Richard Arnold (general)

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Richard Arnold
United States of America
Union
Service/branchUnited States Army
Union Army
Years of service1850–1882
Rank Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
RelationsIsaac P. Rodman (brother-in-law)
Benedict Arnold

Richard Arnold (April 12, 1828 – November 8, 1882) was a career U.S. Army officer who served as a brigadier general in the Union forces during the American Civil War. His artillery helped force the surrender of two important Confederate towns, including Mobile, Alabama.

Early life and background

Arnold was the son of Rhode Island governor and United States congressman

antebellum service included various routine posts in Florida, California, and the Pacific Northwest. Arnold was promoted to captain in the Regular Army and became an aide-de-camp to Major General John E. Wool
.

Civil war

Shortly after the start of the Civil War, Arnold commanded Battery D of the 2nd U.S. Artillery at the

VI Corps
.

After the

Red River Campaign. At the Siege of Port Hudson, Arnold directed the siege artillery that precipitated the surrender of the fort and town. He later commanded the artillery that would compel the surrender of Mobile, Alabama. He received a brevet promotion to major general
dating from March 1865.

Postbellum career

After the war, he reverted to his regular army rank of captain and served in a variety of posts with the 5th U.S. Artillery. He was elevated to major in 1875. In 1882, while stationed on

Governor's Island in New York City, he received a promotion to lieutenant colonel, but died five days later.[1] He was buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.[2]

Family

Arnold's brother-in-law, Union Brig. Gen. Isaac P. Rodman, was mortally wounded at the Battle of Antietam.

In 1849, Arnold built Myrtle Grove Plantation in Richmond Hill, Georgia, as a wedding gift for his daughter.[3]

Legacy

The World War II mine planter USS Dick Arnold was named in the general's honor. Ten sailors were killed when the Dick sprang a leak during a storm off Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and sank in January 1942.

See also

Notes

  1. ^
    ISBN 0837932017
    .
  2. ^ "Notable Persons Interred at Swan Point Cemetery". Swan Point Cemetery. Swan Point Cemetery. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  3. ISBN 9780738543031
    .

References

External links
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