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GENERAL HOLLON RICHARDSON
 Among
the countless personal records in the history of the civil war there
is not one which more perfectly illustrates the spirit of the North which
accomplished the repression of the rebellion than that of him whose name
heads this account of his connection with the story of the Iron Brigade.
The volunteer soldiers were thorns in the sides of the officers who had
been trained At West Point and to whom secrecy was the grand desideratum
of existence. But every one of them knew what he was fighting for
as well as sometimes better than his superiors, for back of him lay his
home, all he had struggled and hoped for and above all, the sacred inheritance
from his sires of a united country. They had been trained in ways
and expectations of peace evermore; the war was a surprise and a painful
surprise to most of them; but they knew what was at stake and what they
did, advisedly of their own convictions and consciences. The delays
and mistakes of the officers at the beginning of the war galled them; but
they were true patriots and inflexible supporter of authority and knew
that Right was their standard bearer and that time would remedy all mistakes.
And they fought on to see rebellion in its last throes on many fields,
the Iron Brigade seeing the confederacy make its last desperate effort
at Appomattox Court House. The historian who transcribes these inadequate
records does the work with pride in the volunteer soldiers of the North
and especially in the case of General Richardson, knowing that on countless
pages is his name inscribed in connections in which it appears in
all the luster his magnificent career merits.
 He
was born at Poland, Ohio, Dec. 25,1837 and is the oldest of nine children
born to Hollon and Clarissa (McKenzie) Richardson. William, George,
Lemuel, Mary, Louise, Martha (deceased), Ella and Katie succeeded him in
order of birth. His father was born at Rowe, Mass., of American lineage
his mother was born in Pennsylvania and was of Scotch descent. The senior
Richardson was a contractor in the East during the period of construction
of canals and railroads and operated in connection with many public thoroughfares,
one of the most important being the “Incline Plane” across the Allegheny
mountains. He died at Chippewa Falls in 1886, aged 82 years. His wife died
in Poland, Ohio, in 1855.
Hollon Richardson was a studious, reflective boy and obtained
all the advantages possible in the schools to which he was sent in youth.
He studied for the profession of law and in August, 1857, was admitted
to the Ohio Bar by Chief Justice Bartley, on the motion of Hon. J. D. Cox,
Secretary of the Interior in Grant's first administration. In April, 1858,
he selected his field of work at Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and in 1860
was elected District Attorney for Chippewa county. He held the office until
he entered the military service of the United States.
With the first call to arms he closed his office and was the first
man to enlist in his county. At his own expense he entered upon the work
of recruiting and enlisted about 30 men, started with them on an open flatboat,
improvised for the business, and conducted them to be sworn into service.
He returned and recruited as many others, with whom he was mustered into
the 7th Wisconsin Infantry. Governor Randall tendered him a Captain's commission
which he refused but, at the urgent solicitation of his comrades, accepted
a commission as 1st Lieutenant of Company A, and went to the front in September
to enter the organization known afterwards for its sterling character and
reliability on the field as the Iron Brigade, which will have as deathless
a repute as the band that fought at Thermopylae or the Light Brigade of
the Crimea. With McDowell, the 7th went to the campaign of Pope and was
afterwards in the campaign of the Rappahannock and Mr. Richardson was with
the 1st Corps under Hooker with his regiment, which led the advance at
South Mountain, where he was in action, although suffering from chronic
bowel disease, contracted in August, 1862, before Fredericksburg, and from
which he has never recovered. (His weight was reduced from 180 to 110 pounds.)
