RICHMOND, KY., September 1, 1862.

GENERAL: On the night of the 29th ultimo I was informed by Colonel Boggs, of your staff, that you desired me to move forward with my division and the two batteries attached at daylight and attack the enemy, supposed to be immediately in my front. At daylight I commenced the movement. The Second Brigade and the battery of Captain Douglas (commanded by Colonel B. J. Hill) was in front. The First Brigade, under Acting Brigadier General Preston Smith, with the battery of Captain Martin, followed at the distance of a quarter of a mile. I sent the Buckner Guards (a company of Scott's cavalry) in front to find the enemy. Half a mile north of the village of Kingston the cavalry encountered the advance guard of the enemy and soon after discovered their line of battle about 500 or 600 yards in rear of their advance guard. Going forward to reconnoiter I could distinctly see their first line facing us at right angles to the Richmond road, with one regiment to the right of the road, the others in the timber to the left. They had a battery masked near the Richmond road. I immediately placed Colonel Hill's brigade in line behind the crest of a low hill which ran parallel to and about 500 yards from the enemy's line. I placed Douglas' battery on the crest near my center. I ordered Smith's brigade to be formed in line within supporting distance; he accordingly formed his brigade in line behind the crest of a second hill in my rear. While making these dispositions the enemy, showing only one regiment, kept up a ridiculous fire on us from a little mountain howitzer which they had captured the day before from Colonel Scott.

I now ordered the battery of Captain Douglas to open on what appeared to be a squad of cavalry on the Richmond road. In a moment this squad disappeared, unmasking a battery, which opened a rapid fire. I sent out skirmishers along our front and toward our right flank, and extended my line to the left across the Richmond turnpike with a strong company of skirmishers. This company held the regiment of the enemy's infantry on the same side of the road in check during the whole of the first fight and effectually protected my left flank. Finding a good position for a second battery I sent orders to acting Brigadier General Preston Smith to send Martin's battery to the front. I placed it on the hill near the right of my brigade and opened on the enemy. At this juncture I received an order from you, directing me to avoid a general battle until General Churchill's division could get up. I now directed the artillery to fire very slowly and not waste a round. The battle continued a mere fight of artillery and skirmishers for over two hours, when the enemy commenced moving toward my right flank, driving back my skirmishers on that flank. I ordered a regiment of Smith's brigade (the One hundred and fifty-fourth Tennessee) to be sent forward, and placed it in line on the right of my brigade. A close fire soon commenced on the right, and became so heavy I found it necessary to sustain the right with a further re-enforcement. I detached Colonel [L. E.] Polk, commanding the Thirteenth and Fifteenth Arkansas Regiments, to the support of the One hundred and fifty-fourth Tennessee. A very heavy musketry fight ensued, and learning that the enemy were still concentrating against my right, and believing that General Churchill must now be within supporting distance, I ordered Acting Brigadier General Preston Smith to immediately move forward the remaining three regiments of his brigade, to place them on the right of the line already engaged, and if his line overlapped that of the enemy to lap

60 R R-V0L XVI