Stephen was born on 25 February 1826.1,2
He was the son of Stephen Richards and Amy T. Tuttle.
He married Lydia Elizabeth Brooks at Newry, Oxford, ME, on 29 September 1850.3,4,5
Stephen received a mortgage from Benjamin Goding on 24 January 1851 whereby he mortgaged one-half of lot 52 and all of his interest in the other half to Benjamin Goding for $128.75. Stephen later defaulted on this mortgage..6
He received the deed to Letter B, Oxford, ME on 2 August 1855 from Isaac A. Dennison. The price was left blank on the deed.7
Stephen N. bought property at Letter B, Oxford, ME, on 23 October 1857. He purchased the remainder of Lot 52 from "...Amy Goding widow and heirs to Benjamin Goddin and Abigail G. Goddin, William H. Amaseen and Eurania J. Amaseen, Henry A. Miloon, Mary Ann Miloon & George W. Richards & William H. Richards, Charles J. Richards and Joshua James & Sarah M. James all heirs of the aforesaid widow Goding of Paris..." for $300..8
He sold property at Letter B, Oxford, ME, on 6 November 1858. Stephen N. sold to Elsie J. Randall, wife of Foster L. Randall of Lewiston, lot 52 for $300. The same day he sold her lot 53, "the Gore", 15 acres west of lot 52 running to the Cambridge River for $200. Elsie then sold back to Stephen N., lot 52, lot 53, and "the Gore" on November 8, 1858 for $500.9
He was inducted into the military at Wells, York, ME, on 20 November 1863. He enlisted in Company K 30th Maine Volunteers and transferred to Company G in February, 1964.
"THIRTIETH REGIMENT INFANTRY
"On the 1st of January, 1864, the regiment was in barracks at Augusta, Me., its organisation nearly complete, and a large proportion of its men and officers being experienced soldiers. On the 9th, the tenth company was mustered into service. On the 7th of February, the regiment being fully armed and equipped, broke camp at Augusta and proceeded to Portland to embark on board the transport Merrimac for New Orleans, reaching there on the 15th. On the following day, crossed the Mississippi and quartered in Algiers. On the 18th, moved by railroad to Brashear City, and thence by steamer up Bayou Teche to Franklin, where the regiment was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, 19th army corps. "From Feb. 19th to March 14th, inclusive, the regiment was encamped at Franklin. On the 15th of March, the 1st division, 19th corps, moved from Franklin to enter upon the Red River campaign. On the 25th, Alexandria, La., was reached, the route being over the rich flats of Lower Louisiana, and the distance marched 160 miles. On the 27th, the march was continued to Natchitoches, where the army encamped on the 31st. "The march was resumed on the 6th of April, and towards evening of the 8th, this regiment with its brigade first went into action at Sabine Cross Roads, where the advance of the army had engaged the enemy, and where the entire force, excepting the 1st division, had already been disastrously repulsed. In this action, which reflected so much credit upon the division that for the day was the salvation of the army, the 30th regiment took an honorable part. In its first battle, it formed under fire and largely contributed toward defeating an attempt of a confident enemy to turn the left wing of the division. At midnight of the 8th, the regiment with its division retreated to Pleasant Hill. "Late in the afternoon of the 9th, the enemy made a determined attack upon the army. The 30th was then on the extreme front and left of the U.S. forces. It held its ground against very great odds until after the retreat of all the other regiments of its brigade, when it was ordered back, and being re-formed, assisted the reserve forces of the 16th and 17th corps and repulsed the enemy, driving him two miles from the field. At midnight, the army retreated towards Grand Encore, and arrived at that place on the 11th. At Grand Encore, this regiment performed much severe labor as an advanced picket for the army and in constructing earthworks and abatis for the defence of the position. On the 21st, of April, the retreat of the army was resumed, which, on the morning of the 23d, was effectually stopped by a force of the enemy so posted as to hold with infantry and artillery the only practicable crossing of Cane River. To the 3d brigade was assigned the duty of fording the river above the crossing and dislodging the enemy, in which the 30th Me. bore the most conspicuous part. The largest regiment of its brigade, and from its position, exposed to the most sever force, it assaulted and drove from a natural fortress, which by many would have been considered impregnable, five regiments of the enemy's force. This was done by a brigade of four small regiments, of which only one other that the 30th did, or from the nature of the