Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1890-01-31
RIDDLEBERGER DEAD.
a UNIQUE FIGURE IN VInarN1A Poll
TICS PASSES AWAY.

y
HARRISON Holt Riddleberger was
the full name of the nopdescript ex
Senator from Virginia. Ho WIS born.
in Edenburg, Shenandoah county, in
this Suite, on October 4, 1874. Go
ing out into the world to make his
living at the age of Is, Riddleberger
had been employed i'll store for two
years when the rebellion broke out.
In March, 1862, at the mature age of
Ii, he assisted in raising hoy
company i'll Harrisonburg. OF thi
he was made second lieutenant, and
soon found him self in active service
i'll ''Stonewall" Jackson's famous
corps. He took part in the battles
of Mcdowell md Port Republic, in
the seven days battle abound Rich.
mond, the second battle of Bull Run,
the battle of Sharpsburg and other
encounters with the Union troops,
and in the spring of 1863 was made
II captain of the sd Virginia Cavalry,
with which lie went through the
Maryland and Pennsylvania cam,
paigns. The day before the battlo of
New Market he was taken prisoner,
and for nine months was IN inmate
of Northern prisons. lie was ono of
the 800 sent up the james river to
IIarrison's Llnding to DO specially
exchanged; but us Jefferson Davis
would not recognize General b. +.
Butler as ia man, n soldier, or gen
!leman," owing to his New Orleans
''ordcr," the exchange failed, and
Butler set the whole batch at liberty
on parole. Riddlebergor was subse.
quently picked up while at home by
II SOUND of Union cavalry, in spite of
his parole, but before he could be re
stored to liberty President Lincoln
was nssnssinated, and then he WINS
placed in close quarters at Point
Lookout, for his own safety. While
there his parole, it is snid, was torn
up, and he was sent to Fort Della
ware, where he remained until the
close OF hostilities.
After the war Riddleberger started
out for himself, becoming m editor
i'll 1869, at the age of twenty. five and
keeping ut the business ostensibly
ever since. He was for some time
the editor of paper called the Vir-
gilman, published ut Woodstock. In
1871 he became n politician, and was
elected to tho Virginia House of Del
egntes, to which he was reelected in
1873. His leisure time while in the
Legislature was spent in studying
law, and i'll 1875 Riddleberger was
admitted to the bar. In his new pro-
fession Riddleberger made unoxnm-
pied progress, for in n few weeks he
was elected Commonwealth Attor.
ney for Shenandoah county, a posi-.
ton to which he wns reelected in
1878. His brilliant career at the bur
was interrupted, however, in 1879,
by his election to the State Senate.
In that body he was the foremost
champion of the Readjusters. and en-
gineered bill through the Lesisla-
ture relieving himself and others
from the disabilities incurred BY
fighting bloodless duels. At the OK
ira session of the United States Sen
ate i'll 1881 he was made the Repub-
llcan caucus candidate for sergeant
alarms at the dictation of Malone,
and on December 20 he was elected n
Senator of the United States.
Riddleberger had several serious
political quarrels. October Is, 1881,
a hostile meeting took p6Se about
ten miles from Richmond Station,
between Captain Riddleberger and
the Hon. e. D. Wise. Four rounds
were fired without either being hurt.
Mutual explanations and amicable
adjustment followed. The same day
ltiddlcberger and r. +. Beirne, one
OF the proprietors of tho Richmond
State newspaper, met, but did not
exchange shots. A number of wit
nesses from Richmond, including
several newspaper men, were sub
p"naed and examined by the grand
jury, without arriving at any conclu
sion with regard to the matter.
Riddleberger was elected to the
! IJnitpl Sfofac Canoto n, - Do.1:I