William Andrew Richardson

Born: 2 Nov 1831 in Craven County, North Carolina

Died: Exact date unknown.  He is in the 1850 census but not in the 1860 census.  Some family trees on the internet have 1858 as a death date but provide no documentation.

No photos available

Private, Company E, 4th Tennessee Infantry, USA

23 Oct 1847-31 Jul 1848

William Andrew Richardson was the son of William Hiser Richardson and Sarah Goslin.  He married Mary E. Wiseman on 24 Dec 1850 in Smith County, Tennessee.  They had two children between 1852 and 1855.

William Andrew was 15, a month short of 16, when he enlisted with his father to serve in the Mexican War.  His father died in Mexico but William Andrew returned to Mine Lick Creek.  He was mustered out on 31 Jul 1848 in Memphis, having joined and served for nine months all prior to his 17th birthday.  Of course it was necessary to lie about his age in order to enlist.  Records show that William Andrew and his father, William Hiser, were "left sick in Puebla, Mexico" on 17 Jan 1848.  His father died in Puebla on 9 March of 1848 of "unspecified illiness" but obviously, William Andrew recovered and returned home.

He fathered two children by Mary after returning home but evidently died before 1860, probably as a result of his illness in Mexico.  Mary also died young leaving the two children as minors.  At least one child, Didama, married and had children.  I have not yet made personal contact with any of her descendants.  More research is required but I am confident this line is still reproducing.  If you have any information, please let me know.  

Sandy Adams has the report of Samuel Moss' pension application on her family tree at ancestry.com  A portion is given below. Assumptions can be made regarding Company E's combat maneuvers from his report.

On 22 September 1852, Samuel Archer Moss requested an invalid pension because of health problems resulting from his service in the Mexican War. He reported that after he volunteered in Nashville, he was transported to New Orleans, Louisiana, then to Veracruz, Mexico.  From Veracruz, he marched to Jalapa, then to Pueblo where in January of 1848, he was attacked with diarrhea.  In his request, he stated tht the diarrhea, ". . . so prostrated him as to render him incapable of performing military duty and in consequence of which he remained till about the 12th of February 1848 at which time he became so improved that he went with the Illinois Regiment to the city of Mexico thence to Molenodelra and returned to his company from thence to St. Augusti;ne with his company but was unable to perform military duty in consequence of said disease thence to Ausaro where on or about the 24th day of June 1848 said disease became so bad upon him that he was hauled to Veracruz thence was transported to Memphis, Tennessee, with his  company where on the last day of July 1848 he was honorable discharged....." It is likely that William Andrew accompanied Moss during this last leg as William Andrew was also discharged in Memphis on 31 Jul 1848.