About the Author

In a nutshell, I am a 29-year-old single computer geek, historian wannabee who has developed a passion for the 24th Michigan.

Early in life, I realized that I had an inordinate interest in archaeology. As time passed, I realized that I was particularly interested in historical archaeology (the archaeology of the New World after the advent of European contact). I left Michigan to attend the University of Houston (low tuition+scholarship=free). I completed my BA in anthropology in only 3 years, and immediately moved on to graduate school, again, at the University of Houston. In hindsight, graduate school at UH was probably a mistake.

While an undergraduate, I developed an academic interest in cemeteries. I could see that, in many respects, cemeteries and gravemarkers are some of the best indicators of social and familial relationships, as well as indicating economic status and cultural affiliation. In many cases settlements are long gone, never to be excavated, but the cemetery still exists--overgrown perhaps-- but containing a great deal of useful data. I chose a thesis topic that analyzed the relationship between the economic cost of the above-ground mortuary remains and the relative economic status of the deceased, postulating a strong, albeit culturally influenced relationship. I spent a great deal of time thrashing about with this research.

I finally came to a realization. I had been repeatedly told by my committee that my thesis was history, not anthropology. Rather than continue to struggle with it, I took the easy way out and gave up on academia. I turned instead to computers, not as much fun as history and archaeology, but tolerable. It certainly paid better. Someday, perhaps I'll return to school and get an advanced degree. For the moment, however, I don't need the PhD after my name to validate my intellectual ability.

I am now the MIS Supervisor for T. F. Hudgins, Incorporated , a position that I find rewarding and sufficiently challenging. I manage a 3-person department (small as these things go) and am a self-taught jack of all trades. Among the other titles I could claim, I am the: UNIX system administrator, Informix DBA, small scale programmer, technical trainer, and documentation specialist. So long as this career continues to provide sufficient leisure time and money to pursue my other interests, I am content.

Although I had long known that I had an ancestor in the 24th Michigan (Frank T. Stewart), it was only a couple years ago that I decided to research him. Unfortunately, the family had very little information about the fellow other than the bare outlines of his service. No one even knew exactly how I was related to him. I found a great deal of information about Frank at the State Archives of Michigan, and he began to become a real person for me. After exhausting the obvious public sources, I became slightly disillusioned. How could I find out more about Frank? The family had pretty much forgotten him.... I was lucky to find his GAR pin and a photograph of him...

Finally, I struck upon the idea of researching his company and regiment. The more I learned, the more interested I became. I was very lucky in that O. B. Curtis' fine regimental history has been reprinted. Thus encouraged, I decided to embark on a project. I am going to write a detailed analysis (a "social history" if you like) of Frank's company. Fortunately, several members of Company C left wonderful collections of documents, letters, and diaries. Some of this material is already available on this site. with much more to come.

That leaves the question of what to do with all of this material. Obviously, this website is one aspect. I hope in the near future to write one or more scholarly articles on the 24th, and eventually a book focusing on the enlisted men of Company C. The book will examine the social interrelationships before, during and after the war. You might call it a historical ethnography, and I'd like to take a narrative approach. The book, if I have the persistence to follow through with it, will take several years to complete.

Thanks for visiting my site! Please feel free to send any comments or questions that you might have.

Rob and Beckie Richardson

This is a photograph of my sister and me, taken last year in New Orleans. I hope to have another taken soon showing me in the proper uniform (at least a UNION uniform!) for the 24th.

Your Host and his Sister

Assistance Requested

If you have information or materials that pertain to the 24th, please contact me!. I have already located a great quantity of material for this site and my book. Over time, I hope to make these documents available online. Despite this, however, I know that there is a large quantity of material that I have not examined. Both Smith and Nolan cite materials in private collections that I haven't yet tracked down. I also suspect that universities and libraries other than the ones mentioned in the bibliography have holdings pertaining to the 24th. I will abide by any restrictions on the use of such material. Please help!

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