Kentucky Battle House Transferred to County

By Phillip Seyfrit

Feb/Mar 2006

RICHMOND, Ky. — The Department of the Army recently transferred ownership of a Civil War-era residence on the battlefield to the Madison County Fiscal Court. The Battle of Richmond Association and U.S. Senator Jim Bunning’s (R-KY) Washington office were instrumental in the preservation effort.

The residence, known as the Rogers-Tribble House, witnessed the fighting on Aug. 30, 1862, between Maj. Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith’s Confederate Army of Kentucky and Maj. Gen. William “Bull” Nelson’s Union Provisional Army of Kentucky forces.

The Federal-style home was constructed in 1811 by Adam Rogers. Alex Tribble bought it in 1858. The home and adjoining small acreage sit at the intersection of U.S. 25 and 421 in south central Madison County.

The house had been the Commandant’s home for the Blue Grass Army Depot, which has been in existence since 1942.

Phase One of the Battle of Richmond, which took place just a few hundred yards south of the home towards Kingston, witnessed Confederate Brig. Gens. Patrick Cleburne and Thomas Churchill out-flank and out-maneuver Union Brig. Gens. Mahlon Manson and Charles Cruft’s Federals close to the Mt. Zion Christian Church.

In the initial ensuing rout, the Union forces swarmed over the Tribble property in retreat. They eventually joined the remainder of Gen. Cruft’s men about a half-mile north of the mansion.

Confederate forces finally drove the Union troops from Richmond a few miles to the north, resulting in the capture of nearly the entire Union force of 6,000.

The Battle of Richmond, the second largest Civil War battle in Kentucky, has been classified by many Civil War scholars and historians as one of the most complete victories either side had during the conflict.

After the battle the Tribble home was a hospital for wounded soldiers for several weeks.
According to the Battle of Richmond Association, plans for the Rogers-Tribble House include transforming it into a visitor center and museum and making it part of the Madison County Parks system. The battlefield park at Richmond already consists of nearly 70 acres surrounding the Pleasant View Farm, three-quarters of a mile south of the Rogers-Tribble House.