William Reddick

REDDICK

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 11/25/2021 at 15:19:05

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, IA
Wednesday, November 11, 1903
Page 1

The death of William Reddick, which occurred at his home about four miles north of Letts last Sunday evening, November 8, removes one of the prominent minor heroes of the civil war. He was one of the twenty-four men who were connected with the celebrated Andrews raid. This raid was nothing less than the desperate attempt to capture a confederate railroad train in the very heart of the confederacy in order to destroy their source of supplies and separate two of their most important armies. They succeeded in capturing the train and in destroying some railroad track, but were defeated in their main object, pursued and eventually all captured. Six of them including their commander, were hung. For some reason the first intention of the confederates to hang them all, one each day, was abondoned and Mr. Reddick was among the lucky ones who escaped death.

Soon after the war Mr. Reddick, wife and one or two children came to Iowa from their former home which we believe was in Indiana, and this vicinity remained his home until death. All these years were spent in Louisa county excepting the past three or four, besides his wife, he leaves nine children of his immediate family, two daughters and seven sons, all or nearly all residents of Iowa. The funeral occurred Monday; interment the same day in the Letts cemetery.

Mr. Reddick was a modest, unpretentious man who seldom referred to that act of his life which gave him prominence among those who were at the front in 1861-5. His most dreadful experience was when in prison seeing his companions going, one by one, to their death. He was an industrious and honest man.