The troops were rallied on a new line a mile to the rear, but as this was badly posted for defense, the command was withdrawn from this position to the line occupied the day before, and from this--the enemy attacking in heavy force--the Federal troops were again routed and driven back to their camps, where the last stand was made and the heaviest fighting took place.Nelson, arriving on the ground, assumed command and endeavored to stem the tide of defeat.The enemy advanced in such overwhelming numbers upon the position of the Federal forces that they were driven in complete disorder at all points from the field.Nelson was twice wounded, but was able to reach Louisville with several detachments of his routed troops.
Here he assumed command and bent every energy to the organization of new troops, forming the citizens in commands for the defence of that city.Nelson's losses in the engagement at Richmond were two hundred and twenty-five killed, six hundred wounded, and over two thousand captured.He also lost nine guns.His entire command consisted of some seven thousand troops.The enemy's force was twelve thousand men and thirty-six pieces of artillery, and he lost over nine hundred killed and wounded.Kirby Smith then pushed his command north, occupying Lexington, and sent out detachments threatening Louisville and Cincinnati.On the 6th of September, General Heth with some six thousand troops advanced and took position a few miles south of Covington.He was ordered by Kirby Smith not to attack, but to hold his command in readiness to move at a moment's notice to form a junction with Bragg, then marching north through Kentucky.
Smith, while waiting to form a junction with Bragg, was actively employed in gathering supplies for his army in the richest part of the State.He also sought to obtain recruits for his command, but recruiting for the infantry service did not prove a success.
During the entire period the rebel army was in Kentucky not one entire infantry regiment was raised.Individual enlistment was constantly going on, but the leading officers of that army estimated their entire gain was not over five thousand men, including three regiments of cavalry recruited under Buford.Heth's advance alarmed the three cities of Covington, Newport, and Cincinnati, spreading consternation among all classes.Martial law was proclaimed, and all able-bodied citizens were ordered to report for work on the fortifications south of Covington.These works were manned by the population of the surrounding country, coming to Cincinnati to defend that city from pillage.Regiments of "Squirrel Hunters"were formed, and a show of force was kept up until veteran troops could be brought forward to take their place.Heth wished to attack, but Kirby Smith would not permit this, as he anticipated a battle with Buell, and that Bragg would have to fight his entire army, in which event he would need every available man.Heth fell back in a few days and on October 4th Smith reported with his command to Bragg at Frankfort.
Bragg's movements became clearly apparent to Buell while the latter was concentrating at Murfreesboro.On September 7th, Buell started with Ammen's, Crittenden's, McCook's, Wood's, Rousseau's, and Mitchell's divisions in the race between the opposing armies for Louisville.If Bragg moved energetically and with the intent of taking Louisville without fighting a battle in Kentucky before he reached that city, his start in the race and the shorter line he was moving on gave him the decided advantage in the movement.
Buell's object was to overtake Bragg, and, if necessary, force the fighting.This would compel the latter to move his army so closely on the one road open to him that his movements would be necessarily slow.Failing in this, Buell's plans were to press Bragg so hard that if he refused to fight in Kentucky he must leave the State in possession of the Federal forces before he could gain anything by his advance.
Buell, after reaching Nashville, crossed the river there at once and pushed on with all possible speed.He left Thomas's, Palmer's, and Negley's divisions, with Thomas in command, as the garrison at this place.So important did Buell regard the holding of Nashville, that he determined to weaken his immediate command and leave this strong force under his most trusted subordinate, to retain possession of that point.He considered his army in pursuit of Bragg of sufficient strength to make the fight for the possession of Kentucky, and in the event Bragg was driven from that State he would concentrate in the vicinity of Nashville, where the battle for that important position with Middle Tennessee would yet have to be fought.In the happening of the latter event it was an absolute necessity that the Federal army should hold Nashville as a point at which to concentrate and move to the attack.If the result of the movement in Kentucky should be the defeat of Buell, then it was important that the general in command of the forces at Nashville should be an officer of experience, to save the troops left there, in their retreat to rejoin the main army.Buell regarded the holding of Nashville by our forces as second only to the safety of Kentucky, and made the disposition of his command accordingly.
With this view, on the 12th, he ordered R.B.Mitchell's division to return to Nashville and form part of the garrison of that place.
