RICHARD GOODHIND 's record of service in America's one and only Civil War is well recorded. He is the only Goodhind brother to have entered that war. There were actually quite a few American immigrants that joined the fight, on both sides of the conflict: English, Irish, German, Italian, many of whom compromised entire regiments. One would like to suppose Richard was committed to the issues that precipitated our only Civil War, issues such as the continuation of the Union and aversion to slavery. However, more likely, he was just young and spoiling for a fight! Family tradition has it that he was originally headed to Africa to fight in a war there but, hoping to dissuade him, his parents sent him to America to be with his brothers instead. He was just 17 years old when he arrived at the port of New York on March 5th, 1860. Once here, he finally had his chance for battle. Just over a year later, when he was just 18 years of age, he enlisted in the Union Army on May 11th, 1861 from Russell, Massachusetts where he was living with his brother Frederick's family. Since he only served one 3-year tour of duty in the infantry, one can conjecture he got his fill of fighting! He was a prisoner of war; he fought at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, two major battlegrounds of the Civil War. He was wounded at Chancellorsville and was promoted to Corporal at Gettysburg at the age of 20 upon the death of his unit's previous Corporal.
After the turn of the century, someone in the family, likely Richard himself (who else could have provided the personal information contained within the document regarding his family?), requested an official documentation of his record of service, as well as the service of his entire regiment during the war, namely the 2nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The contents of this document, dated August 18, 1904, is presented below. We do not know who may have requested it originally, but we are grateful for its existence:
Certificate of Records
To All Whom It May Concern This certifies that Richard Goodhind
Enlisted from Hampden County, Massachusetts, on the 11th day of May, 1861, to serve three years or during the war, and was mustered into the United States service at West Roxbury, Mass., on the 25th day of May, 1861, as a private of Captain Carey's COMPANY "G", 2ND REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, Colonel George H. Gordon commanding.
The 2nd Massachusetts Infantry was the first volunteer regiment organized after the Massachusetts Militia was sent to the front, in April, 1861. The companies were recruited at different points in the State, Company "A" arriving on May 11, at the rendezvous on Brook Farm in West Roxbury, and the other companies following soon after. The regiment was organized with the following field officers: Colonel, George H. Gordon; Lieutenant-Colonel, George L. Andrews; Major, Wilder Dwight. July 8, 1861, the command moved to reinforce General Patterson's army, which it joined July 12th at Martinsburg, Va., and was assigned to the 6th brigade, moving to Bunker Hill, Charlestown and Harper's Ferry. It performed garrison duty at Harper's Ferry and Maryland Heights, and picket duty at the fords of the upper Potomac until August 20th, then moved to Hyattstown, where it encamped for two months, being transferred to the 3rd Brigade. On October 31st it marched to the relief of the troops which had that day fought at Ball's Bluff or Edward's Ferry, Va., and on October 26th was transferred to Abercrombie's (1st) Brigade. It performed picket duty near Darnestown, Md., until December 14th, then moved to Frederick, Md., remaining there until February 27, 1862, then moved to Harper's Ferry and Charlestown, and on March 9th moved against "Stonewall" Jackson at Winchester, the enemy retreating. It was assigned to Gordon's (3rd) Brigade, Williams' (1st) Division, Banks' (5th) Corps, and thereafter participated in the following engagements, viz. - Strasburg Road, Mt. Jackson, Newtown, Winchester, Va.; - losing 148 killed, wounded and missing, - Pope Campaign, including Cedar or Slaughter Mountain, - where the loss was 155, - and Chantilly, Va.; assigned to the 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac; Antietam, Md., losing 65 out of less than 300 engaged; Chancellorsville, Va., losing 129, - a third of the command, - Beverly's Ford, Va., Gettysburg, Pa.; where in a desperate charge it lost 139 out of 316 engaged. August 16 to September 5, 1863, it was on duty at New York City to prevent draft riots, then returned to Virginia, thence transferred to eastern Tennessee. April, 1864, it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland and took part in the Atlanta Campaign, including Resaca, Cassville, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta, Fall of Atlanta, Sherman's March to the Sea, Siege and Capture of Savannah, Ga.; Campaign of the Carolinas, including Averasboro and Bentonville, N.C., and Johnston's surrender near Raleigh, N.C., April 26, 1865. It marched thence via Richmond to Cloud's Mills, Va., and participated in the Grand review at Washington, D.C., May 24, 1865, and was mustered out July 14, 1865.
The said Richard Goodhind was promoted to Corporal, at Gettysburg, Pa., July, 1863, for meritorious service.
He was slightly wounded at Chancellorsville, Va., but did not leave his command.
He was captured May 25, 1862, during Banks' retreat, paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md., and rejoined his regiment at Stafford, C.H. during the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 13, 1862.
At all other times he was with his command during its long and arduous service as outlined, bearing a gallant part in all its engagements, except for Cedar Mountain, Va., and Antietam, Md., while a prisoner, and performed faithful and efficient service, until the expiration of his term of enlistment.
He received an HONORABLE DISCHARGE at Chattanooga, Tenn., on the 28th day of May, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service.
He was born in Devonshire, England, on the 26th of November, 1842, and was united in marriage to Charlotte Cook, at Russell, Mass., in 1865, from which union were born the following, viz: - Rose Ida, Minnie E., Lottie M., Alice and Nettie A.
This wife died on the 15th day of October, 1878.His second marriage was to Mary T. Stickles, at Dalton, Mass., on the 15th of March, 1879, from which union were born two children, viz: - Murray Malcolm, and Bertha May (deceased).
He is a member of Scott Bradley Post, No. 177, Department of Massachusetts, Grand Army of the Republic, and was formerly a member of S. Hadley Post. He is also a member of Huntington Lodge, A.F & A.M.
He has been Superintendent of Hurlbut Division, American Paper Company, for 16 years; Superintendent of Zenas Crane, Jr. Co., for 10 years; Superintendent of Chester Paper Co., at Huntington, for three years; Superintendent of Hampshire Paper Co., at South Hadley Falls, for four years; and Superintendent of Beebe Holbrook Paper Co., at Holyoke, for two years. Each change meant an increase in salary.
He is an example of a man rising to prominence through sterling character and persistent attention to business.
Compiled from Official and Authentic Sources by the Soldiers and Sailors Historical and Benevolent Society.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and cause to be affixed the seal of the Society.
Done at Washington, D.C. this 18th day of August, A.D. 1904.
No. 35096 M. Wallingsford, Historian
How the Union Army was organized
About the 2nd Massachusetts Volunter Infantry
Chronology of service for the 2nd Mass Infantry
Listing of Enlisted Men in 2nd Mass (last name starting with a "G")
Richard Goodhind - Prisoner of War
Battle of Chancellorsville
Battle of Gettysburg
2nd Massachusetts Infantry at Gettysburg
Gettysburg Photo Gallery
Richard Goodhind's Pension File
More about the 2nd Mass Infantry (off site)
