1863: Mathias Edgar Richards to George Richards

The following letter was written by Lt. Mathias Edgar Richards (1830-1876) who enlisted on 23 September 1861 in the 96th Pennsylvania Infantry and was made the adjutant of the regiment. He later served as the Aide-de-Camp to General Joseph J. Bartlett.

Mathias Edgar Richards was born in New Hanover township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. His parents were George Richards (1788-1873) and Maria Matthias (b. 1885). He came from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, to attend college at Penn’s 9th Street campus and graduated as one of twenty members of the Class of 1851. After graduation he became a lawyer in Pottsville. During the Civil War, Richards was a member the Army of the Potomac, serving first (in 1861) with the 25th Pennsylvania Regiment of U.S. Volunteers, then with the 96th Pennsylvania Regiment U.S. Volunteers, and finally, in 1864, as an assistant adjutant general on the staff of General Bartlett. [Source: University of Pennsylvania]

Richards’ letter contains a brief reference to the surprise attack at dusk on Saturday, 7 November 1863, in which the Union army forced their way across the Rappahannock and overran the Confederate bridgehead at Rappahannock Station, capturing about 1,600 Confederates, and forcing the balance of Lee’s army to retreat below the Rapidan river. This engagement is sometimes referred to as Rappahannock Station II. Richards’ letter also includes a rather crude hand-drawn map.

*Artist Alfred Waud called this drawing “Capture of the fortifications on the Rappahannock at the Railway Bridge–by the right wing commanded by Genl. Sedgwick” (Library of Congress).*

Transcription

*Addressed to George Richards, Esqr. Pottstown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania*

Camp near Kelly’s Ford
November 10, 1863

Dear Father,

I take the opportunity of dropping you a few lines to let you know that I am safe and well. The 5th and 6th Corps attacked and took the fortifications at Rappahannock Station on Saturday by storm, taking 4 guns and 1580 prisoners. Gen. Bartlett has been assigned to command the 1st Division of the 5th Corps, and of course has taken me with him, so can direct all mail matter that way. Of course, I do not know how long we will stay here.

At present our division and the 3rd Division in the 6th Corps are stationed at Kelly’s Ford. The balance of the corps are on the other side of the river.

I have no news to write of our future movements. No one seems to have the least idea of what we are going to do. Our advance on the Rebs was a complete surprise but the trouble was there was no large force of them to attack this side of the Rapidan.

Your affectionate son, — M. E. Richards

I will write more fully when we get settled.