The great victory in Kentucky.
complete rout of the Yankee army.
over ten thousand men captured.
From the Knoxville Register, of Thursday last, we extract the following intelligence relative to the great victory achieved over the Yankee forces, near Richmond, Ky., on Saturday last.
It will be seen that our victory was complete in every particular, the entire army being captured, numbering over ten thousand men. The following is a dispatch from Gen. Smith announcing the victory: We had three fights on the 30th near Richmond, Ky, The enemy was completely routed. General Nelson is wounded in the thigh, Gen. Miller killed. About three thousand prisoners, including General Manson and staff, captured, together with all their artillery and small arms, wagons, &c. Our loss small.
Immediately after the battle the following congratulatory order was issued by Gen. Smith:
Hdq'rs army of Kentucky,
Richmond, Ky.,Aug. 30
The Major General commanding returns his heart-felt thanks to the troops of this command, officers and men, for their exceeding gallantry in the several actions of this day, their patient, unmurmuring endurance of fatigue during two days and nights, forced marches, and fighting three battles in twelve hours. The country shall know of your sufferings on the march, as well as of the bold, pressing charges of this day.
To morrow being Sunday, the General desires that the troops shall assemble, and under their several Chaplains shall return thanks to Almighty God, to whose mercies and goodness these victories are due.
The following extract of a letter from Capt. McElrath, of Gen. Smith's command, furnishes many interesting particulars:
Richmond, Ky., August 30, 1862.
We have had to day three different and hotly contested battles.
The enemy's force reported at 14,000.
They made the first stand at the foot of Big Hill, eight miles from Richmond, and the last one at Richmond.
Our loss in killed is about 100, perhaps less, and as many wounded. That of the enemy, killed and wounded, double ours, besides over 2,000 prisoners. Captain Scott is now--9 o'clock P. M.--in the rear, so that in the morning we shall capture the entire party.
Our men behaved most gallantly, charging the enemy at each stand they made, killed one General, four Colonels, two Lieutenant-Colonels, and captured large quantities of commissary stores.
Col. Scott, who was pursuing, is just now in, and says we have captured the entire army — more than 10,000 men.
It is glorious enough for one fight.
No enemy now between this and Lexington. God be praised!
The Register also publishes the following highly interesting letter, which it says is from a very worthy source and entitled to the utmost credit:
Gen. Smith and staff mounted their horses at 7 o'clock, Saturday morning, and moved to the front some eight miles to where our forces arrived last night. Just before reaching the place the enemy attacked us, opening with artillery, and in about an hour the infantry opened. In less than an hour we drove them from their position, with great slaughter on their side, we taking many prisoners. Our loss was quite heavy, especially in officers.--We moved on about two miles beyond Cogersville, at which place the fight first occurred, and found them again in position, when we made the attack, and the second time drove them from their position, with still greater loss both in killed and wounded and missing, with smaller loss on our side. This second fight occurred about 2 or 3 o'clock, and our troops having marched some eight miles, and having no water except a little taken from the stagnant pools along the road, and seeing the enemy again preparing to receive us, we halted our men and gave them several hours' rest. Everything being ready, a short march brought us within sight of Richmond, where the enemy made a third stand, when we moved on and attacked them the third time.
After hard fighting we routed them, and drove them through the place a little before sundown in utter confusion. In this last fight we did not lose many men, but we captured from 1,300 to 1,500 prisoners, besides their killed and wounded. After we had whipped them in front and started them running, Colonel--, with his command, who had been sent around on the Lexington road to catch them, keeping his command in ambush until the retreating army came up, attacked them, and succeeded in capturing and killing nearly the whole army, taking all their guns and some ten pieces of artillery, with all their wagons, stores, etc. It is estimated that their killed, wounded and missing will reach some 10,000, whilst ours will not reach more than from three to five hundred killed and wounded. Their loss in killed and wounded officers is very heavy. The troops were from Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky, and commanded by Gen'l Bull Nelson. Colonel Cassius M. Clay commanded a brigade, Gen. Smith commanded our troops, and by hard fighting and the blessing of God, we destroyed their fine army. It was a grand sight to see our ill-clad, and sometimes barefooted troops, with no food and but little water, marching with a stead, front on their splendidly equipped foe. It was one of the grandest battles I ever saw.
It filled our hearts with pride to see our men move onward and never give way. Glory be to God on high for the splendid result.
Gen. Smith and staff escaped unhurt.
The Register editorially says: ‘"The courier who brings the dispatch of Gen. Smith, further reports that a regiment of Kentucky infantry, and a large body of cavalry, hitherto in the Federal service, have joined Smith's victorious army, and that the Southern Rights Kentuckians are flocking to his standard in great numbers. We think we may safely say that the day of Kentucky's deliverance from the hateful thrall of the abolition despotism has brightly dawned."’
