Colonel Richard A. Oakford

Col. Richard A. Oakford.
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Colonel Richard A. Oakford.

Birth: Dec. 8, 1820, Pennypack Woods, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

Death: Sep. 17, 1862, Antietam, Washington County, Maryland.

Civil War Union Army Officer. He served during the Civil War first as Colonel and commander of the 15th Pennsylvania (Three Month) Volunteer Infantry, then as Colonel and commander of the 132nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was killed in action leading his men at the September 17, 1862 Battle of Antietam, Maryland.

Burial: Hollenback Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

The following was taken from 132nd. Regimental History.

After getting into our new position, I at once began to look up our losses. I learned that Colonel Oakford was killed by one of the rebel sharp-shooters just as the regiment scaled the fence in its advance up the knoll, and before we had fired a shot. It must have occurred almost instantly after I left him with orders for the left of the line. I was probably the last to whom he spoke. He was hit by a minie-ball in the left shoulder, just below the collar-bone. The doctor said the ball had severed one of the large arteries, and he died in a very few minutes. He had been in command of the regiment a little more than a month, but during that brief time his work as a disciplinarian and drill-master had made it possible for us to acquit ourselves as creditably as they all said we had done. General Kimball was loud in our praise and greatly lamented Colonel Oakford's death, whom he admired very much. He was a brave, able, and accomplished officer and gentleman, and his loss to the regiment was irreparable.

Had Colonel Oakford lived his record must have been brilliant and his promotion rapid, for very few volunteer officers had so quickly mastered the details of military tactics and routine. He was a thorough disciplinarian, an able tactician, and the interests and welfare of his men were constantly upon his heart.