For Lt. Col. Jack Mason, researching the life and times of a Civil War officer from Michigan was a hobby, a good way to keep busy while off duty in Kabul, Afghanistan.
But with hard work and a fortuitious discovery, he’s now a published author, with the book “Until Antietam, the Life and Letters of Major General Israel B. Richardson.”
“It’s exciting ? it’s really taken off over the last couple weeks,” said Mason, an officer in the Army Reserve. “I took some books to a Civil War roundtable in Rochester and sold 15 of them.”
“I think it’s remarkable ? it’s a great accomplishment,” said Hope Mason, his wife.
Jack Mason, a Clarkston “history nut,” was interested in Richardson because of his local ties ? he’s buried in Pontiac ? as well as his unsung military exploits during the Civil War and before.
“He fought in the Seminole War, Mexican-American War, against the Apaches out west ? for 10-15 years, he was always on the front lines, the point of the spear,” Mason said.
Richardson resigned from the Army in 1855 and settled in Pontiac to live as a farmer. When Civil War broke out in 1861, men with his experience were a valued commodity, Mason said.
“He had 15 years of combat experience. He could talk the talk,” Mason said. “He was rare ? most officers were amateurs.”
Richardson was commissioned a colonel with the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Regiment. He led them in battle at Bull Run, July 21, 1861, earning himself a promotion to brigidier general. He fought at Seven Pines, May 31-June 1, 1862, and Seven Day’s Battles, June25-July 1, 1862, earning promotions along the way.
His big day was at Antietam in Maryland, Sept. 17, 1862.
“At the battle’s peak, he led a breakthrough with a chance to split the enemy army and end the war, but he was hit by a Confederate artillery air burst,” Mason said.
The general died, Nov. 3, 1862.
Mason spent several years researching Richardson’s career while on assignment at Army bases around the country, going to post libraries during his free time. He had enough for a book, but publishers were reluctant to print research about an obscure Civil War officer.
The story came to life, however, when Mason found on the Internet a collection of about 100 personal letters by Richardson to his family.
Thomas Lane of South Carolina found the letters in his grandfather’s storage trunk, and scanned them for Mason to study.
“The letters are a primary source, never seen before,” Mason said. “Now people were tripping over themselves to publish it.”
Paper was at a premium in the 19th century military, so Richardson went to extremes to fit as much as possible in each letter. He wrote small. He filled a page, then filled it again, writing at right angles to the original text.
“It took a long time to decipher them,” Mason said. “In official letters, his writing would be politically correct, but to his family, he could let it all out.”
Mason will sign copies of his new book at Clarkston Community Historical Society’s 10th anniversary open house, 1-4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15, at Independence Township Libary, 6495 Clarkston Road.
“It makes a great Christmas present for local history nuts,” he said.
For information on the open house, call 248-922-0270.