Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-12
TIE BiTTLE NEAR BICHMGND, H.
DIsAsran TO FnDERAI Anms-



From tie ncinnaii Commercial
The people Of this city aud vicinity wer
/ greatly asilated, Friday night by repor.5 Of dis
I aster 70 Federal arms in severe battle, Tough
/ aesr Richmond, Ky. on Saturday
Yesterday, excitenqnt Increased into alarm
which was intensified by the hasty departure o
| MsioT-General Wright and staff for Lexington
caused by kilograms from Major General NelsoI
/ that his army had been defeated, and that he was
wounded. Daring the day the news Offices ,geu
/ crowded b. excited citizens but no definite It'd
! ings were received until about eight o'clock IL
the evening, when General Nelson was brough
| to tho city, number Of f1gitives from Rich
mond arriving By the same train. After count
less Inquiries, we collected a consistent and in
telligeut history OF the engagement.
The bstautial facts are that the Federal army
eonsis ting ct the 95th Ohio, commanded BY
Colonel Mcmillan; the l2th Indiana, Colone
Link 10th Indiana, Colonel Lucas list Indi-
ana, LieUtensntC Colonel Topping; 66th indiana
Major Morrison 69lh Indiana, Colonel koTf Of
Cincinnati; part of the 55sh Indiana 18TH i sn-
lucky, Colonel Warner; MetesiPs regiment, and
Q squadron of Buudys Kentucky cavalry, and
nine field pieces, under the command of Briga-
dier-Genersl Na5lOn d. Manson and Bdgadier-
rebels, under command Of General kirby Smith,
at Rogersyiue, about four miles beyond Rich
mond,) on Saturday morning, and after a severe
battle, lasting from about SIX o'clock In the
morning until 6vs- or six O'Clock in the evening.
our army WIS utterly defeated with heavy list
OF casualties, aud the loss Of eight field pieces.
The defeat was total en3i in 3 panic and
disgraceiIl flight. General Manson who was IN
Command was not seen after the engagement.
and is probably captive. Colonel Warner, OF
the iSlh Kentucky, Is sreported mortally wounded.
of tIta
msnt, (who fought so gallantly at Cynthiana)
was wounded severely IN the face; Lieutenant
Colonel Topping, commanding the 7lst Indiana,
aud Major COaklin, OF thes sans regiment. were
killed aud Captain Kendrick A A. G., Dr.
lrviu, medical Inspector U. S. A., aud Lisuten-
ant WieklifIee Cooper, A. ID. c., of General
Nelson's stat, were captured The particulars
OF the battle are as follows;
Friday afternoon (August 80 the onion cav
airy pickets. under command Of COlOnels Met
calfe aud Mundy, were driven in from the foot of
Big Hiil (some ten or twelve miles south of
Richmond General Manson advanced abou.
a mile and a half from his camp near Richmond
ana discovered the eneny's camp lie immedi
ateiy opened upOn them with several field pieces,
and the enemy retrested alter a sharp exchange,
leaving one Of the guns in cur possession, the
advantage Of tue fight being decidedly il our
favor.
General Manson then moved to R1yersville
about six miles from Richmond, and halted there
during the night, the troops sleeping on their
arms. During the night Colonel Metcalf was
ordered to scout down the road in search Of the
en- eIny, and he passed some twelve or fourteen
miles beyond our lnes passing and repassing
as was subsequently sscertained, without dis
covering the enemy, they having adToitly moved
eft by the flank in.O c0rnGelds some distance
from the road. About seven miles out, on his
return. ne ran st0ul of some rebel pickets, and
skiTmished with them, but finally Withdrew and
returned TO camp.