ground could, successfully engage the enemy. The success was due almost entirely to the conduct of the 30th Me. Vols. On the 24th of April, the march was continued, and on the 25th, the army camped at Alexandria. "On the 13th of May, the retreat was continued towards the Mississippi. On the 16th, the army was confronted by a large force of the enemy at Marksville and Mansurd. A cautious advance in line of battle was ordered, but although the armies were face to face for upwards of six hours engaged in rapid artillery fire, almost without pause, the enemy withdrew before any serious engagement was had between the infantry forces. For the greater part of the day, the regiment was in the front line and under fire of the enemy's artillery. The march was continued, and the Atchafalaya River and Semmesport reached on the 17th, where the regiment did good service in helping to bridge the river for the army train. From Semmesport, the army marched to Morganzia, on the Mississippi, where it arrived May 22d. "On the 2d of July, the regiment, as part of its division, sailed from Morganzia to New Orleans. It was camped at Algiers until the 11th, when it again sailed for Virginia. On the 18th, it reached Fortress Monroe and was immediately sent to Deep Bottom, and employed on picket duty and in raising temporary earthworks. From Deep Bottom, the regiment was transported to Washington, whence it marched to Harper's Ferry. "During the latter part of August and early in September, the regiment was engaged in the numerous movements of the army of the Shenandoah. In September, the 3d brigade was detached from its division and so continued until Oct. 26th. Although in this interval, it performed more fatiguing duty that the remainder of the army and was constantly engaged in moving and guarding stores, in marching up and down the valley and in protecting valuable supply trains from the guerrillas, it failed to share the glory of Gen. Sheridan's battles and victories of September and October. "On the 26th of October, the regiment, with its brigade, rejoined the division at Cedar Creek, Va. On the 9th of November, it moved with the army to a position between Kearnstown and Newtown. On the 30th of December, moved to Stevensons's Depot, four miles north of Winchester. "The entire distance marched by the regiment during the year was upwards of 1,000 miles, exclusive of raids and temporary movements from camp. It was engaged in four battles and lost in killed and died from woulds received in battle, three officers and 20 enlisted men; and in wounded, five officers and 122 men. It also lost, by disease, two officers and 208 men. "On November 18th, an order was issued assigning to the 30th the re-enlisted men of the 13th Me. Vols. The consolidation being effected, the regiment nearly reached the maximum number of men and officers of the most excellent material - hardy, willing and experienced soldiers. "After the active operations of the army in the Shenandoah Valley had ceased, late in the Fall of 1864, and the 6th corps and Gen. Crooks' command had returned, the former to the army of the Potomac, and the latter to the various posts and garrisons in the valley of the upper Potomac, the 2d division of the 19th corps was ordered south, the 1st division remaining as the army of occupation in the section of country where these troops had gained signal successes. The 3d brigade of the 1st division was assigned as garrison to the city of Winchester, Gen. Fessenden commanding the brigade and the post. Soon after the 1st of January 1865, the 30th regiment, as part of the 3d brigade, moved from the camp, then nearly completed, at the Stevenson's Station to Winchester. On the 8th of Jan., three companies formed of the re-enlisted veterans of the 13th regiment, joined the 30th. The consolidation was completed in the month of January, under the immediate orders of Gen. Sheridan, the 30th being formed in seven companies and retaining the field and staff officers without change. The 13th Maine was organized as a battalion of three companies, commanded by officers of the regiment. The two battalions were then united and the consolidation effected by the muster-out of five commissioned officers of the 30th and a few non-commissioned officers of both regiments. The consolidated force formed a regiment of maximum strength and of the best material, both of officers and soldiers of the line. "On the 10th of Jan., the regiment having already constructed several camps since the setting-in of Winter, took the position finally assigned it, near the southern limits of Winchester, and built the quarters which it occupied until taking the field in the Spring. "During the winter, the men were employed in picketing the town, in guarding and