby Smith, Patrick R. Cleburne, Thomas James Churchill, and John S. Scott.
- Who Won: The Confederate States won the Battle of Richmond.
- Campaign: Confederate Heartland Campaign (Bragg’s Invasion of Kentucky).
- Era: Civil War, July–December, 1862.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: 5,353, including 206 killed, 844 wounded, and 4,303 captured or missing.
- USA Forces Engaged: Union Army of Kentucky.
- Troop Strength: Roughly 6,800.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: 451, including 78 killed, 372 wounded, and one missing.
- CSA Forces Engaged: Confederate Army of Kentucky.
- CSA Troop Strength: Roughly 6,500.
Significance
The Battle of Richmond is important to American History because it removed organized Union resistance to the Confederate invasion of Central Kentucky. Confederate forces defeated and scattered most of the Union Army of Kentucky, producing what many historians consider the most complete victory by either side during the Civil War. The victory allowed General Edmund Kirby Smith to enter Lexington without opposition on September 2, 1862. His army then occupied Frankfort and raised the Confederate Flag over the State Capitol on September 3. This marked the only Confederate occupation of a Union capital during the war. Despite the totality of the Confederate dominance at the Battle of Richmond, the engagement has been overshadowed in history books by another Confederate victory 500 miles to the east at Manassas, Virginia, on August 30, 1862 — the Second Battle of Bull Run.
History
On July 31, 1862, Confederate Major General Kirby Smith traveled from Knoxville to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to meet with the newly-named commander of the Army of the Mississippi, General Braxton Bragg. The two developed a plan to end the string of Federal successes in the West during the first half of the year by launching a two-pronged invasion of Kentucky.
Smith Enters Kentucky
Afterward, General Edmund Kirby Smith returned to Knoxville and started preparing his forces for the planned offensive.
On August 14, 1862, Smith headed north out of Knoxville with a force of roughly 15,000 soldiers. Two days later, on August 16, he passed through the Cumberland Gap into southern Kentucky.
Leaving roughly 9,000 soldiers behind to guard the gap, Smith headed north with 6,000 seasoned infantrymen and 850 cavalry that would soon be known as the Army of Kentucky.
Smith Decides to Move to Lexington
On August 18, 1862, General Edmund Kirby Smith and his army marched into Barbourville, Kentucky, and discovered they were in hostile territory. With little prospect of receiving comfort or much-needed supplies from the local citizens, Smith informed General Braxton Bragg on August 20, 1862, that:
I find I have but two courses left me—either to fall back for supplies to East Tennessee or to advance toward Lexington for them. The former course will be too disastrous to our cause in Kentucky for me to think of doing so for a moment. I have therefore decided to advance as soon as possible upon Lexington.
Union Forces at Richmond, Kentucky
With Brigadier General Patrick R. Cleburne’s infantry brigade and Colonel John S. Scott’s cavalry leading the way, the Army of Kentucky headed north along Old State Road (present-day US 25/421).
On August 29, Cleburne received reports of Union troops moving his way, so he sent Scott’s cavalry ahead during the morning to investigate. While skirmishing with Union pickets, Scott discovered a large Federal force about 15 miles north, near Richmond.
This Union force in front of Cleburne and Scott was the Army of Kentucky, led by Major General William “Bull” Nelson. It consisted of:
- Two infantry brigades, commanded by Brigadier General Mahlon D. Manson and Brigadier General Charles Cruft.
- A Cavalry Brigade commanded by Brigadier General James S. Jackson.
Nelson was in Lexington at the time, so Manson had field command of the 6,800 troops at Richmond.
August 29 — Both Sides Prepare to Attack
On the afternoon of August 29, 1862, General Mahlon D. Manson’s brigade encountered the lead elements of General Edmund Kirby Smith’s army south of Richmond.
Although General William Nelson had instructed Manson to avoid a general engagement, Manson decided to attack Smith the next morning.
Smith decided to do the same, ordering General Patrick R. Cleburne to lead the attack. Smith assured Cleburne he would receive support from Thomas James Churchill and his division.
August 30 — Confederates Attack First
Both sides were up and stirring by 4 a.m. on August 30.