He was in the second Rappahannock campaign and fought at Fredericksburg,
where he received two flesh wounds. It almost goes without saying that
he fought at Gettysburg, so many times is his name mentioned in every account
of the action. At the first day's battle he saw a disheartened Pennsylvania
regiment trail their colors and flinch; he rushed forward with all his
impetuous spirit awake, seized the flag and shouting, tried to rally the
faltering command, but in vain. His position was one of great exposure
and it is probable that the rebels respected his brave movement, for he
was unharmed, and he bore away the flag. He was reconnoitering after the
first day's fight and captured a rebel lieutenant and two men, from whom
he obtained information regarding the enemy's plans which he regarded of
great importance and communicated them to General Wadsworth, his Division
Commander, and to whom he also made some suggestions as to the disposition
of our forces, which caused that officer to advise immediate communication
with Meade. General Richardson gave General Meade the intelligence he had
gathered and suggested the advantage of placing guns in position on the
right of the hill and the extending of the Union lines on the right. Meade
appreciated the advice and ordered rifled guns placed there; General Richardson
suggested the advantage of howitzers, when Meade drew up haughtily and
said, "Sir, when I want your advice I will call for it." He smarted somewhat
under the rebuff but made like suggestions to Wadsworth, who considered
them of such moment that he ventured to present them to Meade, who treated
him in a similar manner. But General Richardson had the satisfaction of
knowing afterwards that every one of them were put into effect, and that
they were of the utmost service. An attack was contemplated on the position
where the guns were placed and was prevented by the information which General
Richardson imparted to Meade about midnight of July 1st. Of his services
that day in action the following letter speaks in terms that deserve record
here: "
Headquarters, 2d Brigade, 1st Division, A. C., Aug. 13, 1863.
To the Governor of Wisconsin.
Sir: I desire to recommend to your especial consideration,
Captain Hollon Richardson, of the 7th Wisconsin Volunteers. His faithfulness
as an officer generally; his bravery and good judgment in the various battles
in which he has been and especially on the bloody field of Gettysburg,
where he manifested the utmost coolness and bravery, entitle him to the
especial consideration of the Executive of the State he has so much honored.
At Gettysburg he virtually commanded the brigade for a portion of the day.
It cannot be known how many lives he saved by the manner in which he brought
off the troops from that field on the 1st of July, when there seemed to
be no one else to give orders, most of the field officers having been killed
or wounded. Very respectfully, L. Cutler, Brigadier General." General Wadsworth
wrote to Governor Randall of him under. date of July 14,1863: "In the battle
of Gettysburg, as the senior staff officer of the Brigade, a large and
unusual amount of responsibility devolved upon him, amounting at times
to the command of the brigade. His conduct on this as on other occasions
of severe trial, was in highest degree meritorious."
He was in the attack on the 18th of June at Petersburg and was
one of two officers who, with about 400 men, advanced to within a stone-throw
of the enemy's works, moving forward in great danger from the shells from
the Union batteries which, in trying to protect the movement, were fired
so low that their missiles fell close to the assaulting column which held
its position, gained in the face of a pitiless rain from musketry and artillery
and commenced with bayonets and tin plates to throw up breastworks. Richardson
appreciated the situation, saw that nothing but a general assault would
save them and run the gauntlet of shellfire to brigade headquarters. The
whole command shared with him the glory of the movement in which the force
was compelled to fall back after fighting to the last moment. Major Richardson
(then)ran a half mile and received a wound in his hand.
The following correspondence speaks for itself: Headquarters,
7th Wisconsin Vet. Vols., February 18,1865.
Major General G. H. Warren, Com’dg 5th Army Corps. General:
Ever since the 18th day of June before Petersburg, I have been thinking
of the proposition I made you in July last. I feel that it is of so much
importance as to justify a second consideration. I am satisfied in any
own mind as then that the works of the enemy in front of Petersburg, or
at almost any point on the line can be carried by assault, and I think
with a loss of less men than in open field, fighting with the present extended
lines; judging from our own it is fair to presume that the enemy can have
but a light line of men in their works. If that line of men can be attacked
in force without giving the enemy previous notice, if Fort Fisher manned
as it was could be carried I can see no good reason why we may not have
equal success. I think two corps sufficient for the work. I would, a week
or ten days in advance of the movement, by order require, that every night
each and every man should actually have in his possession sixty (60) rounds
of cartridges and four (4) days rations. I would equip each file closer
with a spade. The artillery and wagons should not be moved from place,
until the order "charge" should be given. I can but believe that their
movements is a most treacherous tell-tale and would be liable to put the
enemy on his guard.
I would move the troops by night from their cabins in
light marching order on a short hour's notice. I can see no, reason
why two corps cannot be thus put in position ready for the charge with
such secrecy as to preclude suspicious, and without the knowledge of our
pickets or the pickets of the enemy: My plan for the assault is the same
I suggested last summer. If you will permit me to select 1,000 picked men
from the troops of your corps, permit me to officer them from the officers
of the corps, allow me to drill them at least two days each week until
the time of assault, I will carry the works of the enemy at any point on
the line that may be selected. The breach once made, the two corps can
take positions without opposition, and with the Pioneer force on the field
can so entrench, before the enemy can make his dispositions, as to make
every obtained position perfectly secure. I would make the assault at early
daylight in two lines of battle. I believe I can reach the works of the
enemy before he can get out of his blankets.