moving stores, and in performing the various duties incident to the garrisoning of posts; meanwhile in making preparations for the Spring campaign. Occasional reconnaissances were also made, being found necessary by the neighborhood of detached portions of the enemy's forces. These expeditions, however, were but of little importance, excepting as an exercise for the troops and in serving as a salutary warning to the disloyal population. "On the 4th of April, the regiment broke camp and accompanied the division in its movement towards Staunton under the command of Major Gen. Hancock. Just before this movement from Winchester was commenced, news had been received of the capture of Richmond and Petersburg. For several days the troops were held in readiness for a movement, but no decided advance was made. At midnight, on the 9th, intelligence was received of the surrender of Lee's forces. On the morning of the 10th, the regiment moved through Winchester for the last time, northwesterly, towards Harper's Ferry, and encamped near Summit Point, a few miles south and west from Charlestown. In this vicinity it remained until the 20th of April, when it took transportation to Washington city via Harper's Ferry and Baltimore. Arriving in Washington on the 21st, the regiment was ordered to the south of the east branch of the Potomac, and after several unimportant changes of position, camped on the 26th in the vicinity of Fort Meigs. This camp was retained until the 2d of June. In the meantime, the regiment formed a part of the line of sentinels stationed around Washington until after the capture of the assassins of President Lincoln. It subsequently did guard duty at the Washington Arsenal, where the trial of the conspirators was being held, and furnished large details to take the place of citizen employes discharged from the several departments. "On the 23d of May, the regiment took part in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac; on the 2d of June, was transferred from the 3d brigade, 1st div, 19th corps, in which it had served since February, 1864, to the 2d brigade of the same division; and on the morning of the 30th, moved down the river to Alexandria, and embarked on the steamer Metis for Savannah, Ga., which was reached without accident on the 7th. Soon after its arrival, the regiment was assigned to duty at Savannah, that city being the headquarters of the middle district of Georgia, and remained there until ordered to prepare for muster-out of the service. "In July, the regiment suffered the loss of that highly accomplished and valuable colonel, Thomas H. Hubbard, a most efficient officer, he having resigned. Previous to his resignation he was brevetted brigadier general. The vacancies made by the discharge of Col. Hubbard were filled by regular promotion. "On the 3d of August, orders were received to prepare for muster-out of service; and on the 18th, the regiment embarked on board the steamer Karnak, for Portland, Me., taking on board, by the advice of the surgeon and medical director, all of the sick who were able to be moved, owing to which, and the crowded state of the steamer, four men died on the passage. "The regiment arrived at Portland on the evening of the 24th, without serious accident, where, having disembarked, it was quartered for the night in the old City Hall. On the morning of the 25th, marched to Camp Berry, to await payment and discharge, which was effected on the 29th.".10
He was released from active duty at Savannah, Chatham, GA, on 20 September 1865. The discharge reads in part "G.A.R. & War Record: This is to certify that Stephen N. Richards entered in the service of the United States as a Private on the 20th day of November, 1863 in Company G 30th Regiment of Maine Volunteers and served 3 years - months and - days ans was honorably discharged on the 20th day of August 1865 for General Order No. 94 ..."
.10
He bought a house and land on Upton Road, Andover, ME, Andover, Oxford, ME on 1 November 1872 from [Grantor]. The property stayed in the family until 1998..11
Stephen applied for a military pension at Andover, Oxford, ME, on 23 March 1883. The application reads in part: "About 1864 while on Red River Campaign, La. from hard marching, and fatiguing duties & exposure I contracted Rheumatism & ch. ????? &c from which I have never recovered. About Sept. 23, 1864 at battle of Cane River, La. while on a charge led by Col. Fessendon I received bayonet would of left wrist from which I have never recovered. I was treated by my regimental surgeon, but was not in any hospital. I claim a pension on, Rheumatism & bayonet wound of left wrist. ".12
Stephen died on 1 November 1890 at Andover, Oxford, ME, at age 64.2,1
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