Position at Antietam
Commander, First Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac (Age 47 at the battle)
Personal
1815-1862 Vermont
Nickname: Fighting Dick
Born in Fairfax, Vermont. Son of Israel Putnam Richardson, a lawyer; In 1861 he married Fannie Trevor; no children.
Education
West Point Class of 1841, ranked 38th of 52; Classmates: Don Carlos Buell, Richard Garnett, and Nathaniel Lyon; Commissioned in the Third Infantry
Mexican War
First Lieutenant in Third Infantry; Fought in every major battle of the Mexican War; two brevets for gallantry at Churubusco and Chapultepec.
Other military career highlights
Frontier duty in Texas and New Mexico; Promoted to Captain in 1851; Resigned 1855.
Civilian career highlights
Farmer in Pontiac, Michigan
Civil War
Colonel, 2nd Michigan Volunteers; Commanded a brigade at First Bull Run; Commanded his division on the Peninsula at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks and Seven Days; Commanded his division at Antietam; Mortally wounded near the Sunken Road on September 17, 1862.
Postwar
N/A
Death
Mortally wounded by a shell fragment near the Sunken Road at Antietam on September 17, 1862; Died at the Pry House near Keedysville, November 3, 1862, age 46.
Quotes
“Old Dick Richardson was our brigade commander. I remember him as a man who understood volunteers and appreciated the difference between them and regulars. He generally went around camp wearing an old straw hat and citizens coat, his slouchy appearance anything but military, but he would stay in a fight as long as anyone and looked after the comfort of his men with a fatherly solicitude.” A soldier of the 2nd Michigan
“Don’t you think it would be just as well, and perhaps a little better, to let the boys have their coffee before we start?” Israel B. Richmond to Captain Janvrin Graves, commander of Company E, 5th NH, during a period of rapid movement preceding Maryland Campaign
“Old Dick Richardson led us in, not merely to fill up a gap, but to make gaps.” Captain Helmbold of Company D, 2nd Delaware, describes Richardson’s commitment of his regiment to stop a Confederate counterattack in the Sunken Road
“Tell General McClellan I have been in the front rank doing the duty of a Colonel. I have done a hard day’s work and have worked all day. I am wounded and he must detail someone to take my command.” Israel Richardson after being wounded at Antietam
“Richardson never appeared well out of battle, but in one he was magnificent.” Edwin V. Sumner
“Men, follow me and where I will not go, I will not ask you to go.” Israel Richardson’s parting words to the men of the Irish Brigade at the Sunken Road
“An officer of the old army; bull headed, brave and a good disciplinarian.” George B. McClellan
“Anything like speech making is a terror to him. He has never been known to talk for more than two minutes consecutively since he joined the regiment. He likes to do things without ceremony.” Charles Haydon of the 2nd Michigan
“God damn the field officers.” Richardson upon hearing that General Caldwell was hiding behind a haystack during the attack against the Sunken Road
“Richardson is a dark, slim man, with stooping shoulders, and a pronounced nasal voice. He looks like a farmer more than a soldier, and is utterly devoid of style; but has good common sense, a rare commodity apparently, and is very popular with his command. He is a West Pointer, notwithstanding his lack of style, and served in the old regular army. He made me think he smelt something disagreeable all the time, by the way he moved the muscles of his face. He is a typical Yankee.” Josiah Favill