Roderick N. Matheson
Encyclopedia
Roderick Nicol Matheson was an officer in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
.
Matheson was born in Inverness
, Scotland
, and emigrated to New York City
with his parents at the age of 15. During the California Gold Rush
he moved to San Francisco. In 1856 he moved to Healdsburg, California
, becoming a prominent city benefactor and wealthy landowner. He traveled to Washington, D.C.
, for Abraham Lincoln
's inauguration in 1861, intending to stay only a few weeks, but found himself swept up the fever of approaching war.
Matheson was the colonel
and commander of the 32nd Regiment of New York Volunteers
, which he referred to as the 1st California Regiment. He fought in the First Battle of Bull Run
, the Peninsula Campaign
, and the Seven Days Battles
. He was mortally wounded at Crampton's Gap during the Battle of South Mountain
.
Matheson is buried in Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg. A major street in the town is named for him.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Matheson was born in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and emigrated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with his parents at the age of 15. During the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
he moved to San Francisco. In 1856 he moved to Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg is a city located in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 11,254...
, becoming a prominent city benefactor and wealthy landowner. He traveled to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, for Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's inauguration in 1861, intending to stay only a few weeks, but found himself swept up the fever of approaching war.
Matheson was the colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and commander of the 32nd Regiment of New York Volunteers
32nd Regiment of New York Volunteers
The 32nd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, also known as the "1st California Regiment", was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
, which he referred to as the 1st California Regiment. He fought in the First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull Run, also known as First Manassas , was fought on July 21, 1861, in Prince William County, Virginia, near the City of Manassas...
, the Peninsula Campaign
Peninsula Campaign
The Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War was a major Union operation launched in southeastern Virginia from March through July 1862, the first large-scale offensive in the Eastern Theater. The operation, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B...
, and the Seven Days Battles
Seven Days Battles
The Seven Days Battles was a series of six major battles over the seven days from June 25 to July 1, 1862, near Richmond, Virginia during the American Civil War. Confederate General Robert E. Lee drove the invading Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, away from...
. He was mortally wounded at Crampton's Gap during the Battle of South Mountain
Battle of South Mountain
The Battle of South Mountain was fought September 14, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. Three pitched battles were fought for possession of three South Mountain passes: Crampton's, Turner's, and Fox's Gaps. Maj. Gen. George B...
.
Matheson is buried in Oak Mound Cemetery in Healdsburg. A major street in the town is named for him.