Col. J. Stoddard Johnston, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 9.1, Kentucky
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[125] cavalry, at Big Hill, seventeen miles from Richmond, and routed him with heavy loss, then pursuing the enemy in disorderly flight nearly to Richmond. Meantime General Smith, following the line of operations indicated in his letter to President Davis of the 11th, crossed the Cumberland mountains through Rogers' Gap, with the divisions of Cleburne and Churchill 6,000 strong, and on the 18th reached Barboursville, Ky., while General Heth, conveying the artillery and trains through Big Creek Gap, joined him on the 22d.

Being reinforced by a brigade from Stevenson's division, General Smith advanced from Barboursville towards Richmond on the 27th with 12,000 men, and on the 30th attacked the Federal forces near Richmond,¹ under Gen. M. D. Manson, of General Nelson's division, estimated by General Smith at 10,000. The principal fighting was done by the Confederates under Cleburne and Churchill, Scott's cavalry having been sent to the rear of Richmond. Upon the final rout of the Federals two miles west of that place, the day closed with the capture of over 4,000 prisoners, including General Manson. General Nelson, who came upon the field about 2 o'clock, after witnessing a panic of his own troops as great as that he saw at Shiloh, escaped capture by taking a by-road. The Confederate loss was about 450 killed and wounded, while that of the Federals was reported at 1,050 killed and wounded, and 4,828 captured, besides the loss of nine field pieces of artillery, 8,000 or 10,000 stand of arms and large quantities of supplies. Colonel Scott pursued the retreating forces, reaching Lexington on September 2d, Frankfort on the 3d and Shelbyville on the 4th. It was one of the most decisive victories of the war, and at one stroke practically caused the evacuation of all Kentucky east of Louisville and south of Cincin-