Roderick Nicol Matheson

(1824 - 1862)
Home State: California
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 32nd New York Infantry

Before the Antietam Campaign:
He went to San Fransisco in the 'gold rush' of 1849, was a leading citizen there, and from 1856 taught school and farmed at Healdsville, CA. In January 1861 he traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration of President Lincoln, soon volunteered for Army service, and in May, at New York City, he was elected Colonel (at age 37) of the "First California" Regiment (32nd NY) as it was organized.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He was mortally wounded in action at Crampton's Gap on September 14th, and died just over two weeks later at Burkittsville, MD.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Source: A fine biograhy from Hannah Clayborn's History of Healdsburg.

Birth Date: 5/28/1824 Place of Birth: Inverness, SCOTLAND
Death Date: 10/2/1862 Death Place: Burkittsville, MD Burial Place: Oak Mound Cemetery, Healdsburg, CA

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