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Civil War Soldiers - Richardson
| Richardson, Israel B., major-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Fairfax, Vt., Dec. 26, 1815. He was graduated
at the United States military academy in 1841 and served in the
Florida war of 1841-42, in the military occupation of Texas, and in
the Mexican war, where he was present at most of the principal
engagements and won the brevet of captain for gallantry at Contreras
and Churubusco, and that of major for services at Chapultepec. He was
promoted captain in 1851 and resigned from the service in 1855,
engaging in farming near Pontiac, Mich. At the beginning of the Civil
war he was commissioned colonel of the 2nd Mich. infantry, and on May
17, 1861, he was appointed brigadier-general of volunteers. He took
part in the battle of Bull Run and covered the retreat of the Federal
army with his brigade, and he commanded a division in the Army of the
Potomac during the Virginia Peninsular campaign, engaging in the
battle of Fair Oaks and the Seven Days' battles before Richmond. His
coolness in action had won him the name "fighting Dick" in the Mexican
war, and the name clung to him in the Civil war also. Gen. Richardson
was promoted major-general of volunteers July 4, 1862, and commanded
the 1st division in the Maryland campaign where he fought at South
mountain and at Antietam. He was mortally wounded at Antietam, and
died in Pry's house, McClellan's headquarters, near Sharpsburg, Md.,
Nov. 3, 1862. Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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| Richardson, William A.,
brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Fayette county, Ky., Oct.
11, 1811, became a lawyer and settled in Illinois. Between the years
1836 and 1844 he was three times a member of the state legislature,
and in 1844 was an elector-at-large on the Polk and Dallas
presidential ticket. In 1846 he served as captain in the Mexican war,
and on the battle-field of Beuna Vista was promoted major by the
unanimous vote of his regiment. In 1847 he was elected a
representative in Congress from Illinois by the Democrats and
continued a member of the house until 1856, when he resigned. In 1857
he was appointed governor of Nebraska by President Buchanan, but he
resigned that position the following year. In 1860 he reluctantly
consented to serve as a member of Congress, and on Sept. 3, 1861, was
commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers. He declined the
military position, however, and before his term as representative had
expired he was elected United States senator to fill the unexpired
term of Stephen A. Douglas. He was a delegate to the Democratic
national convention in New York city in 1868, then retired from public
life, and he died at Quincy, Ill., on Dec. 27, 1875.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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