Richmond in Madison County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Engagement At Bobtown
August 29, 1862
| — | The Battle of Richmond, Kentucky | — |
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 10, 2022
1. Engagement At Bobtown Marker
Lieut. Marcus Fleishel, Douglas' Texas Battery
As late as August 29,1862 the Union command had no idea of the size of the Confederate force south of Richmond. Was it a full-scale invasion or was it simply a cavalry raid? Col. Leonidas Metcalfe rode out of Richmond with his cavalry hoping to gain valuable information. South of Kingston the Federals encountered Col. John Scott's pickets. The Union cavalry attacked. Scott's men offered little resistance and quickly retreated south toward Gen. Patrick Cleburne's infantry.
The Union soldiers flew down the Old State Road in hot pursuit. Metcalfe, defeated by Scott at Big Hill on August 23, intended to settle the score. To his surprise, what awaited Metcalfe was not a small force of demoralized cavalry but a brigade of Confederate infantry. When the Union horsemen were within twenty-five paces the Confederates opened fire, emptying several saddles and stopping the Union advance.
The Lincolnites... were allowed to approach sufficiently near to ascertain by the sound on the road something of their exact whereabouts, when the skirmishers of the Forty-eighth Tennessee... were ordered to fire, throwing the cavalry into utter confusion, causing a pell-mell retreat. One of the enemy was here killed, several wounded, and three captured.
Col. Benjamin Jefferson Hill
The Federals dismounted and continued the attack but to no avail. Realizing that he could not win, Metcalfe ordered his men back to the Federal lines.
"...firing and yelling was heard in our front, and almost simultaneously a multitude of stragglers, consisting of part of Colonel Scott's cavalry brigade ... came flying in the utmost consternation, closely pursued by the whole of Colonel Metcalfe's command of
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General Patrick Cleburne (Marker Number 2.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 29, 1862.
Location. 37° 41.055′ N, 84° 15.484′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Kentucky, in Madison County. It is on Battlefield Memorial Highway, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Battlefield Memorial Hwy, Richmond KY 40475, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Encampment At Bobstown (here, next to this marker); Advance To Kingstown (here, next to this
Photographed by Craig Doda, November 10, 2022
2. Engagement At Bobtown Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 250 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
