Battle of Richmond Association

08/29/2026

History is coming alive this morning in the camps at the Battle of Richmond Park. Come see the sights and sounds of history today from 10-4 at the Battle of Richmond , KY

08/28/2026

From the eclipse to the early morning!

Who is ready for the Battle of Richmond reenactment?!

08/27/2026

CONFEDERATE GENERAL KIRBY SMITH - A SMALL POTATO?
(And we honor the life and memory of Dolly Parton...see her quote)

On August 27, 1862, Major General William C. Nelson sent a dispatch to Major General Horatio G. Wright, Commander of the Department of the Ohio, from Richmond. Excerpts of this interesting message will follow, but first...

We are grateful recipients and caretakers of Nelson's commission document (see attached images) to Major General of Volunteers, dated July 17, 1862, signed by President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton.

A great friend of the Association secured it about 10 years ago, and we gladly share it with visitors to Battlefield Park. You can see it in the newly refurbished Visitor's Center when it re-opens in a few weeks.

Also, just a month and two days later, Nelson would be killed by Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis of Indiana at the original Galt House hotel in Louisville. We also have a pistol owned by Davis on display at the Visitor's Center (but not THE pistol that killed Nelson - see image.)

In this message, Nelson's view of these new recruits is evident, so perhaps his disdain and criticism of them didn't begin during their retreat in and from the Richmond Cemetery at the end of the battle on August 30th...he was not impressed with them before the battle began.

The Dispatch and The Potato Reference
(comments within parentheses are by the author, for context and perspective)

"General: The enemy have fallen back beyond Rockcastle River. Kirby Smith is at or near Cumberland Ford (actually, he had left Barbourville on August 25th with two veteran divisions and was en route to Richmond on the 27th.)

He has fifteen regiments of infantry with cavalry and artillery in proportion. It seems to me that he designs only to cut off the retreat of Morgan (Commander of the Federal Garrison at Cumberland Gap), and will remain where he is for that purpose.

If this really be his intention he is a much smaller potato than I took him for, for he could have done that just as effectually by coming here, and fed his army in the bargain (within a few days, Smith would do just that, disproving the potato accusation.)

I find that there is no discipline among these troops.

Straggling, marauding, plundering is the rule; good conduct the exception.

I find this town literally overrun.

I have ordered everybody to their camps, and shall enforce the strictest discipline. I shall establish the two brigades here in camp on Paint Creek, half-way between this and Lancaster....

I will direct that the telegraph wire be extended to the different camps. Operators will be necessary (this was not done in time for expedient communication on August 29-30th...which would impact the Federals greatly once the battle began.)...

Very respectfully, W. Nelson, Major-General, Commanding. Headquarters Army of Kentucky, Richmond."

A few days later, Nelson would learn more about Smith and the effectiveness of the men under his command.

Visit Battlefield Park this weekend for our 23rd Annual Reenactment to see where the first stage of the battle happened and to experience many events and sights and sounds all designed to give you a sense of 1862, and to have a fun late summer day!

Dispatch by:
George Nelson Ridings
BORA President

08/27/2026

We are just a few short days away from your trip into history, by experiencing the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky fought on August 29-30, 1862.
Gates open at 9:30 AM on the actual anniversary dates of August 29-30, 2026!!!!
Here is what to expect:
Period Baseball
Cincinnati Gazette
US Sanitary Commission
Medical
Photography
Blacksmith
Topography
Drilling
Artillery
Infantry
Cavalry

Come with curious minds and ready to explore the Battle of Richmond!

08/25/2026

08/25/2026

The primary fighting of the Battle of Richmond Kentucky took place in three stages across Madison County on August 30, 1862. However, the first clash here took place on August 23 with the Battle of Big Hill, and fighting resumed on August 29th.

Somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 (or more) soldiers from both sides traveled through our Battlefield Corridor from Big Hill to the Kentucky River (see maps) during August and September. Some Confederate forces retreated back towards Tennessee across these same roads after the Battle of Perryville in October.

On August 25th, Commander Edmund Kirby Smith officially renamed the forces under his command the Army of Kentucky and they left Barbourville and began marching towards Richmond. He had two veteran Divisions led by Brigadier Generals Patrick Cleburne and Thomas Churchill with him, comprised of men from Tennessee, Arkansas, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Heth's Division remained behind the main force to keep the Federal force at Cumberland Gap in check.

The 12th Indiana Infantry Regiment under the Command of Colonel William Link arrived in Richmond on August 24th, and over the next few days, more infantry units came to Richmond to train (because they were all very recent recruits) and block the way into central Kentucky.

Major General William "Bull" Nelson and his Brigade Commanders, Brigadier Generals Mahlon Manson and Charles Cruft, arrived in Richmond with the troops under their command from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky, on August 26th.

Amidst hot temperatures and an ongoing drought, thousands of Americans in uniform prepared for combat, and the civilian population observed and responded to their arrival.

Soon they would have much more to deal with than just the possibility of a battle.

Dispatch by:
George Nelson Ridings
BORA President

08/24/2026

This is something that you will not want to miss this weekend at the Battle of Richmond Reenactment on August 29-30th!
"Bibles and Bowie Knives" - a debate between Cassius Clay and John G. Fee

In 1856, Clay and Rev. John G. Fee debated the issue of slavery in Berea, KY. Clay had previously donated land and funds to Fee, but after their heated debate, their relationship crumbled. Come see a reenactment of Clay and Fee’s debate at the Battle of Richmond Reenactment at 12pm on August 29th.

On Saturday, August 29, White Hall State Historic Site museum curator Mathew Parrish will portrait Cassius M. Clay, Kentucky anti-slavery activist and U.S. Minister to Russia during the Civil War. Kent Gilbert will be portraying John G. Fee.