Before dawn, General Patrick R. Cleburne’s troops marched north. The Confederates encountered Union pickets in front of General Mahlon D. Manson’s forces near Zion Church, about one mile south of Rogersville and six miles south of Richmond.
Manson quickly ordered Charles Cruft and his brigade forward to secure the Federal Line.
Smith Stalls Federal Advance
As the Federals slowly advanced against General Patrick R. Cleburne’s right flank, General Edmund Kirby Smith arrived between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m., along with Thomas James Churchill’s brigade.
Soon after, Churchill launched an attack against the Federals on Cleburne’s left flank. This was designed to remove pressure from the Confederates who were falling back on the right.
Gradually, the Union advance stalled, and the Confederates started pushing the Federals back until both sides occupied their original positions.
A Mass Disorganized Federal Retreat
At about 10:30, the confidence of some inexperienced Federal troops on the right faltered. Individual soldiers turned and ran, leading to a mass disorganized retreat.
Union officers reorganized their fleeing soldiers at Rogersville, but their attempts to hold a new line proved futile. General Mahlon D. Manson sent a message to General William Nelson that said:
We have had severe battle this morning from 8 to 11; had to fall back, but are in good shape now; will fall back farther, near to town (Richmond). Enemy in large force and perhaps flanking us; some regiments behaved well, some badly. You should come at once with all reinforcements you can.
Nelson Injured Trying to Rally His Troops
General William Nelson quickly headed south to join his beleaguered army, but his presence made no difference. In his after-action report written the next day, Nelson recalled that:
I went on to Richmond, and arrived upon the field about 2 o’clock and found the forces entirely disorganized. After much labor I succeeded in rallying them and forming a new line of battle, but the line was hopelessly broken and scattered and I was left on the field and am now having a ball cut out of my leg.
Outcome
The Battle of Richmond was a resounding Confederate victory. General William Nelson barely escaped, but most of his 6,500 soldiers were not as fortunate.
Aftermath
On August 31, 1862, Nelson’s superior, Major General Horatio Wright, dejectedly informed General-in-Chief Henry W. Halleck that “Nelson has been badly beaten, I fear, in an encounter with the enemy near Richmond, Ky.; his force being, as he says, hopelessly broken and scattered.”
On September 2, 1862, General Edmund Kirby Smith rode into Lexington, unopposed, and announced, “We come not as invaders but as liberators.”
The next day, September 3, the Army of Kentucky marched into Frankfort and raised the Confederate Flag over the state capitol. This marked the only Confederate occupation of a Union capital during the Civil War.
Timeline
- 1862, July 31 — Edmund Kirby Smith traveled to Chattanooga and met with Braxton Bragg to plan a two-part invasion of Kentucky.
- 1862, August 14 — Smith marched north from Knoxville with about 15,000 soldiers.
- 1862, August 16 — Smith passed through the Cumberland Gap into southern Kentucky.
- 1862, August 18 — Smith entered Barbourville and discovered that local residents offered little support or supplies.
- 1862, August 20 — Smith informed Bragg that he had decided to advance toward Lexington for supplies.
- 1862, August 29 — Confederate cavalry located a large Union force near Richmond. Both sides prepared to attack the next day.
- 1862, August 30
- Patrick Cleburne’s troops advanced before dawn and encountered Union pickets near Zion Church.
- Churchill’s reinforcements attacked the Union flank and stopped the Federal advance.
- Inexperienced Union troops panicked and fled, causing a disorganized retreat.
- Nelson arrived, tried to rally his army, and suffered a gunshot wound in his leg.
- 1862, September 2 — Smith entered Lexington unopposed.
- 1862, September 3 — Smith raised the Confederate Flag in Frankfort. It was the only time Confederates raised their flag in a Union capital during the war.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of Richmond (1862) — The Battle of Richmond was fought in Kentucky from August 29–30, 1862, during the Confederate Heartland Campaign. General Edmund Kirby Smith’s Confederates encountered Union troops under General Mahlon D. Manson, attacked near Zion Church, and stopped the Union advance. Inexperienced Union soldiers panicked and fled. The Confederate victory removed Union resistance in Central Kentucky and allowed Smith to occupy Lexington and Frankfort.
Alignment
The Battle of Richmond is part of the following AP US History sections:
