Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-09-06
Ths, ,na.tIe of hlenmond, RensueEY

-~F@N~k ~
The following appears In the CINCINNATI Ga
sstts, written, We presume, By an officer Of the
l9Ih Indiana, who was apartlclpant in the
whole of the Richmond fight:
Early In the morning of Saturday last, heavy
firing was heard In O southeasterly direction
from Richmond, Kentucky, and oil the troops
in the vicinity of the town were formed In line
ready for any emergency that might require
their presence. Orders soon came. and all the
Regiments were marched out In the direction Of
the fight. The l2lh and 66th Indiana regiments
marched out together toward the scene Of con-
hict, and were soon on the ground The 18th
regiment, after meeting considerable portion
of cavalry, ambulances, etc, which had com.
pletely blocked up the road, was ordered to tear
down the fence on the right, and get around the
obstacles which had impeded their progress
They did 90, and soon arrived at the battlefield.
They took up their position on the extreme
right OF the line of battle, and quietly awaited
the onset of tho enemy. This was not long de-
layed. A few minutes only had elapsed when
We were opened upon by the rebel artillery, who
had discovered US, and after the frat shot had
got the range 80 completely that we were forced
to retire for short distance, which we did In
good order. AT this place Lieutenant Colonel
Williams had the pommel of his saddle shot of
and the reins Of his bride cut out Of hla hands,
and Major Kempton was knocked down by the
conclusion Of cannon ball.
The regiment fell back to a new position
stll on the extreme right of the llne Of battle
lin belt of woods, but had remained In that
position but short time before IL was attacked
by two rebel regiments who were endeavoring
70 turn our right flank. Our commander (Col.
Link, discovering their intentions in time, Or
dered his regiment to change front, which they
did in excellent order, considering that they
were new troops, and opened terrific FIRE
which staggered them very much. The fight
ut this point, however, was warmly contested by
both parties, the rebels throwing forward their
superior numbers, while the Twelfth took to
trees, and maintained the unequal contest for
three-fourthe OF an hour, when they were fore
ed to give way before the overwhelming num-
bers which were brought against them. They
retired only to fnd that the balance of the
forces had done so long before. They left
large number Of gallant Hoosiers upon this part
of the bloody feld, and retired in q somewhat
broken condition, but again rallied on the east
side OF the town. Orders came, however, to |
fRll still further back, and we did 30, making q
grand line OF battle in the very camps we had
left early In the morning, to go out to battle |
WNu WV iOOb VI Out SobutEl huu OUNtIu-
ment. Gen. Nelson hero appeared upon the |
ground, he having arrived from Lexington at |
about IL or o'clock-the command previously |
devolving upon Brigadier. General Manson,
who had been foremost in every encounter up |
to that time
Every man knew that it was the last aud |
most desperate battle of the day, and that up
on his own nerve depended the entire result |
whether We were to remain there or retreat to |
the Kentucky river. Sknmishers were sent
out, who soon engaged the enemy along our en-
tire front, and the fighting became general all
along the lines. The Federals maintained their
ground obstinately, and made sad havoc in the
rebel ranks; but the rebels greatly outnumber-
ed us, turned our right flank, and soon after our
whole force were In full retreat. Il was here
that the gallant Colonel Link had his thigh
by Mimic ball and fell at the head
of his regiment In the vain endeavor to prevent
the dsorderly retreat which soon took place.
Aud here let me remark that no more daring
or brave heart went on the battlefield that
day than Colonel Link. General Manson, too,
here shona forth the true and brave man =
While every other General skedaddled, he
alone remained with us and attempted by his
own personal daring to inspire us with courage;
but 1t was too late, and our retreat soon became
Q total rout.
The rebel cavalry had been posted between
the town and the Kentucky river for the pur-
pose OF cutting OF our retreat, and they did so
etectually. In running the gauntlet Of their
hre, the gallant Leut.-Col. Wolfe of the 18th
Indiana was killed, and Major KemptOn of the
i2th Indiana had his horse shot from under
him.
Our loss in killed and wounded was heavy;
but at the last stand near Richmond, the rebels
loss greatly exceeded ours. myself counted
one hundred and forty dead rebels in front ofl
Dur lines on the next morning after the fight,
and also saw TWENTY-FIVE buried in one grave
IN another part OF the field t.e-
understood that in attempting to escape, when
We were penned ia line of battle in front of
tSichT 80. GENERAL Nvluun wnn --sS~SiI
" tne cavalry tnat Lad been sent out TO inter-
'ept our retreat General Manson, who otood !
y uS nobiy to the last, was wounded and taken ,
risoner.
have no means of ascertainiDg either the
lumber or list Of the killed and wounded, l
nd consequently must defer the matter until 1
be facts can be arrived at. :
That tt was terrible disaster to our arms.
must be admitted, but that We did tho beat we {
euId under the circumstances, is equally true
'ur loss in killed, wounded and prisoners, ia
eavy-the rebel loss is' about equal, II not 4,
lore, with the exception Of prisoners.
TWELFTH.
Snntamhar 1880 q