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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
 

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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