American Civil War Union Major General. He was an American military officer who graduated 38th out of 58 cadets in the West Point Class of 1841, a class that gave 23 generals to the American Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, Richardson served with distinction during the Second Seminole War in Florida and the Mexican War. He was then stationed in frontier outposts in the Texas and New Mexico territories. While he was stationed in Texas, he married Rita Stephenson in August of 1850. His wife died in childbirth, and his infant son died six months later. He resigned his commission for a short time after his wife's death but relisted with the pending war. He remarried in 1861 to Fannie Traver. In May of 1861, he recruited the 2nd Michigan Infantry, serving as its colonel. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of First Manassas and was promoted to Brigadier General in August of 1861. After being promoted to Major General on July 4, 1862, he was assigned division command in Hooker's I Corps. After being assigned a division in Sumner's II Corps in September, his troops drove the Confederates from the Bloody Lane at the Battle of Antietam on September 17th. While directing the fire of one of his supporting artillery units, he was wounded by a ball from a spherical case shot fired from a Confederate battery infiltrating his line. He was taken to Pry House, which was Gen. McClellan's Headquarters, where he was diagnosed with a lung wound that developed into pneumonia. Before his death, his wife and President Abraham Lincoln visited with him. He died two weeks later from his battle wounds. He was among six generals to be killed or mortally wounded at Antietam. A cannon marks the site where he was wounded, and the field hospital, Pry House, still stands as a museum despite a terrible fire in 1974.
American Civil War Union Major General. He was an American military officer who graduated 38th out of 58 cadets in the West Point Class of 1841, a class that gave 23 generals to the American Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, Richardson served with distinction during the Second Seminole War in Florida and the Mexican War. He was then stationed in frontier outposts in the Texas and New Mexico territories. While he was stationed in Texas, he married Rita Stephenson in August of 1850. His wife died in childbirth, and his infant son died six months later. He resigned his commission for a short time after his wife's death but relisted with the pending war. He remarried in 1861 to Fannie Traver. In May of 1861, he recruited the 2nd Michigan Infantry, serving as its colonel. He commanded a brigade at the Battle of First Manassas and was promoted to Brigadier General in August of 1861. After being promoted to Major General on July 4, 1862, he was assigned division command in Hooker's I Corps. After being assigned a division in Sumner's II Corps in September, his troops drove the Confederates from the Bloody Lane at the Battle of Antietam on September 17th. While directing the fire of one of his supporting artillery units, he was wounded by a ball from a spherical case shot fired from a Confederate battery infiltrating his line. He was taken to Pry House, which was Gen. McClellan's Headquarters, where he was diagnosed with a lung wound that developed into pneumonia. Before his death, his wife and President Abraham Lincoln visited with him. He died two weeks later from his battle wounds. He was among six generals to be killed or mortally wounded at Antietam. A cannon marks the site where he was wounded, and the field hospital, Pry House, still stands as a museum despite a terrible fire in 1974.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
Major General
He drew his sword for his country, 1841.
And sheathed it without dishonor at Antietam, 1862.
Family Members
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