Private, Co. G, Bill Va. Infantry.

Colonel Thomas Ridley was a distinguished soldier in the Revolutionary war. His great-grandson, the subject of this sketch, served with no less credit, though in a humbler sphere, and in defence of the same principles in the Second American Revolution, which, because it was not successful, is now called the "The Rebellion."

William Goodwyn Ridley, oldest child of Francis T. and Elizabeth N. Ridley, was born July 1st, 1842, in Southampton county, Virginia. As a child he was noted for his great neatness of person, and his manner, as he grew older, was unusually refined. At the age of fourteen, having been previously carefully trained, he was sent to " Brookland School " in Albemarle county, as a pupil of William Dinwiddie, M. A. At the end of the third session he had passed through the classes of this school; but Mr. Dinwiddie, who, having discovered in him the requisite lability of mind, was anxious he should take the Master's Degree at the University, persuaded him to return to Brookland another year, in order to make his success at College the more easy and certain. In October, 1860, he entered the University of Virginia, v.ith the intention of remaining there until his education was

Soon after the first acts of war he became, at the earnest soli, Station of many personal friends, a member of Company F, a volunteer organization previously raised in Norfolk, and then stationed on Craney Island, under command of Captain Harry AVilliamson. Here he had many comforts not usual to the life of a soldier, and the friends of the company feted them continually. But still, with ardor of patriotism which characterized so many Southern youths, he sighed for a more active life. He was then a beardless boy, of rather small stature, but with a good constitution. Under this rudimentary experience of "playing soldier," as it was afterwards called, his frame expanded and he became more robust.

At the reorganization in 1862, he was offered a lieutenantcy in another company, but he preferred to remain with his friends in Company F. Upon the evacuation of Norfolk, this company, with others, was marched to Suffolk, and theuce to Petersburg. Here first it was placed in the regiment to which it belonged, and was afterwards known as Company G, 6th Virginia Infantry, Mahone's Brigade.

The first action in which William Ridley took part was at Drury's Bluff, his company being among those detailed to attack the gunboats at that place. He wrote to his father, afterwards, that in this his first trial he was calm and composed. Malvern Hill furnished his next experience; a friend, then on a visit to the brigade, described his bravery, immediately before entering this battle, as creditable in the highest degree to himself and his lineage. It was the twentieth anniversary of his birthday, and he wrote home that in the midst of the desperate charge the thought flashed across his mind how unlike was this to all the previous celebrations of that day.

After the battles around Richmond, when many were filling their places with substitutes, he was offered one; he peremptorily refused to accept the offin.: "his bleeding and injured country required his services, and he was unwilling to give her less."

Mahone's Brigade was then stationed at Falling Creek until the middle of August, when Anderson's Division followed Longstreet's to reinforce Jackson and drive Pope from the Rappahannock. This brigade was not brought into action in the series of battles that culminated in the great struggle of Second Manassas, August 30th, 1862, until the afternoon of that day. It was then that William Ridley fell. His officers and comrades complimented his bravery on the field, but darkness intervening, no one saw him close his earthly career. On the morning of the 31st, he was

found dead "on the front line of the action." Thus perished this noble youth, far away from his home, his lust earthly consciousness the shouts of his victorious comrades, who presently made his grave beneath the bloody sod.

On the same day his gallant brigade-commander, not more courageous in battle than considerate for the feelings of those whom the battle bereaved, wrote the following letter to the dead soldier's father:

"Near Gainesville, Fauquier County, Va.,

"August 31st, 1862. /

"F. T. Ridley, Esq., Jerusalem, Va.,

"Mv Dear Sir:—I do not know that any one of his comrades will have an opportunity, so soon, of conveying to you the painful intelligence that your son fell upon the battle-field, a sacrifice to the cause of his country, in the great fight of yesterday. I have seen no one yet to give me any circumstances attending his death. He was reported to me among those for whom I inquired especially, as having been found upon the field, dead — and, to his honor, on the front line of the action where our brigade was engaged.

"I gave directions that he should be carefully interred, with a view to future removal.

"I was myself wounded early in the action, but (miraculously) not seriously. We have had a very hard-fought battle, one of the most determined, perhaps, of the war. The enemy was, however, completely routed, and he is now fleeing before our advancing forces.

"My Dear Sir, permit me to extend to you and to your household the warmest sympathies of a friend in your bereavement.

"You have made a noble and generous contribution in the sacrifice of a son to the defence of our rights and liberties; and while there is no consideration which can replace or compensate the loss, and especially in a mother's affection, it will be consoling to know that the spirit which has gone fell nobly with his face to the foe. Your friend,

William Mahone."

Record	Events	Title	Source Website	Type	Created
Ridley, William G - Page 1	Enlistment, Military Service, People	US, Civil War Service Records (CMSR) - Confederate - Virginia, 1861-1865	Forces War Records	Image	15/05/2007
Ridley.jpg			Forces War Records	Image	20/11/2014
Second Battle of Bull Run			Forces War Records	Memorial	20/10/2013
Groveton Confederate Cemetery			Forces War Records	Subject	20/11/2014

William G Ridley

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