The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-05

Brig. Gen. Richard y. Batchelder. re-
tired. ex -Quartermaster General Of the
United States Army. died yesterday after
noon at 2.15 O'Clock. in his apartments at
the Richmond Hotel Annex. He was taken
i'll or Sunday, and since that time grew
steadily worse till he succumbed yester-
day afternoon. Funeral services will be
held at 1890 O'Clock Monday, in All Souls
Church, and he interment with military
hoiiors viii follow al Arlington.
After having made splendid record as
a quartermaster in both tho volunteer and
regular branches of the service, General
Batchelder was retired on July y, 1885,
from the position of Quartermaster Gen
erai, 10 which he acceded to 1890.
Since that time although his home is
/ in Manchester. y. H., General Batchelder
always spent his winters in Washington
He was in poor health last spring, and
went to California in the hope of recuper-
ating He returned to Manchester in the
early fall and when about 20 leave that
city for Washington. in November, he was
seized with complicated heart and lung
trouble, from which he did not recover I'M
til a week or so before Christmas. He at
Z
as General Bstchelder was about to go
out to dinner with Surgeon General Wy
man he was taken i'll and compelled
to go to bed. He was afflicted with angina
pectoris, complicated by a lung trouble,
which at times rendered respiration ex-
tremely difficult. and his condition grew
steadily more serious till yesterday after
noon. when he died.
Richard Napoleon Batchelder was born
in Lskeport. N H.. on July 81 1882, and
was the son OF Nathan Batchelder. a
wealthy resident of New Hampshire. One
Of his ancestors was the Rev. Stephen
Bachilor who in 1886. was high in the
favor of King James of England. by whom
he was given coat Of arms in spite of the
fact that he was a n-conformst min
lister. He later came TO America and es-
tablished the first Congregational churches
in Lynn. Mass. and Portsmouth. y. H.
General Batchelder was also a descendant
from number of prominent colonists who
took an active part in the War Of the
Revolution. He received general educa-
ton in the public schools of Manchester
and early entered business life. and was
prominently interested in banking Later
he entered politics and was twice elected
a member OF the New Hampshire Legis-
lature. ard took an active part in the
work of that body.
At the outbreak of the civil war he was
one of the first 10 respond TO President
Linculn's call for volunteers. and was
mustered into service as a lieutenant in
the First New Hampshire Infantry. His
devotion to duty. coupled with his execu-
tive ability. brought him rapid promotion
and in June. 1861 he was made Quarter
master of the Seventh Brigade Army of
the Shenandoah, and but month or two
later he became Chief Quartermaster of
the Army of Observation, then stationed
in Maryland and Virginia. In 1862 he was
transferred TO the Army of the Potomac
and took part in the Battles Of Fair Oaks.
Savage Station, Malvern Hill. Antietarn
and others. His gallant conduct and re-
sourcefulness in keeping the forces sup
piled with provisions attracted widespread
attention. and he was given special men
ton in the reports of many OF his superior
officers. He later took part in tn Battles
of Charlottesville and the oper. ltions at
Mine Run, Spottsylvania and Cold Har-
Dor
He performed one of the brilliant feats
of the war. during the campaign that
ended with the battle of Gettysburg, by
keeping the Federal army well provided
with supplies. The army was seemingly
cut of from its source of supplies when
General Batchelder armed his transfers
and fought a train of 5000 heavily laden
wagons and 10000 mules through fifteen
miles of the ehemy's territory to the
Federal troops. He was constantly har-
assed by Mosby's cavalry and troops
under command OF General Ewell The
Government later rewarded this action
by presenting General Batchelder with
medal for meritorious service
When General Grant took command of
all the Federal troops in 1864 ne at once
appointed General Batchelder the chief
quartermast of the Army of the Po-
tomac, over the heads of number of
older officers of both the volunteer and
regular service. At the close of the war
he was brigadier general of volunteers
He entered the Regular Army as a captain
and assistant quartermaster The same
uaits that had won him such rapid pro-
motion in the civil war made his ad-
vancement certain in the regular service
and he was given several important posi-
tons. the highest of which was that OF
Quar- General to which he was
appointed in 1880 and which he held tin
his retirement i'll 1896
General Batchelder was never married
and his nearest relatives are Henry c.
Quinby, well-known New York attorney.
and his niece, Mrs. ". B. Burpee. of
Manchester, y. II. He was a member Of
the Military order OF the Loyal Legion.
the Society of Colonial Wars, the Sons of
the American Revolution. the Army and
Navy and Metropolitan Clubs. Of Wash
ington. and OF the Union League Club, of
New York.