Civil War - Battle of Richmond | Kentucky Life | KET

The Kentucky Life feature on the 1862 Battle of Richmond has been nominated by the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for a Regional Emmy Award.

The Battle of Richmond, Aug. 29-30, 1862, was the largest Civil War battle in Kentucky until the troops met again in October in Perryville.

In the hot, dry summer of 1862, Confederate and Union soldiers met in Madison County for a two-day battle.

Confederate Gen. Kirby Smith was pushing deep into the heart of Central Kentucky from the south. There was disagreement on the Union side on how to defend Richmond against the more experienced Confederate troops. The abolitionist Cassius Clay, a Union major general, wanted to make a stand on the bluffs of the Kentucky River. His view lost out and he was relieved of command four days before the battle.

Instead, Union Maj. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson ordered troops deployed in nearby Lancaster and Danville. Brig. Gen. Mahlon D. Manson however, did not receive the message to move toward Lancaster. He moved just south of Richmond instead, and Smith's Confederate forces were waiting. Retreating Union forces were at Richmond Cemetery when Nelson arrived to rally them. A large man at 300 pounds, he is reported to have said, "Boys, if they can't hit something as big as I am, they can't hit anything." He was shot in the thigh and there his rally ended.

Of the 6,500 Union troops, 206 were killed, 844 were wounded, and 4,303 were missing. In contrast, the Confederate losses were 98 killed, 492 wounded, and 10 missing.

Now the Battle of Richmond Association works to preserve these hallowed grounds where almost 300 soldiers died. Battlefield Park is located on U.S. 421 across from the Blue Grass Army Depot.

There were 751 total Ohio Valley Regional Emmy Award entries this year, a record number, and only 291 received nominations. Nineteen KET productions and programs were nominated for an Emmy Award. This segment was produced by Paul Smith.

To see other KET nominated features, visit http://blogs.ket.org/spotlight/?p=10884