Richard Napoleon Batchelder
Encyclopedia
Richard Napoleon Batchelder (July 27, 1832 – January 4, 1901) was a United States
Army
Officer
and the 18th Quartermaster General
of the United States Army
. Brigadier General
Batchelder was awarded the Medal Of Honor
in 1891.
in May 1861. Upon joining, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant
, and took duty as Regimental Quartermaster for the 1st New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in August 1861, and became a Divisional Quartermaster in March 1862. He eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
and Chief Quartermaster of II Corps
in January 1863.
During one of his missions in October 1863, the corps' supply units were bombarded with enemy attacks, and because of his leadership, his unit was able to successfully accomplish the mission without any loss of supplies. This feat would later earn him the Medal of Honor
, and he was promoted to Colonel
with the title of Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac
the next year. In March 1865, he was promoted to brevet
Brigadier General
. Following the war he was transferred to the Regular Army, and reverted to the rank of captain in 1865. He then served at various commands across the country under the quartermaster branch for 15 years before he was promoted to Brigadier General
. With this promotion he was appointed as the 18th Quartermaster General of the United States Army. In 1890, as Quartermaster General of the Army he was also in charge of the creation of the emblem used to identify the Quartermaster Branch.
in the name of The Congress
takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
LIEUTENANT COLONEL & CHIEF QUARTERMASTER RICHARD NAPOLEON BATCHELDER
UNITED STATES ARMY
For service as set forth in the following CITATION:
Being ordered to move his trains by a continuous day-and-night march, and without the usual military escort, armed his teamsters and personally commanded them, successfully fighting against heavy odds and bringing his trains through without the loss of a wagon."
. During early adulthood he endeavored in many ventures, one of which was business.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
Officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and the 18th Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Batchelder was awarded the Medal Of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
in 1891.
Military career
At the start of the civil war he quit private enterprise and signed up for the U.S ArmyArmy
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in May 1861. Upon joining, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
, and took duty as Regimental Quartermaster for the 1st New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in August 1861, and became a Divisional Quartermaster in March 1862. He eventually promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
and Chief Quartermaster of II Corps
II Corps
List of military corps — List of military corps by numberA number of countries have Second, or II, Corps:*II Anzac Corps *II Corps *2nd Army Corps *II Corps *II Corps...
in January 1863.
During one of his missions in October 1863, the corps' supply units were bombarded with enemy attacks, and because of his leadership, his unit was able to successfully accomplish the mission without any loss of supplies. This feat would later earn him the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, and he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
with the title of Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
the next year. In March 1865, he was promoted to brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. Following the war he was transferred to the Regular Army, and reverted to the rank of captain in 1865. He then served at various commands across the country under the quartermaster branch for 15 years before he was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
. With this promotion he was appointed as the 18th Quartermaster General of the United States Army. In 1890, as Quartermaster General of the Army he was also in charge of the creation of the emblem used to identify the Quartermaster Branch.
Medal of Honor Citation
"The President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in the name of The Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to
LIEUTENANT COLONEL & CHIEF QUARTERMASTER RICHARD NAPOLEON BATCHELDER
UNITED STATES ARMY
For service as set forth in the following CITATION:
Being ordered to move his trains by a continuous day-and-night march, and without the usual military escort, armed his teamsters and personally commanded them, successfully fighting against heavy odds and bringing his trains through without the loss of a wagon."
Early life
Richard N. Batchelder was born to Nathan and Peace Batchelder in Lake Village, New Hampshire on July 27, 1832. His father was a state representative, and his mother was the daughter of a prominent pastor. Richard attended the county school system of ManchesterManchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. During early adulthood he endeavored in many ventures, one of which was business.