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Mysterious French Stranger Passed Secrets to Olney Richmond
Written by Claude Ferradou
Published February 8, 2025
Who was the mysterious French stranger who passed on the secrets of the Order of the Magi to Olney Richmond at the Battle of Nashville during the American Civil War?
Olney Richmond was born on February 22, 1844, in Greenbush, Clinton County, Michigan. He is described in his biography as a “veteran” of the 14th Michigan Infantry Regiment engaged in the five-year Civil War, which lasted from April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865, stationed in Nashville in the spring of 1864 (1).
He was however only twenty years and a few months old when he is contacted one night on duty around twenty, by a «mysterious stranger» (2).
This stranger, described only as “tall, thin, with hollow cheeks” and who is also known to be of French origin, maybe a doctor, and was initiated in India (3), then reveals to him the existence of the “Order of the Magi.” The Frenchman tells young Richmond that he shall be his successor in this order and invites him to his home to pass on the teachings and secrets received from this order.
Who was this mysterious stranger really and the relationship between his presence in Nashville and his French origin is plausible or probable?
Image source: Federal Army Bivouac, Nashville, 16 December 1864, Wikipedia
1) The French in the American Civil War (1861-1865).
At the beginning of the Civil War, more than 100,000 French people lived in the United States. They were the most important national group after the German and Anglo-Saxon elements (1) When the civil war broke out in April 1861, the "French born" were many to answer the call to the flag on either side.
In the Union camp, three infantry units were established in New York at the beginning of the fight: the "La Fayette Guards" (55th New York), the "Zouaves d’Épineuil" (53rd New York) and the "Lost Children" battalion (Independent Corps) (4).
Did these units take part in the battle of Nashville? In this case, the presence of French soldiers or doctors can be easily explained.
2) French commercial establishments in India in the 19th century
In the 19th century, there were five French settlements in India, which were encircled by the vast territory under British control: Pondicherry, Chandernagor, Karikal, Mahé and Yanaon, all of which had a permanent French population although not very numerous. (5)
These counters are gradually abandoned from the second half of the nineteenth century.
From 1868 onwards, the French renounced a colonial reconquest in India and turned to Indochina, where they conquered Saigon and Cochinchine in order to form what would become French Indochina and then Vietnam. (6)
The «Indian» origin of the French from Nashville who would have contacted Olney Richmond is therefore also plausible.
Image source: Federal Army Bivouac, Nashville, 16 December 1864, Wikipedia
Sources:
(1) The so-called Battle of Nashville was fought on 15 and 16 December 1864 in Davidson County.
(2) Newspaper article in the Daily Democrat, 2 March 1890: “The man was tall, thin, with hollow cheeks and he was very serious in his conversation. I called him and promised him, and he initiated me into the high order of which I have the honor to be a member. He also gave me various articles that are needed in the study. He was French and told me that he had been told the secrets during his stay in India.”
(3) “The French during the Civil War (1861-1865)” Farid Ameur, Presses universitaires de Rennes, 2016.
(4) Ibidem
(5) French India Wikipedia.org
(6) Ibidem
Claude Ferradou, February 8, 2025
Four of Spades♠
Grenoble, France
(SAME ARTICLE WRITTEN IN FRENCH BELOW)
Qui était l’étranger qui a transmis les secrets de l’Ordre des Mages à Olney Richmond à la bataille de Nashville pendant la guerre de Sécession aux Etats-Unis ?
Olney Richmond est né le 22 février 1844 à Greenbush dans le comté de Clinton, Michigan,
Il est qualifié dans sa biographie de « vétéran » du quatorzième régiment d'infanterie du Michigan engagé dans la guerre de Sécession qui a duré cinq ans du 12 avril 1861 au 9 avril 1865, cantonné à Nashville au printemps 1864 (1).
Il n’est pourtant âgé alors que de vingt ans et quelques mois, quand il est contacté une nuit de garde vers vingt heures, par un « mystérieux étranger » (2).
Cet étranger, décrit seulement comme « grand, mince, avec des joues creuses » et dont on sait également qu’il est d’origine française, peut être médecin et qu’il a été initié en Inde (3), lui révèle alors l’existence de « l’Ordre des Mages » lui dit qu'il devra être son successeur dans cet ordre et l’invite chez lui afin de lui transmettre les enseignements et secrets reçus de cet ordre.
Qui est-il vraiment et la relation ainsi faite de sa présence à Nashville comme de son origine française est-elle plausible ou vraisemblable ?
1) Les français dans la guerre de Sécession américaine (1861-1865).
Au début de la guerre de Sécession, plus de cent mille Français vivent aux Etats-Unis. Ils forment le groupe national le plus important après les éléments allemands et anglo-saxons (1) Lorsque éclate la guerre civile en avril 1861, les « French born » sont nombreux à répondre à l’appel sous les drapeaux dans l’un ou l’autre camp.
Dans le camp de l’Union, trois unités d’infanterie sont fondées à New York au début de la lutte : les « Gardes La Fayette » (55e New York), les « Zouaves d’Épineuil » (53e New York) et le bataillon des « Enfants Perdus » (Independent Corps) (4).
Ces unités ont-elles participé à la bataille de Nashville ? Dans ce cas, la présence de militaires ou de médecins français peut s’expliquer aisément.
2) Les comptoirs français en Inde au XIXème siècle
Il existe au XIXème siècle cinq établissements français en Inde enclavés dans l’immense territoire sous contrôle britannique : Pondichéry, Chandernagor, Karikal, Mahé et Yanaon qui regroupent une population française permanente bien que peu nombreuse. (5)
Ces comptoirs sont peu à peu délaissés à partir de la seconde moitié du XIXème siècle.
A partir de 1868 notamment, les Français renonçant à une reconquête coloniale en Inde, se tournent vers l'Indochine, où ils font la conquête de Saïgon et de la Cochinchine en vue de constituer ce qui deviendra l’Indochine française puis le Vietnam. (6)
L’origine « indienne » du Français de Nashville qui aurait contacté Olney Richmond est donc également plausible.
Sources :
(1) La bataille dite de de Nashville sera engagée en effet les 15 et 16 décembre 1864, dans le comté de Davidson.
(2) Article de presse dans le Daily Democrat, 2 mars 1890 : « The man was a tall, thin, hollow-cheecked individual, and was very earnest in his conversation. I called on him and I had promised, and he initiated me into the hight order of which I have the honor to be a member. He also gave me different articles which are necessary in the study. He was e Frenchman and told me that he had been told the secrets while in India. »
(3) « Les Français pendant la guerre de Sécession (1861-1865) » Farid Ameur, Presses universitaires de Rennes, 2016.
(4) Ibidem
(5) « Inde Française » Wikipedia.org
(6) Ibidem
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Image source: Chandernagore, Admiralty, Wikimedia Commons