b. 11/02/1847 Hamilton, New York. d. 08/09/1913 Albany, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 06/04/1865 Deatonsville (Sailors Creek), Virginia.
Rudolph R Riddell MOH
Riddell was born in Hamilton, New York on 11 February 1847 to parents David Riddell and Polly Parks Riddell. He was the younger of two children. In 1869, he married Annie Naomi Palmer. He had no known children.
Riddell enlisted in the Union Army as a drummer at the age of 15. He was eventually promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and commanded Company I of the 61st New York Volunteer Infantry. On 6 April 1865, during the Battle of Sailor’s Creek near Farmville, Virginia, he captured the flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry of the Confederate Army. This action allowed him to receive the Medal of Honor on 10 May 1865. He later became the captain of his company and later brevet major under General Nelson A. Miles. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1865.
After leaving the army Riddell entered Holbrook’s Military Academy to prepare for college. He graduated from Colgate University in 1871 with an A. B. degree and received an honorary LL. D. from the University of Chicago. After leaving college, he lectured and wrote on social, literary, and religious subjects. He was an active Republican worker and campaigner for many years. He later served as the Chief of the Bureau of Information and Statistics, New York State Department of Agriculture.
He was a Freemason and one of the founders of the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (“Grotto”) and the author of its ritual.
MOH CITATION:
Captured the flag of the 6th Alabama Cavalry (C.S.A.).
BURIAL LOCATION: MADISON STREET CEMETERY, HAMILTON, NEW YORK.
SECTION 1B, LOT 1.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE FAMILY.
