Book review…
Bishop details action, preservation
at 13 Kentucky Civil War battlefields

Reviewed by
DR. PAUL D. ROMINGER
Bugle Staff Writer

“Kentucky's Civil War Battlefields: A Guide to Their History and Preservation,” by Randy Bishop; 340 pages with 30 pages of notes and an 18-page bibliography and index; $20, Pelican Publishing Company, Gretna, La., 2012.

In early June, we were asked twice at Richmond’s Battlefield Park about a good source to read on Civil War battlefields in Kentucky. In both cases, “Kentucky’s Civil War Battlefields” was highly recommended.

The purpose of this book is to examine Kentucky battles from the smaller sites to the well-preserved and interpreted battlefields of Perryville, Richmond and Mill Springs. The book presents an overview of the battles that is sufficiently detailed to give a good picture of what happened. At the end of each chapter, there is a discussion of preservation at that site. Thirteen battlefields are discussed. This review includes two of these, Sacramento and Richmond.

Battle of Sacramento

Confederate cavalry under Nathan Bedford Forrest had established themselves comfortably at Hopkinsville by Christmas of 1861. The commissary was abundantly supplied, but various diseases, primarily measles, struck the camp and word was received that there was possible Federal troop movement toward Confederate lines in Kentucky under Federal Brig. Gen. Thomas Crittenden.

On the morning of Dec. 26, Forrest led 250 men toward the Green River. On Dec. 27, the Confederates reached Greenville joined by two additional commands the next day.

Federal troops had been at Calhoun to secure the lock and dam on the Green River. On the morning of Dec. 28, 18-year-old Federal Major Eli Mullay took a scouting party to Sacramento, nine miles south of Calhoun. They were unaware that Forrest was approaching from the south. Approximately one mile south of Sacramento, Forrest's advance party saw Major Murray’s scouting party watering their horses. Forrest grabbed a rifle and fired at them. Murray’s scouts returned fire then retreated to a wooded ridge to join Federal troops.

Confederates galloped forward, discovered the Union force who opened a distressing fire. Forrest’s men returned three rounds of fire then fell back, dismounted and were joined by the rest of his command. Confederates charged the Union position, with Forrest’s cavalry pushing on the flanks. Federals began a disorderly retreat. North of Sacramento, fighting became hand-to-hand. In a fight that may have lasted only 15 minutes, Forrest and his cavalry were in the middle of the fray. Federal troops began to withdraw. There were many wounded, but probably less than a dozen were killed.

Today there is a Battle of Sacramento Driving Tour of 10 stops. These are clearly marked. In 2002, the City of Sacramento and McLean County completed a $520,000 purchase of 65 acres of battle land. The Battle of Sacramento re-enactment is held on the actual site of the most significant part of the battle. The re-enactment is the largest cavalry re-enactment in the state, and is now a major event.

There is great participation from local citizens in holding the event, although the population is less than 1,000 persons. Sacramento is not urbanized or commercialized, but is well preserved.

Battle of Richmond

The Battle of Richmond was fought Aug. 29-30, 1862. On Aug. 13, the forces of Major Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith moved from Knoxville toward Kentucky. Crossing the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee proved to be a logistical nightmare. On Aug. 17, at London, Col. John Scott’s Louisiana Cavalry captured 45 Federal supply wagons. On Aug. 23, some of Scott’s command encountered Federal pickets of Col. Leonidas Metcalfe, whose troops had been recruited one week earlier. Confederate artillery caused the Federals to flee in a panic and about 148 Federal supply wagons fell into Confederate hands, but Scott returned to Big Hill to wait for reinforcements.

William “Bull” Nelson assumed Federal command with Brig. Gens. Mahlon Manson and Charles Cruft. Manson had seen action at Mill Springs and had been appointed brigadier general in March, while Cruft, who had been seriously wounded in the Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh, had been appointed brigadier general in July. They commanded troops that had been enlisted early in August.

On Aug. 28, Confederate troops under Patrick Cleburne reached Big Hill. Scott’s cavalry descended Big Hill and engaged Lt. Col. Reuben Munday’s cavalry scouts. Six miles from Big Hill, Scott encountered Metcalfe in a running engagement and Manson received word that 5,000 Confederates were advancing. He sent word to Nelson, but had to send two dispatches, one to Lexington and one to Lancaster since he did not know Nelson’s location.

Manson, camped two miles south of Richmond, was concerned that Confederates might occupy a ridge to his south a mile and a half away and have a clear advantage. He ordered his troops south.

Confederates reached Rogersville south of Richmond, but halted temporarily when they encountered artillery fire from the First Michigan Light Artillery. Scott began to retreat. Metcalfe followed and encountered a picket line formed by Cleburne which opened fire on Union cavalry. The Federals retreated from Bobtown and Col. Metcalfe did not learn about the skirmish until 11 p.m. Lacking any better knowledge of the skirmish, Manson was confident that night that he was only facing cavalry.

Manson sent word to Cruft to be prepared to support him the next day. The message had not been received when fighting began. However, at 3 a.m., Aug. 30, Cruft’s men had already been awakened and began to prepare for battle.

Gen. Nelson received a dispatch from Manson at 2:30 a.m. on the 30th, 14 hours after the message was sent the previous day. At sunrise on the 30th, Cleburne began moving forward. The first exchange was a half-mile north of Kingston. Manson stated that at 6 a.m., he ascertained that the enemy was advancing and sent orders to Cruft to join him quickly. Cruft could hear heavy cannon fire and occasional musketry by 7:15 a.m. Casualties mounted for both sides as fierce fighting erupted around Mt. Zion Church. At approximately 10 a.m., Cruft’s forces arrived on the field.

Cruft wrote that Confederate infantry showed a front superior to the Federals and with large numbers on the flanks. There was a terrible musket battle for 45 minutes. The Union center gave way, then the right flank. The left flank gave strong resistance, but confusion and panic engulfed the Union army.

The Federal army rallied at the Rogers House and a field hospital was established there. Manson ordered his troops to Castlewood, one mile north near Duncannon Lane and the Speedwell Road. After a lull, a fierce battle began for less than an hour. The Federal line disintegrated, moving into Richmond by about 2 p.m.

Gen. Nelson arrived and found about 2,000 troops at his disposal. He lined his troops in the Richmond Cemetery, and was met by 4,000 Confederates. The highest number of casualties was in this phase. Federal troops eventually broke, moved through Richmond and were captured by John Scott’s cavalry. The Confederate victory was the most complete of the entire war.

Today, the battle of 1862 is well documented. The Battle of Richmond Visitors Center opened in 2008 in the 1811 Rogers House. A laser-guided map provides a bird’s-eye-view of the battlefield and on exhibit are artifacts of Gen. Mahlon Manson.

Also, there are several historic markers and a 17-mile driving tour. On the tour is the Richmond Cemetery where Confederates are interred.

This synopsis of two battles and their preservation as of 2012 should encourage you to delve into this excellent book and its wider elaboration on 13 battle sites and today’s efforts to preserve them.