Richard J. Gage was born in Grafton County, New Hampshire. Like many young men of the era, he moved westward, eventually settling in Illinois. When the Civil War broke out, he traveled to Ottawa, Illinois, to enlist in the Union Army, joining the 104th Illinois Infantry.

By the summer of 1863, the 104th Illinois was deeply involved in the Tullahoma Campaign in Tennessee. On July 2, 1863, at Elk River, Union forces encountered a critical obstacle: a bridge defended by a Confederate stockade. The crossing was essential for the army’s continued advance, but the position was under heavy enemy fire.

Private Gage distinguished himself by voluntarily joining a small party tasked with a high-risk assault. Under intense fire from the Confederate defenders, Gage and his comrades charged the position, successfully capturing the stockade. Their bravery prevented the destruction of the bridge, allowing Union forces to maintain their momentum. For these actions, Richard J. Gage was later awarded the Medal of Honor.