Respectfully, H. Richardson, Lt. Col. Com’dg Regiment."
"Confidential. Headquarters, 5th Army Corps, Feb. 28, 1865.
Col. Richardson,
Dear Sir:-I have read your communication of the; 18th
and showed it to General Meade. The main objection to keeping your plan
a secret is that you request to select your men and drill them before hand
and that will certainly, arouse discussion and put the enemy on his guard;
if the preparation of the assaulting column could be made up with necessary
secrecy the time may come when it will be desirable to make the effort.
Respectfully, G.H. Warren, Maj. Gen. "Headquarters, 7th Wisconsin
Vet. Vols., March 2,1865. Major General G. H. Warren, Com'dg 5th Army Corps.
General:- Your favor of the 28th, in answer to mine of the 18th ult., received.
You state that the main objection to keeping my plan a secret is ` that
you (I) require to select your (my) men and drill them beforehand, "stating"
that will certainly arouse discussion, and put the enemy on his guard.
" Permit me to suggest that your objection might be obvious if it could
be made to appear, that at your headquarters, or at headquarters of the
Army of the : Potomac, it was necessary to have a body guard or skirmish
command of 1,000 picked men, say one Captain, one Lieutenant, three Sergeants,
four Corporals and thirty privates, fro, regiments who have especially
distinguished themselves in battle, to be selected with great care by the
commanding officers of the respective regiments.
Should the above be thought objectionable, might not the
command selected as above for “special service" be sent beyond the lines
of the department, then drilled and secretly returned when needed? Should
my suggestions or former proposition meet with favor, I would be pleased
to have the command armed with the Spencer rifle.
Respectfully, H. Richardson, Lt. Col. Com'dg Regiment."
His proposition was finally accepted and he selected his own regiment
as the nucleus of the assault and with picked officers he began operations.
He had drilled 14 days when the rebels anticipated his movement by doing
what he was preparing to do and, although the splendid courage of the Union
troops prevented the rupture of the Union lines, they took Fort Steadman,
But they paid the cost at Fort Mahone.
Major General Warren in his official report of the 5th Army Corps,
at the battle of Five Forks, Virginia, says :"During this last charge my
horse was fatally shot within a few paces of the line where the enemy made
his last stand; an Orderly by my side was killed and Colonel Richardson
of the 7th Wisconsin seeing my danger, sprang between me and the enemy,
saving my life and receiving a severe wound:"
He was six times wounded in action and was breveted three times
for distinguished services in the field. These occurred on the dates
that are catalogued with them, as follows: Dec. 2, 1864, Lieutenant Colonel;
March 13, 1865, Colonel, and March 13,1865, Brigadier General of Volunteers.
The first was conferred for bravery in action at Gravelly Run, Oct. 2,1864,
when, with 155 muskets he captured 226 rebels and re-took about 50 Union
prisoners. In his memoirs General Sheridan mentions. him for conspicuous
action at. Five Forks, Va. Swinton's history gives him conspicuous mentions
for the acts referred to herein, as do the Wisconsin historians, Quiner
and Love. He was mustered out July 3, 1865, after the close of the war
and refused a field position in the regular army to which he was recommended
by Warren. Since the war, at the suggestion of General Sherman he reported
to the War Department the fact that soldiers who wore the high black Hat,
as did his command, never suffered sunstroke, although the article of headgear
was the subject of much derision during the war. (It must not be forgotten
that the command was designated the "Big Hat Brigade.")
After the war he went to Baltimore and resumed the practice of
law. During the first campaign in which Grant was a candidate he pushed
his claims with all his vigor and impetuosity and served as a delegate
to the National Convention at Chicago in 1867 which put General Grant in
nomination. He returned to Chippewa Falls in 1870 and has since been a
resident of that place.
He was married in Washington, D.C., May 9, 1862, to Leonora, daughter
of Colonel W.W. and Sarah (Fiske) Robinson. Their children are Leonora
and Mamie. Leonora is the wife of E.H. Victor of Chippewa Falls. |
