Historical Marker
Richmond Prelude
Confederates in Tennessee under Gen. E. Kirby Smith planned an invasion of the Blue Grass area. Finding Cumberland Gap protected, they entered through Rogers' Gap, heading for Lexington. US Gen. William Nelson sent Gens. M. D. Manson and Charles Cruft to oppose the invasion. The 2 armies, US 7,000, CSA 5,000, confronted each other 6 mi. below Richmond.
<h5>Reverse</h5>Richmond-Battle - On Aug. 30, 1862, CSA forces repulsed the enemy in three separate engagements. Confederate Generals T. Churchill and P. Cleburne and Colonels P. Smith and John Scott led in battles at Mt. Zion Church, White's Farm, and at Richmond. The total dead, wounded, missing of both sides was 5,804. Federals retreated and scattered. The CSA moved on to Lexington.
The largest non-nuclear explosion in US history occurred in 1958 in Fleming County, Kentucky, when a natural gas storage cavern exploded, killing several people and destroying nearby homes.