Israel B . Richardson Israel Bush Richardson ( December 26 , 1815 – November 3 , 1862 ) was a United States Army officer during the Mexican - American War and American Civil War , where he was a major general in the Union Army . Nicknamed " Fighting Dick " for his prowess on the battlefield , he was mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg , Maryland . Early life and career . Richardson was born in Fairfax , Vermont . He was reportedly a descendant of famed American Revolutionary War general Israel Putnam . He was appointed from Vermont to the United States Military Academy in West Point , New York . He graduated 38th out of 58 cadets in the Class of 1841 . He was one of 23 classmates that would become generals during the Civil War . After some routine assignments , Richardson served as a second lieutenant in the Second Seminole War in Florida . He was promoted to first lieutenant on Sep 21 , 1846 . He received two brevets for meritorious service during the Mexican - American War ; to captain and Major ( United States ) for the actions at Contreras , Churubusco , and Chapultepec . It was in Mexico while serving under General Winfield Scott in the Army of Occupation that he received his nickname , " Fighting Dick , " which would carry over to the Civil War . He later served as a captain in the 3rd U . S . Infantry ( a rank he achieved in 1851 ) at various frontier outposts , but resigned his commission in 1855 and began farming near Pontiac , Michigan . Civil War . When the Civil War broke out , Richardson was still farming in Michigan . He enlisted in the Union Army and recruited and organized the 2nd Michigan Infantry . He married Fannie Travor on May 18 , 1861 , in Wayne County , Michigan . When he reported with his regiment in Washington , D . C . , General Winfield Scott greeted him with " I ' m glad to have my ' Fighting Dick ' with me again . " Richardson , promoted to colonel on May 25 , 1861 , was assigned command of the 4th Brigade , 1st Division , in the newly organized army of Brig . Gen . Irvin McDowell . His brigade saw limited action at the First Battle of Bull Run near Blackburn ' s Ford , and in covering the subsequent Federal withdrawal to Washington . He was promoted to brigadier general , ranking from May 17 , 1861 . He commanded several brigades in the Army of the Potomac and then the 1st Division of the II Corps during the Peninsula Campaign in mid - 1862 . He was involved in the fighting at the battles of Yorktown , Seven Pines , and the Seven Days . He was particularly distinguished in sharp fighting near the Chickahominy River . Following the campaign , he was promoted to major general on July 4 , 1862 . He led his troops during the Northern Virginia Campaign , fighting at the Second Battle of Bull Run , and again during the Maryland Campaign in September , when he was engaged at South Mountain . Richardson ' s 1st Division played a key role during the Battle of Antietam on September 17 , 1862 , attacking Confederate positions in the center of the Sunken Road in support of the 3rd Division of Maj . Gen . William H . French . After stubborn fighting , by 1 : 00 p . m . , Richardson had gained control of the high ground in front of the apex of the defensive line , and his men enfilade d the remaining defenders in the road , which would gain the nickname " Bloody Lane " for the carnage . Richardson pushed forward beyond the road and was directing the fire of his artillery and organizing another attack when he was struck by a shell fragment . Carried to the rear , Richardson was treated at a field hospital . His wound was not considered life threatening , and he was given a room in Maj . Gen . George B . McClellan ' s headquarters , the Pry House . President Abraham Lincoln paid his respects to the wounded Richardson during a visit to the battlefield in October . However , infection set in , and then pneumonia , which claimed the life of the popular general in early November . He was among five generals to be killed or mortally wounded at Antietam . His body was escorted to Detroit , Michigan . Large crowds lined the streets during his funeral procession to nearby Pontiac , where he was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery . Honors and awards . Fort Richardson , a Texas frontier fort active from 1867 to 1878 , was named for him . The Israel B . Richardson Camp # 2 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Oakland , Michigan , was also named for the fallen general . Battery Richardson , a 12 - inch Coast artillery gun battery at Fort Hancock , New Jersey , was named for him .