Daniel Webster Ridenour

Children

Notes

He was in many prominent battles among which was Corinth where a Texas Brigade charged them seven lines deep. Was with Grant in the fierce conflict at Shiloh, where the brave 22nd served the enemy eighty rounds in succession. Twenty thousand were killed and wounded (both sides) in the terrific struggle, most of the three days siege was fought in the woods and at close range.

Daniel was with the taking of Forts Henry and Donelson and the thrilling siege of Vicksburg until the 'planting of the Colors' upon the enemy's works. In the National Cemetery in Vicksburg among the regimental marble slabs is one denoting the position of the brave 22nd Ohio in that great battle.

Daniel was with Sherman in his March from Atlanta to the Sea. In all the experience of those exciting years he was only slightly wounded in the heel, was in a hospital a short time with malaria.

At the time of his death he was a member of W. H. L Wallace Post No. 66 G. A. R. in Eldorado, Kansas. The Chapter was draped thirty days in his memory.

Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Joliet, IL Death: Pneumonia

Source: Anna O. Sawyer Ridenour Notes, 1902, p 7.

I enlisted in Eaton, Ohio, April 17th, 1861, for three months served four months, and was discharged; re-enlisted and served four years and seven months all told. That compares well with most of the old boys.

I commenced trying to be soldier at Hamilton, Ohio, - went on guard, tackled our rations regularly, cooked, slept on the soft side of boards and thought it was great fun playing soldier. It was fun compared with the real service that awaited us when we were on the march, camping, cooking, carrying our guns, knapsacks, canteens, etc. in all 50 pounds weight. It wasn't all sweet in the south then, no indeedy. Tired and footsore, we would go into camp at night, make a supper of coffee and hard tack and when ready to fall over asleep from weariness, hear the rasping voice of the 1st Sergant: 'Ridenor, you'll have to go on picket tonight' What would a good fellow do? Growl a little and say: 'Why don't you detail So and so?' 'Now you come along. No fooling. This is what you are here for.' Away we'd go; watch all night or something to shoot and note that a little stump a foot or so tall in the evening would stretch itself up to ten feet in height and walking straight at and intending to shoot you on the picket post. Rain, sleet, snow, mud, dust, good or bad weather, it was the never-ending routine, and to obey orders and ask no questions. That's what it took to make a good soldier.

Tough as was our soldiering, we had many jolly hours. We were young and full of blood, our pulses bounding, our hearts light and we saw the bright side of about everything. I must say however that the disagreeables overbalanced the agreeables.

I tell you when we were on line of battle waiting orders to advance, 'guide right; march; steady;' we lived a lifetime in a few minutes. It was waiting, inaction that tired our nerves. Our minds had time to dwell on things dangerous to our bodies. When the word came we were glad of it though no one could say whether he would come out alive.

At Shiloh our captain came along our front serving 40 rounds extra, 80 rounds in all. We knew that meant hot work. One of our men stepped out and said to the captain, 'I am afraid to go into the fight.' The captain's words will not bear publication and I felt it took more nerve to make an acknowledgment of cowardice than to go into the fight. I can see that 'boy,' after 34 years, standing before the captain who declining the service of a coward sent him to his tent where he was taken sick. Later he was sent home and in a few weeks died, really 'scared to death.' Twenty thousand were killed, wounded, and missing (both sides) in that great struggle. I feel pride in it. General Sherman speaks of our regiment four times in his report of the fight and the details he gives are inspiring to all who soldiered for love of country. I recall with pleasure my part in the taking of forts Henry and Donelson; Shiloh, siege of Corinth and other brushes with our recreant southern brothers.

Source: Daniel W. Ridenour testimonial.

Bruce E. Ridenour writes A. L. L. Hamilton from Joliet, Illinois, under date of January 4th, as follows:

I take this means of informing you that Dan W. Ridenour, my father, was taken sick Sunday morning, December 29th, with a heavy chill. Monday and Tuesday he was some better and the doctor pronounced it grippe, but Wednesday night he was suddenly taken worse and his case speedily developed into pneumonia. He suffered untold agonies until he became unconscious this morning at 11 o'clock. He died this afternoon at ten minutes past three, January 4th. Our doctor could have saved him had it not been for an attack of heart failure. Yours in sorrow, Bruce E. Ridenour. 518 Oneida Street, Joliet, Illinois

Mr. Ridenour was a resident of El Dorado for thirteen years. He was born in Ohio and was a harness maker by trade. In 1886 he moved from Clarinda, Iowa to Caldwell this state. Two years later he purchased the harness business of James Dodwell at El Dorado and moved his family here. About a year ago his son, Bruce, secured a position as book keeper for an electric light company of Joliet. A short time after that Mr. Ridenour moved his family to Joliet and he went to work at his trade. Mr. Ridenour was a soldier and enjoyed living over those strenuous times with the old boys, as much as any of them. He served in Ohio regiments for four years and seven months service. When the first call was made he went for three months service. When his time expired he re-enlisted for three years and after that he veterened for the war.

Mr. Ridenour was a good man, a kind and loving husband and father. Besides his wife he leaves a son and two daughters, all grown, Bruce E., and Misses Myrth and Blanche.

Mr. Ridenour, speaking of his service during the war, said, not long before he left El Dorado:

At Corinth a Texas brigade charged us seven lines deep. The gunners mowed swaths through their ranks with grape and canister and yet they closed up their ranks and came on, stopping for nothing until they came to our breast works. Their Colonel was killed in the charge and left on the field. No words can express the awfulness I felt in going over that field where the dead were literally piled up and the cries of the wounded will never be forgotten while life lasts.

Some think we old boys are not dying fast enough. We are satisfied to stay a little longer and as a comrade falls out, slain by the common enemy, Death, we just close up ranks as we did in the battles for the Union; where if a soldier was shot we would close up the gap and move forward, not stopping to think of the fallen one.

It is only a question of time when the last of us must fall out, with no rank to close. We need not fear, we fought the good fight, won the greatest victories of modern times and when we bivouac

'On Fames's eternal camping ground,'

it will be with the consciousness that we have left the noblest heritage to our children, a united country.

I did my duty as a soldier to the best of my ability. I am proud of my record. I would not change it if I could. I feel that I was fortunate to escape the dangers that threatened me and all soldiers during the Civil war.

D. W. Ridenour

D. W. Ridenour -- comrade, good citizen and honest man died at his home Joliet, Illinois last Saturday. Another soldier of the trying times of 1863 to '65 gone. When I heard the news this morning how the memories of old association came thronging through the mind. The hours of pleasure spent in his shop when he was a resident of our city, where we could talk over our old times with kindred spirits -- how vividly this last drama awakens us to the fact that we have lost a friend.

If we miss him from memory how much more does the family circle with the familiar face of father and husband gone from every place in the home?

R. C. Young

El Dorado Times

Daniel Webster Ridenour built a house in Clarinda, Iowa in 1875.

Source: 'Anna O Sawyer notes', 1902, p 6. Daniel W. Ridenour Civil War Pension Papers, US National Archives.