Richard Chapman, the eldest child of Ozias and Lucy (Chapman) Goodwin, was born in Boston, October 11, 1833. After the necessary preparation he entered the Latin School, whence, at the end of four years, he entered Harvard College, graduating in the Class of 1854. On leaving college, he was in a mercantile house in Boston for more than a year, when he left this country for India. Here he passed a few months, and afterwards travelled through through the Holy Land, made an extensive tour through Europe, and returned to his home after an absence of nearly 2 years.
On the breaking out of the Rebellion, prompted wholly by the moving of his own mind, he decided to unite himself with the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment, under Colonel George H. Gordon, with several of his personal friends. The 2d Regiment left Boston in July, 1861, and its career is well known. The connection of Captain Goodwin with it is described so truthfully by Dr. Bartol, his friend as well as pastor, in a sermon preached in the West Church, the Sunday after the funeral, that an extract from it is given, rather than the words of his friends.
"When unusual perils had been around him, and he came out safe, he gratefully recognized the providence of God in his preservation. In one of his letters, he speaks of the brief and solemn communion he had with a comrade in the terrific perils and threats of the Rebel pursuit. Upon him, as upon so many, from the sober air of our great struggle a breath of sanctity seemed to pass. His health, not wholly strong when he left, had, by the great heat of the weather, become so much impaired that he asked for a furlough. This was not granted, on the ground that his was a case rather for resignation,--an idea he would not for a moment entertain, preferring, as he said, 'rather to die there than think of it, as he must be a great deal sicker even to ask for it.' So, as the engagement came on, which, when he intimated his need of repose, he had not anitcipated, he resolved, persisting against all remonstrance, weak as he was, to take his share in it and his chance with the rest. But so extreme was his bodily weakness, that it was necessary for his servant to assist him to the field which proved fatal to them both. He toiled on and up the hill in the neighborhood, fast as possible, to the point of hazard and decision, where, so far as can be known, he was instantly killed, and without suffering, passed away.""The Captain of Company K, in that 2d Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers which will fill a shining page in our history, at the motion of his own will, obedient to the pleading within him of his country's call, gathered his men, and from his situation of independence and comfort went into all the labor and hazard of war, with the simple purpose of doing his part--as he has with unspotted honor--to solve our awful problem. The Colonel of the regiment testifies to what we learn on all hands, of the respect he won from his brother officers, and the devoted regard of those whom he led. His personal behavior rose uniformly to the highest tide-mark of noble sentiment and actual fidelity. In the unavoidable and admirably planned retreat of Banks, before overwhelming numbers, near the Shenandoah, though so exhausted that had he fallen by the way he could not have risen again, he was faithfully in his place. All the hardships and privations of a soldier's life he bore with signal fortitude; while absence weakened no familiar tie, but only drew him more strongly in all affectionate bonds; the tenderness of his heart overflowing on the occasion of a Christmas visit he was able to make to his home.
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