John Goslin Richardson

Born: 21 Jul 1833 in Smith County, Tennessee

Died: 22 Feb 1864 near Johnson's Mill in Putnam/White County, Tennessee

Company I, 5th Regiment Tennessee Cavalry, USA

24 Nov 1862-22 Feb 1864

John was son of William Heizer Richardson and Sarah Goslin.  As far as we know, he was never married and left no descendants.

John was killed in action in a skirmish near the White County/Putnam County line at a place known as "Dug Hill".  The skirmish is sometimes known as the Battle of Dug Hill.  At other times it is referred to as the Battle of Calfkiller.  It is the only significant "battle" during the Civil War within Putnam County.  Besides John, several other family members from the Mine Lick Creek area were involved in this skirmish as Company I, of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry was one of the two companies sent on patrol that day to rout out guerillas in that area.  The other being Company K.  This was the biggest "battle" taking place in Putnam County during the Civil War.

Many reports are on the internet regarding the battle.  They vary widely in their accounts.  The above is a newspaper report from the Nashville Daily Union of 15 Mar 1864.  The reports vary from 21 to 75 Union soldiers killed.  In any event, Sergeant John Goslin Richardson was one of them.  John was also a brother-in-law to our Francis Marion Roberts who was also in Company I.  John is buried in the William Heizer Richardson Family Cemetery on Mine Lick Creek.

For more info on this battle, I recommend John Banks Civil War Blog.  John seems to be "fair and balanced".  His Dug Hill Battle blog is at:

John Banks Civil War Blog - Dug Hill Battle