Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Daniel Richardson
MSA SC 3520-16721 

Biography:

Daniel Richardson, a native of Talbot County, enlisted in the Fourth Independent Company of Maryland Troops as a private under Captain James Hindman’s command on February 12, 1776.[1] When he enlisted, Richardson probably expected the protection of Maryland to be his only duty, as this was the initial purpose of the force. During his first summer as a soldier, however, Richardson came to the aid of all of the colonies. He and his company were soon sent to New York to support the Continental Army in its first major battle with the British.

At the resulting Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, 1776, Richardson and his fellow soldiers would earn themselves the title of the Maryland 400. The American forces were outflanked by the British and faced total annihilation. Troops scrambled to retreat through Gowanus Creek under heavy fire. The escape of Washington and the rest of the Continental Army was made possible by the Maryland troops who launched a daring counterattack against the British to buy their fellow patriots some much-needed time. Two hundred and fifty-six of these Maryland soldiers were killed or captured as a result of their bravery.

Richardson was present at the Battle of Brooklyn, but it is tough to say how deeply he was involved. It is widely believed that the Fourth Independent Company saw relatively little combat in Brooklyn. The company was even chastised for their alleged non-participation by other Americans. Captain Hindman defended his company, however, and insisted that they wanted to take a more active role, but their orders prevented them from doing so. He wrote in a letter to Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, “I have had the vanity to think the company I have had the honor to command have behaved themselves as well as in the service, notwithstanding the dark insinuations that have been thrown out to their prejudice, and will refer to Col Smallwood for their behaviour and conduct since they have been under his command.”[2]

The Maryland troops continued to cover the retreat from New York and played a major role in the Battle of White Plains. Most Maryland soldiers were ordered to defend Chatterton Hill, on which they lost about 46 men before retreating.[3] Richardson also fought in the Battles of Trenton and Princeton in the fall and winter of 1776-1777.[4]

After the Battle of Princeton, the issue of expiring enlistments came to call. Despite witnessing vicious combat and suffering the conditions of an ill-supplied army, Richardson decided to reenlist for a term of three years.[5] The Independent Companies of Maryland were then combined into the Second Maryland Regiment. Richardson would continue to fight alongside many of the same men he had fought with at Brooklyn.

Richardson next saw major combat at the Patriots' failed raid of Staten Island in August 1777 and then again at the Battles of Brandywine and Germantown in the Fall of the same year. Following these crushing defeats, Philadelphia was captured by the British and the Maryland regiments were sent to spend the winter in Wilmington, Delaware.[6] Although Richardson was spared the infamous winter at Valley Forge, his regiment's winter quarters were certainly just as harsh, if not harsher.

In the summer of 1778, after fighting at the Battle of Monmouth, a stalemate, Richardson’s regiment wintered in Middlebrook, New Jersey.[7] On January 10, 1780, Richardson was discharged from the Army and returned home to Talbot County, Maryland. [8]

Following his return, Richardson married and had two daughters and one son.[9] By 1783, Richardson had become a small farmer. He owned no land, but did own two slaves and a small quantity of livestock. In total, his estate was estimated to be worth $115.00, a comfortable sum for the time period.[10] Hard times may have befallen Richardson later, though. By 1820, he had either lost or given up his two slaves, thereby greatly diminishing the value of his estate.[11]

Around 1811, Richardson went blind and required the assistance of not only his family, but also the country he had served.[12] That year, Maryland awarded him a state pension of half the pay of a private annually delivered in quarterly installments. [13] He also applied for a federal pension in 1820 at the age of 63 and was awarded $76.41 semi-annually.[14] This support was delivered until his death sometime between 1827 and 1828.[15]

Jillian Curran, Explore America Research Intern, 2019

Notes:

[1] Muster Rolls and Other Records of Service of Maryland Troops in the American Revolution, Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 24.

[2] Journal and Correspondence of the Maryland Council of Safety, July 7: December 31, 1776, Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 12, p. 346.

[3] Mark Andrew Tacyn, “‘To the End:’ The First Maryland Regiment and the American Revolution” (PhD diss., University of Maryland College Park, 1999), 98-99.

[4] Pension of Daniel Richardson. National Archives, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty - Land Warrant Application Files, NARA M804 S 35,047, p. 1-12, from Fold3.com.

[5] Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 156.

[6] Tacyn, 148.

[7] Tacyn, 200.

[8] Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 18, p. 156.

[9] Richardson Pension.

[10] General Assembly, House of Delegates, Assessment Record, 1783, Talbot County, p. 11 [MSA S1161-10-1, 1/4/5/53].

[11] Richardson Pension.

[12] Richardson Pension.

[13] “Daniel Richardson-Pay,” Index 48 Pension Records, Revolutionary War 1778-1861, accessed via Maryland State Archives.

[14] Richardson Pension.

[15] Maryland General Assembly, Session Laws of 1811, Joint Resolution no. 25, Archives of Maryland Online, vol. 608, p. 57.

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