William N. Richardson
Encyclopedia
William Richardson was an American
politician
and lawyer
. Born in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama to William Richardson and Anne Davis, Richardson served in the Civil War
, fighting for the Confederacy
.
and was taken prisoner. He escaped from prison, was caught, and about to be shot as a spy at Murfreesboro
when "on the morning air there came to our ears with heartfelt welcome the famous rebel yell," and General Forrest
with his "critter company" rescued him. This account is given in Andrew Nelson Lytle's Bedford Forrest and His Horse Critters. William then joined Company E of the 50th Alabama Infantry Regiment, and was again wounded at Chickamauga
. He was paroled in April 1865 in Marietta, Georgia
.
and served in the Alabama House of Representatives
between 1865 and 1867 from that district. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Huntsville in 1867. Between 1875 and 1886, he served as judge of the probate and county courts of Madison County. Richardson played a major role in the election of George Smith Houston as governor the next year. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1904.
He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Joseph Wheeler
. He was reelected to the Fifty-seventh and to the six succeeding Congresses. He served until his death.
Richardson was often troublesome to the Union
victors after the Civil War. He was wanted by the North, but was never caught. Once, he tarred and feathered
a Union carpetbagger
, tied him to his horse, and dragged him through the streets of Huntsville. He later ran to a cave and hid for about a year. Soon after, he was elected to the House.
Richardson was also very large. He was considered a giant
by many people of the time period. Portraits of him exist which depict him seated on a large horse with his feet nearly touching the ground. Though his actual height was never recorded, he was said to be somewhere between 6' 9" and 7' 2".
Richardson died on March 31, 1914 in Atlantic City, New Jersey
, where he had gone for his health, and is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery
in Huntsville.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. Born in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama to William Richardson and Anne Davis, Richardson served in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, fighting for the Confederacy
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
.
Civil War
Richardson enlisted in Co. K, 50th Regiment Alabama Infantry and was wounded in the battle of ShilohBattle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
and was taken prisoner. He escaped from prison, was caught, and about to be shot as a spy at Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro is the name of several places in the United States of America:*Murfreesboro, Arkansas*Murfreesboro, North Carolina*Murfreesboro, Tennessee-Other:*The Battle of Murfreesboro or the Battle of Stones River, in the American Civil War...
when "on the morning air there came to our ears with heartfelt welcome the famous rebel yell," and General Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest
Nathan Bedford Forrest was a lieutenant general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He is remembered both as a self-educated, innovative cavalry leader during the war and as a leading southern advocate in the postwar years...
with his "critter company" rescued him. This account is given in Andrew Nelson Lytle's Bedford Forrest and His Horse Critters. William then joined Company E of the 50th Alabama Infantry Regiment, and was again wounded at Chickamauga
Chickamauga
Chickamauga may refer to:* Chickamauga Indian* Chickamauga Wars , battles between Cherokee and Anglo-American pioneer settlers; also related to the American Revolutionary War* Chickamauga, Georgia...
. He was paroled in April 1865 in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
.
Political office
After the war, Richardson returned to Limestone CountyAthens, Alabama
Athens is a city in Limestone County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 18,967. According to the 2009 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 24,234...
and served in the Alabama House of Representatives
Alabama House of Representatives
The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal amount of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term...
between 1865 and 1867 from that district. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Huntsville in 1867. Between 1875 and 1886, he served as judge of the probate and county courts of Madison County. Richardson played a major role in the election of George Smith Houston as governor the next year. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1904.
He was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-sixth congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
. He was reelected to the Fifty-seventh and to the six succeeding Congresses. He served until his death.
Personal life
Richardson married his cousin, Elizabeth Rucker, of Lynchburg, Virginia in 1872, and they were the parents of five children.Richardson was often troublesome to the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
victors after the Civil War. He was wanted by the North, but was never caught. Once, he tarred and feathered
Tarred and Feathered
"Tarred and Feathered" is a song by English punk rock band Dogs and is featured on their debut album, Turn Against This Land. Released on November 28, 2005, it was the fifth and final single taken from the album....
a Union carpetbagger
Carpetbagger
Carpetbaggers was a pejorative term Southerners gave to Northerners who moved to the South during the Reconstruction era, between 1865 and 1877....
, tied him to his horse, and dragged him through the streets of Huntsville. He later ran to a cave and hid for about a year. Soon after, he was elected to the House.
Richardson was also very large. He was considered a giant
Gigantism
Gigantism, also known as giantism , is a condition characterized by excessive growth and height significantly above average...
by many people of the time period. Portraits of him exist which depict him seated on a large horse with his feet nearly touching the ground. Though his actual height was never recorded, he was said to be somewhere between 6' 9" and 7' 2".
Richardson died on March 31, 1914 in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, where he had gone for his health, and is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery
Maple Hill Cemetery (Huntsville, Alabama)
Maple Hill Cemetery is the oldest and largest cemetery in Huntsville, Alabama. Founded on two acres in about the year 1822, it now encompasses nearly 100 acres and contains over 80,000 burials...
in Huntsville.