CHAPTER III.
Historical Record of the Field and Non-Commissioned Staff Officers of the Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
FIELD AND STAFF.
Col. Silas P. Richmond.
Silas Peirce Richmond, son of Isaac and Lucinda (Peirce) Richmond, was born in Freetown, June 19, 1831, on the Richmond homestead, which has been owned in the family continuously since 1775. His grandfather, Samuel Richmond, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and his father, Isaac Richmond, was a soldier in the War of 1812-15. Silas P. Richmond was educated in the public schools of Freetown and at Peirce Academy, Middleboro.
Col. SILAS P. RICHMOND.
He was engaged in farming and lumber business early in life. He was the first man to enlist in Company G, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, in May, 1850. He was appointed corporal in April, 1851; commissioned fourth lieutenant of same company in August, 1851; third lieutenant in August, 1853; first lieutenant in May, 1854; captain in May, 1855; major and inspector, Second Brigade, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, July 29, 1856. He was in Kansas in 1858-9, and served with John Brown in repelling the “Border Ruffians” and was badly wounded in the knee at the battle near Lawrence, Kansas. He returned to Massachusetts and was appointed captain and aide-de-camp, Second Brigade, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Sept. 15, 1859, and in that capacity responded to the call of the “Minute Men,” April 15, 1861, serving at Fortress Monroe and Hampton, Virginia, and taking part in the battle of Big Bethel, June 10, 1861. At the end of the campaign he returned to Massachusetts and was honorably discharged. On the 8th of May, 1862, he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, and as such responded to the call to re-enforce the Army of the Potomac at the time of General Bank’s retreat in the Shenandoah Valley. In July, 1862, he was ordered by Governor Andrew to reorganize and recruit the Third Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, to the maximum for service in the field. He completed that work and the regiment was mustered into the United States service, one thousand and forty strong, Sept. 15, 1862. He was commissioned colonel of the Third Regiment Oct. 7, 1862, and, on Oct. 22, 1862, he proceeded with the regiment by steamer to Newbern, North Carolina. During that campaign he participated in the battles of Kinston, Whitehall, Goldsboro, Deep Gully, Blount’s Creek, and in repelling the bombardment of Newbern. During a part of that time he commanded a brigade. At the end of this term of service he returned to Massachusetts. On the 28th of September, 1863, he was commissioned colonel of the Fifty-eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and proceeded to recruit that regiment. On Nov. 21, 1863, he was appointed superintendent of recruiting in Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Nantucket, and Dukes counties, and as such continued the recruiting of the Fifty-eighth Regiment, until it was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac, April 28, 1864; but as the Fifty-eighth had only eight companies at that time, he could not be mustered into the United States service as colonel of it, and so resigned. On July 19, 1864, he was appointed assistant provost marshal of the Department of the South, with the rank of colonel, and served as such at Beaufort, North Carolina, Hilton Head, Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina. He was on the first steamer that reached Savannah when it was taken, and on the first steamer that landed at Charleston when that city was captured. He was honorably mustered out of service in September, 1865.