in the great battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded. In 1864 he participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, New Market, Second Cold Harbor, shared the fighting of Mahone's brigade on the Petersburg lines, including the battle of the Crater, and took part in the engagement at Winchester. On his return from the valley he had the misfortune to suffer the breaking of his leg in a friendly trial of strength with a comrade, and being disabled, was granted a furlough, when he joined his people, who had taken refuge in Isle of Wight county. At the close of hostilities he returned to Portsmouth, and in 1867 he was appointed street inspector of the city, but under the military government was deposed from office on account of his refusing to take the ironclad oath. Notwithstanding this treatment he still found avenues of industry open, and some years later resumed the work to which he was accustomed, in the navy yards, where he has since been engaged.
John W. Richardson, commander of R. E. Lee camp, No. 3, Hampton, Va., was born in Northampton county April 29, 1839, the son of Edward J. and Margaret (Evans) Richardson, whose parents have resided for several generations on the eastern shore of Maryland. During his infancy his parents removed to Baltimore, where he was reared and educated and apprenticed to the carpenter's craft. At Baltimore and at Hampton, where they removed in 1859, he worked with his father, a prominent contractor and builder, until April, 1861, when he entered the Confederate service. He was first a member of the Washington artillery, a company of forty men organized at Hampton, but this organization being disbanded in June on account of its small numbers, and the men assigned to the Richmond Howitzers and Carter's battery, his subsequent service was rendered with the latter organization, also known as the King William artillery. With this command he took part in the battle of Seven Pines, and the subsequent fighting during Lee's advance, up to Malvern Hill, where the severe previous service of the battery prevented its participation. When the army moved northward he was left with his battery for the protection of Richmond, and was soon afterward compelled by sickness to enter the hospital. When about to rejoin his battery the surgeon in charge prevailed upon him to accept service as a steward in the hospital camp at Howard's Grove, for which he was fitted on account of having had the small-pox in childhood. He remained upon this important and valuable service until after the battle of Gettysburg, when he made such an imperative demand to be assigned to duty in the field that he was permitted to rejoin his battery at Orange Court House. He then took part in the battle of Mine Run in the fall of 1863, and the fighting in the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania until May 12, 1864, when he was among the many Confederates captured by Hancock at the "bloody angle." From that date until two months after Appomattox he was held as a prisoner of war, at Fort Delaware. From 1867 to 1893, when he turned over the business to his son, he was a successful merchant at Hampton, and as a citizen he has been active and influential. He has served as justice of the peace, and member of school board, was an active promoter of the incorporation of his town in 1887, served on the first town