B tween five and six o'clock in the morning,
General Manson moved q mile or two bslOw
R)gersvils with two regiments, three field
pieces and g cofse-Iaii! gun, driving in the enc
ny's cavalry pickets, which were posted in the
woods on the right OF the road considerable
body Of eav4rg was now discovered retreating
aud General Manson brought his guns to bear
upon them, expediting t5eir 1ght. Soon after
wards battery apparently ab0uts mile distant,
replied, and a sharp artillery fight ensued, IL
whic1 the practice was excellent both sides be-
ing compelled &c aAlit position frequently.
oar guns were managed By artillery officers
from General G W. AJgsns army, who had
been home on turlough, aud being unable to re-
turn 10 their post, bad been ordered to this sps-
cial duty BY MAJOR General Lew Wallace during
General Manson had formed his TWO regiments
in line of battle on the right and left of the road
Tbs remainder Of the division was ordered 40
aud formed on the right and left OF Ne lne-lhe
left in hollow resting on a corn-Geld and woods.
The line had scarcely been formed when the
pici1ets on be left reported the enemy advancing
in force. Sharp firing was heard ia that direc-
ton. and the skirmishers on the LETT were soon
warmly engaged
Not long afterwards the enemy were driven
back. the lighting being in our favor; but, rebel
reinforcements coming up, the colonel in COM
mand of siSrmishers reported that he was hard
pressed. and asked for IeinfoTeements. By this
lime the hgb5 bad become hOs, the enemy press
ing forward with infantry, and playing sharply
upon cur column with artillery. The 69sh In
DIANA perfectly raw regiment, just marched
from the harvest fields OF Indiaua--under com
mand Of Colonel Korf Formerly lieutenant col.
onel Of the l0th 0aio), was ordered in as sup
port
The regiment on the extreme left was then
staggering under q terrific IRE from superior
numbers, and the 69lh was obliged to move
across an open field which was Taked by the
rebel artillery Bat Col. KOrf brought bis gal
laut boosters to the charge bayonets, and dashed
across the field uBfalterugly, men falling at
every step but the noble fellows closed up with
the steadiness and fidelity ct veterans. Their
conduct is described as magnificent, end it was
the more pTaiswoTthy since the brave fellows
were scarce three weeks from the corn field and
threshing floors Of Indiana. Their devotion
saved lhe army at that moment. Had they fsl
tered an instant, their comrades in front would
have broken.
Meanwhile General Cruft's brigade mad formed
on the left The skirmisheTs had been driven in
and the battle was opening al along the line.
The 69sh stood fast and replied TO the enemy lu
ricusly. But the enemy soOn appeared in OVER
whelming t0ree. It was obvious the splendid
695h must go down unless supported. The7lst
Indiana under the gallant Lieutenant Colonel
Topping was ordered up, but through some mis-
understanding, did not move according to diree-
ton. The 63Ih at last pressed by irresistible
force, gave way. The list now reached the
proper point, bat too late to save the sch The
enemy Concentrated their fire on it.
Lieutenant Colonel Topping's horse was now
shot, and he soon tel dead while inspiring his
command. Soon after, Major Conczlin also fel.
BY this time Gsnerai Cruft's three pieces Of ar
tllery had opened az short range with canister
upon the enemy, and with cheering success: but
the rebels pressed upon him so hardly that be
was forced TO order the pieces to retire in order
20 save them. Not long after, the whole left
wing gave way, and the right followed bat in
good order. Their officers tried to rally broken
uIE&hiAhlOlEg Auu Tue men RESPONDED VIII
elaerity to every order they comprehsnded; bat
most CT them being wholly undrilled, were
unable to execute maneuvers. which were order
ed, and some of the officers, as green IS the
men, were unable to give intelligent commands.
The firstengagenent lasted about two hours and
a halt, and the loss was heavy On both sides.
After Tetreating between two and three miles,
General Manson again formed in line Of battle
on a range Of bills, extending through eornhelds,
his right covered by woods. His artillery was
posted on tho right aud LETT wings and when
the enemy came Up in pursuit, another sharp
artillery fight ensued. The rebels finally sent a
heavy force through the woods on the right evi-
IDENTIFY intending to turn the right flank; but
thay were ne. bY the 18Th Kentucky, Colonel
Warner, and another regiment, and another Sc
we're engagement ensued, our meu lighting
bravely, though in some confusion on account
Of their extreme rawness
At one time they succeeded IN driving back
their gssailauts, bat the latter being heavily re-
inioreed, pressed upon them vigorously and
notwithstanding ihs yigor with which they.weTe
resisted sv Warner fsvinleuf and l,ro n;aaaa