From the Cincinnati Gazette.
CINCINNATI, September 1.
Editors Gazette: I read this morning, with much astonishment, your account of the disaster at Richmond, Kentucky, and your comments thereon. It Is to be presumed that you desire to furnish your readers with the truth. it is as follows:
First. The action was brought on by General Manson, who was in command at Richmond, against my instructions, and against the instructions of General Wright, the Commander of the department, which were that the troops being new, were not to be risked in action until some time had been spent in drill and discipline.
Second. No report was made to me of the approach of the enemy in force till half-past two o’ clock Saturday morning, the day of the fight. I immediately ordered a retreat along the Lancaster road in order that the two brigades at Richmond might join the brigade marching to join Gen. Dumont, who was ordered to march to Danville from Lebanon. There would then have been sixteen thousand men at Lancaster, Danville, and Camp Dick Robinson, in a triangle of two equal sides of eight miles, and all these connected by good turnpike roads.
The enemy would not have dared to cross the Kentucky river with this force on his flank. But General Manson, without notifying me, marched five miles to the front, with one brigade, to meet the enemy. Supposing their force to be twenty-five hundred strong, he met them ten to twelve thousand strong.
Third. Immediately after I received Gen. Hanson’s dispatch. I rode to the field—riding fifty-two miles to get there. I arrived alone at two o’clock P. M., and found the troops remaining with Gen. Manson in a disorderly retreat. By great exertion I succeeded in rallying about twenty-two hundred men, and took a strong position. The enemy attacked in front and on both flanks at once; at the third or fourth round the men, already much demoralized, broke and fled. This is precisely the case as it occurred.
Fourth. You make a stricture that I superseded Gen. L. Wallace, and did not invite him to remain. I superseded Gen. Wallace by command of my superiors—I did invite him to remain and take any command he chose.
W. NELSON, Major General.
Daily Ohio Statesman, Columbus, OH