Richard M. Bishop, 4th TN Vol. Inf., USA
Richard M. Bishop was born in 1823, Hawkins County, TN. He was a farmer. He married on November 30, 1848, Mahala Price (1830-1910) who was also born in Hawkins County.
Richard enlisted in the 4th TN Vol. Infantry, Company A, USA, on January 1, 1864 at Rutledge/Strawberry Plains. The Regiment was recruited in East TN in the spring of 1863. Richard was listed as having deserted August 16, 1864. He stated that he was captured by 25 Rebels. His family was sick and he went home where he also got sick. While at home, he was captured. He stated that he had a 3-day pass. His pension record states he served until his company disbanded August 17, 1865.
Richard’s brother Samuel was captured at the battle of Big Creek, Rogersville, TN, on November 6, 1863, along with men from the 2nd East TN Vol. Inf, F Co. Richard and Samuel were the sons of Samuel Bishop and Nancy Cole.
Richard was living in Grainger County, TN, after the war, when he went to Rogersville on County Court day January 1, 1866. Bishop was shot to death at the store of Wm. Sturm on Main Street in Rogersville. He was shot with a pistol belonging to Wm. O. (Bill) Sizemore, a notorious bushwhacker during the civil war.
Sizemore was charged with first degree murder by the Grand Jury of Hawkins County on June 5, 1866. James Walker testified that he was present when Sizemore killed Bishop. T. G. Brownlow, also present, said that it was on the first day of court when the killing happened, January 1, 1866. Brownlow said he was within three steps of Bishop in the same room. A. J. Fawbush was also there.
Many trials took place after the war, but few were found guilty, of the ones during the war, they would state they were “an act of war’. Sizemore was also a Union man, and Bishop was known to him, as well as his relatives. Nothing was found that Sizemore was convicted and three years later, in the same town, he would kill again.
Information:
Service Record
Linda DeBord Bishop correspondence, pension record
Hawkins County Court Records
Copyright © February 17, 2011 by Sheila Weems Johnston
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