I found on the Internet a couple of days ago a Google book entitled "Progressive Men of the State of Wyoming," published in 1906. One of the men listed is Abner Richardson. According to his profile in the book, he was born 1839 in Virginia, the son of John and Lucinda (Nee Ziger) Richardson, both Virginia natives. His father was a blacksmith in Va, then later in Tennessee. Abner grew up in Virginia, but in 1857 he left home and secured employment in a tobacco factory in SW Va and continued in that pursuit until 1861. That year he enlisted in A/42Va and served continuously up until his capture at Spotsylvania C.H., fighting in the peninsula battles around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancelorsville, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Wilderness and Spotsylvania. Postwar he moved to Newburg, W.Va., then to Ohio, then to Hamlin, Mo. He lived in Hamlin for 17 years and was engaged in railroading. In 1866, in Missouri, he married Miss Anna Dondley, a native of Maryland. Abner subsequently moved to Laramie, Wyoming, continuing there in the railroad business for 16 years. He then bought a hotel in Green River, Wyoming, which he operated for 14 months. He then moved to Tie Siding, Wyoming, continuing in the hotel business.

I have no record whatsoever of this Abner Richardson in the 42nd and am wondering if his Civil War record is a fabrication. Looking for assistance that might help shed more light on this Abner Richardson of Wyoming.

The other Abner Richardson's who served in Virginia units, that I have been able to find, served in the 1st Va. State Reserves, the 63rd Va. Inf., and the 1st Ricmond Howitzers. The man who served in the 1st Richmond Howitzers was Abner Michael Richardson. The service of these men does not match any of the circumstances reported by Abner of Wyoming, assuming Abner got his unit wrong.

If in postwar years Abner of Wyoming only went by a middle name, then the only potential candidate in the current 42Va roster might have been Floyd A. Richardson, a member of F/42Va who did enlist in Henry Co. in 1861, and who was 21 on the Henry County 1860 Census. He was present in the unit on 31 October 1862 and 1 January 1863, but that is where his service record ends. His service was not stellar. He was charged with cowardice in the face of the enemy for leaving the battle at Gaines's Mill on 27 June 1862; the court amended the charge to a lesser charge: leaving the ranks without permission of his commanding officer while in the face of the enemy and found him guilty of what I would deem to be an even lesser charge: AWOL He was fined two months' pay and required to be double-quicked in front of the regiment for 10-minutes at dress parade. The court martial conviction may have been reason for a man to modify his name and service record postwar. Unfortunately I do not have a middle name to go with the Floyd Richardson's middle initial, nor do I know who Floyd's parents were.

Any help would be most appreciated.