- Israel B. Richardson
Infobox Military Person
name=Israel B. Richardson
born= birth date|1815|12|26
died= death date and age|1862|11|3|1815|12|26
placeofbirth=Fairfax, Vermont
placeofdeath=Sharpsburg, Maryland
placeofburial=Oak Hill CemeteryPontiac, Michigan
caption=General Israel B. Richardson
nickname=Fighting Dick
allegiance=United States of America
branch=Union Army
serviceyears=1841 – 1862
rank= Major General
commands=1st Division, II Corps,Army of the Potomac
unit=
battles=Second Seminole WarMexican-American War American Civil War
*Battle of Antietam †
awards=
laterwork=Israel Bush Richardson (
December 26 ,1815 –November 3 ,1862 ) was aUnited States Army officer during theMexican-American War andAmerican Civil War , where he was a major general in theUnion Army . Nicknamed "Fighting Dick" for his prowess on the battlefield, he was mortally wounded at theBattle of Antietam nearSharpsburg, Maryland .Early life and career
Richardson was born in
Fairfax, Vermont . He was reportedly a descendant of famedAmerican Revolutionary War generalIsrael Putnam . [Antietam on the Web; "Appleton's Cyclopedia".] He was appointed from Vermont to theUnited States Military Academy inWest Point, New York . He graduated 38th out of 58 cadets in the Class of 1841. He was one of 23 classmates that would become generals during the Civil War. After some routine assignments, Richardson served as a second lieutenant in the Second Seminole War inFlorida .He received two brevets for meritorious service during the
Mexican-American War ; to captain andMajor (United States) for the actions at Contreras, Churubusco, and Chapultepec. It was in Mexico while serving under GeneralWinfield Scott in theArmy of Occupation that he received his nickname, "Fighting Dick," which would carry over to the Civil War.He later served as a captain in the 3rd U.S. Infantry (a rank he achieved in 1851) at various
frontier outposts, but resigned his commission in 1855 and began farming nearPontiac, Michigan .Civil War
When the Civil War broke out, Richardson was still farming in
Michigan . He enlisted in theUnion Army and recruited and organized the 2nd Michigan Infantry. He married Fannie Travor onMay 18 ,1861 , inWayne County, Michigan . When he reported with hisregiment inWashington, D.C. , GeneralWinfield Scott greeted him with "I'm glad to have my 'Fighting Dick' with me again." ["Appleton's Cyclopedia"] Richardson, promoted to colonel onMay 25 ,1861 , was assigned command of the 4th Brigade, 1st Division, in the newly organized army of Brig. Gen.Irvin McDowell . His brigade saw limited action at theFirst Battle of Bull Run near Blackburn's Ford, and in covering the subsequent Federal withdrawal to Washington. He was promoted to brigadier general, ranking fromMay 17 ,1861 . [Eicher, pp. 452, 727.]He commanded several brigades in the
Army of the Potomac and then the 1st Division of the II Corps during thePeninsula Campaign in mid-1862. He was involved in the fighting at the battles of Yorktown, Seven Pines, and the Seven Days. He was particularly distinguished in sharp fighting near theChickahominy River . Following the campaign, he was promoted to major general onJuly 4 ,1862 . He led his troops during theNorthern Virginia Campaign , fighting at theSecond Battle of Bull Run , and again during theMaryland Campaign in September, when he was engaged at South Mountain.Richardson's 1st Division played a key role during the Battle of Antietam on
September 17 ,1862 , attacking Confederate positions in the center of the Sunken Road in support of the 3rd Division of Maj. Gen.William H. French . After stubborn fighting, by 1:00 p.m., Richardson had gained control of the high ground in front of the apex of the defensive line, and his menenfilade d the remaining defenders in the road, which would gain the nickname "Bloody Lane" for the carnage. Richardson pushed forward beyond the road and was directing the fire of his artillery and organizing another attack when he was struck by a shell fragment.Carried to the rear, Richardson was treated at a
field hospital . His wound was not considered life threatening, and he was given a room in McClellan's headquarters, the Pry House. PresidentAbraham Lincoln paid his respects to the wounded Richardson during a visit to the battlefield in October. However, infection set in, and thenpneumonia , which claimed the life of the popular general in early November. He was among six generals to be killed or mortally wounded at Antietam.His body was escorted to
Detroit, Michigan . Large crowds lined the streets during his funeral procession to nearby Pontiac, where he was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.Honors and awards
Fort Richardson, a
Texas frontier fort active from 1867 to 1878, was named for him.The Israel B. Richardson Camp #2 of the
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Oakland, Michigan, was also named for the fallen general.ee also
*
List of American Civil War generals References
* Boatner, Mark M. III, "The Civil War Dictionary: Revised Edition", David McKay Company, Inc., 1984.
* Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., "Civil War High Commands", Stanford University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.:appletonsNotes
External links
* [http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ibrsuvcw/index.html Israel Richardson SUVCW Camp webpage and bio]
* [http://www.generalsandbrevets.com/ngr/richardson.htm Photo gallery of General Richardson]
* [http://aotw.org/officers.php?officer_id=109 Antietam on the Web]
*findagrave|5841847 Retrieved on2008-01-06 Persondata
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