Richard H. Rush

Richard Henry Rush was an American cavalry colonel of English origin who led the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment throughout the early and middle battles of the American Civil War.

Richard Henry Rush
Born(1825-01-14)14 January 1825
London, Greater London, England, U.K.
Died17 October 1893(1893-10-17) (aged 68)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Buried
Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Allegiance United States (Union)
Branch United States Army (Union Army)
Years of service1846 – 1854
1861 – 1864
RankColonel
Commands held6th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
Alma materUnited States Military Academy

Biography

Early years

Rush was born on 14 January 1825 at London as the grandson of Benjamin Rush and while his father Richard Rush was the minister of the Court of St. James's.[1]<[2] At some point, Rush immigrated to Philadelphia and then entered the United States Military Academy before graduating 26th out of 59 on the Class of 1846.[1][2] He then served in the Mexican-American War as a Brevet 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd United States Artillery.[3][2] After the war, Rush was stationed at Fort Columbus in 1848 and later at Fort Monroe from 1848 to 1849 and 1850. From 10 December 1850 to 5 November 1852, he was a part of the Coast Survey and from 1852 to 1854, he was stationed at Fort McHenry.[4] However Rush resigned on 1 July 1854 and wouldn't re-enlist until the start of the American Civil War.[3]

American Civil War

After the outbreak of the American Civil War, Rush was promoted to Colonel on 27 July 1861 and was authorized by Andrew Gregg Curtin to muster the 6th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment from Montgomery County and Berks County with a term of three years.[3][2] The unit saw its first fighting at the Skirmish of Hanley's Bridge. It went on to participate in the battles of Hanover Court House, Gaines's Mill, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, South Mountain, Antietam,[5] Stoneman's 1863 raid, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg with their most distinguished service at the Battle of Brandy Station.[6] George B. McClellan commented on the unit stating: "They are the eyes and ears of my army."[2] Rush was seconded to the Provost Marshal General's Bureau from 10 May – 10 November 1863.[4] There he helped to organize the Veteran Reserve Corps and afterwards, from 10 November – 20 December 1863, the Rock Island Prison. Rush was then made President of a Board for Examination of Officers from 3 January – 20 March 1864 but due to his term expiring, he resigned from the Army on 1 July 1864.[3][4]

Nothing is known about Rush's life after the American Civil War besides his death date at 17 October 1893 and his burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery.[1][4]

References
  1. Hunt, Roger D. (2007). Colonels in Blue: Union Army Colonels of the Civil War : the Mid-Atlantic States : Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. Stackpole Books. pp. 143–44. ISBN 978-0811702539. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. Stackhouse, Eugene G. (3 December 2010). Germantown in the Civil War. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1614231011. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. "Antietam: Col Richard Henry Rush". Antietam on the Web. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  4. "Richard H. Rush • Cullum's Register • 1297". penelope.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  5. "Army of the Potomac - Cavalry Division - Antietam National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service)". National Park Service. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  6. NPS; Loosbrock, p. 272; Kennedy, p. 204; Salmon, pp. 194, 198; Eicher, p. 492.
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