- Military records show that Richard A. Wells enlisted in Co H, 4th W.Va. Cavalry, on 28 July 1863 in West Union. He mustered in as a Private on 29 Aug 1863 in Parkersburg. He was promoted to Wagoner on 31 Oct 1863. He mustered-out a Wagoner on 8 Mar 1864 in Wheeling.
A few months later, on 28 Aug 1864, he enlisted in Co C, 6th W.Va. Infantry, in West Union. He mustered-in on 3 Sep 1864 in Wheeling as a Private. He was promoted to Corporal on 1 Oct 1864. He mustered-out on 10 Jun 1865 in Wheeling as a Corporal.
The role of a wagoner was to transport the supplies needed by the army. He was responsible for driving the wagon and maintaining it, feeding and caring for the mule team that pulled it, ensuring that it was loaded properly, and seeing that its cargo reached its destination safely. The cargo could be anything that an army of that time required; food, medicines, weapons, ammunition, clothing, shelter tents, tools, the soldiers' knacksacks, officers' luggage, and anything else the Quartermaster Corps (the branch of the Army that was responsible for obtaining and distributing supplies) felt was needed.
https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/11223689
NOTE: As of February 2017, the Civil War medal issued for Richard A. Wells had never been claimed and was in storage at the West Virginia State Archives in Charleston.
http://www.wvculture.org/history/archives/civilwarmedals/medals.html
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