Hughes, Richard

Richard Hughes

NPS Photo/STRI Museum Collection

Quick Facts

Significance:

Company H, 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment

Place of Birth:

Shropshire, England

Date of Birth:

December 4th, 1842

Place of Death:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Date of Death:

December 31st, 1862

Place of Burial:

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Cemetery Name:

Stones River National Cemetery

Richard Hughes was born on December 4, 1842, in Shropshire, England. After immigrating to the United States, he enlisted on June 13, 1861, at the age of 18 into Company H of the 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On May 20, 1862, at the age of 19, PVT Huges was promoted to Corporal.

The 3rd Ohio started their service in West Virginia before joining the Union Army of the Ohio, where they saw action at the Battle of Perryville. After Perryville, they moved to Nashville, Tennessee where the army was be reorganized under General Rosecrans as the Army of the Cumberland.

On December 31, 1862, the 3rd Ohio Infantry fought next to General Sheridan beating back the attacks of nine Confederate regiments. This critical moment during the Battle of Stones River provided time for the Union Army to reorganize their front lines along the Nashville Pike and Nashville/Chattanooga Railroad. A newspaper clipping reported Corporal Hughes “was wounded in the early part of the day at the battle of Murfreesboro, but not retiring, was shot through the heart in the afternoon of the same day.” After the battle’s conclusion on January 3, 1863, Corporal Hughes succumbed to his battle wounds.

Richard Hughes is laid to rest at the Stones River National Cemetery in plot G-2849. 

Tags: stones river national battlefield, stones river national cemetery, american civil war, stones river museum collection