Isaac Reddick, Company I

A woodcutter before his enlistment, this man received a gunshot wound in his right hand during a nighttime picket duty. His application for invalid benefits was supported by members of his Company and those who convalesced with him in the National Soldier’s Home, Virginia. He was buried at Hampton National Cemetery which adjoins Hampton University founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School. His widow ‘s application was rejected on the basis of false claims.

Invalid – 342, 851 / 507,925
Widow – 305,101 / —– , Nancy Reddick

Declaration of Original Invalid Pension, Isaac Reddick, 23 January 1880
48 years old; residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.; post-office address, 22 Nicholson St., Norfolk, Virginia … commanded by Col. Jeptha Girard … he was wounded in right wrist by a minie ball — the ball entering on the outer margins of his right hand and passing upward across the inner side of the wrist diagonally and emerging on the inner side of the forearm — He was on the picket line when wounded … his occupation has been that of a woodcutter … when enrolled a woodcutter …”

Widow’s Claim for Pension, Nancy Reddick, 4 April 1883
41 years old; post-office address, Norfolk City, Virginia
“her maiden name was Nancy Tailor, said that she was married to said Isaac Reddick on or about the 1st day of August 1865 at Southampton C.H. in the county of Southampton, and State of Virginia, by Rev. Berrem ….
“She further declares that said husband died … in the State of Ga. … and she hereby appoints William Ward 276 1/2 Queen st., Norfolk, Va. as her lawful attorney …”
“Also personally appeared, James Dozier and Margaret Johnson, residents of Norfolk County, and State of Virginia so far as they are known to me

For Officer’s or Comrade’s Testimony, Richard Webb, 13 May 1886
residence, Norfolk, Norfolk Co., Va.
“late Sergeant of Company I, 1st Regiment of U.S. Col’d Cav. … June or July 1864, Wilson’s Landing, Charles City Co., State of Virginia — [Reddick] was wounded … while on picket duty during the night. [Webb] was in charge of a post on his left, saw soldier wounded, atttended to him, attended to and cared for him, and saw him when he was taken to the rear. That he has since his soldier’s discharge seen him at least three or four times, maybe oftener during each year…”

For Officer’s or Comrade’s Testimony, William Reed, 30 June 1886
“late Sergeant of Company I, 1st Regiment of U.S. Col’d Cav. … [Reddick] wounded while under the command of [Reed], who was Sergeant in charge of the detail …. and that [Reed] has seen him every few months since [Reddick’s] discharge in March 1866 …”

General Affidavit, Isaac Reddick, 5 June 1893
residence, National Soldier’s Home, Elizabeth City Co., Va.
“[He] is unable to furnish testimony of a Doctor Affidavit showing each and every disability… for the following reason. He had no doctor at the time when he made his application …”

Questionnaire (Form 3-402), Isaac Reddick, 15 April 1898
[married] widower, Nancy Ridley
[when, where, by whom] 1878, Southampton Co., Va., Dr. Brown
[record] Jerusalem C.H.
[previously married] no
[children living] no

General Affidavit, Oscar Jubilee and John Olds, 9 October 1899
[Jubilee] [no age reported on this document]
[Olds] 46 years old;
[Jubilee and Olds] “citizens of the Town of Norfolk, 111 Bank St., State of Virginia, that they knew applicant Isaic Riddick, that while at Wilson’s Landing the spring of 1864, while skirmishing with rebel gurillas [sic] he was shot in his right wrist from which he was disabled and sent to McClennan Hospital near Hampton, Va. and remained there about one year. Was sent Texas to join regiment 1865. And did join in Texas and served until discharged 1866. Soldier was never able to do heavy work and was kept on light duty until discharge…. disables him from doing manual labor and causes him to be idle 3/4 of his time. … [We] served in the same co and reg and knowing him ever since the war and living in same city with him as neighbors and seeing him very often. He now resides in this city on Liberty Street and is well known.”
[Note – Reddick’s address at this time was “Natl Soldiers Home, Elizabeth City Co., Va.” — Leslie]

Questionnaire Form (3-464), Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, 7 November 1899
“Isaac Redi also known as Redick and Reddick … born in Nansemond Co., Va; occupation, servant; Name of owner not of record.
“As Isaac Ready admitted to hospital steamer Wyoming Aug. 13, 1864; sent to G.H. Hampton, Aug. 14, 1864; as Isaac Reddick admitted to Gen. Hosp., Fort Monroe, Va., date not stated (no diagnosis), ret’d to duty, date not stated; as I. Reddick etc admitted to Conval Barracks, Fort Wood, Bedloe’s Island, N.Y. Harbor, Nov 15, 1865, (no diagnosis), disposition not stated.”
[Note — there’s a discrepancy in Isaac Reddick’s birthplace as reported here and on his Compiled Military Service Record (not shown) — Leslie]

Questionnaire (3-173), Isaac Reddick, unknown
[married] Nancy Reddick nee Riddle
[when, where, by whom] [blank]
[record] “about 20 years ago, by the Revd. Berum, called Doctor, Southampton County, Va.”
[previous marriage] “I was a single man, when I married my present wife, and so she was a single girl.”
[children living] “we had 5 children, and all grown up, supporting themself [sic]”
[Note: The form was dated “November 10, 1899” when it was sent to the soldier. The dates he completed the questionnaire and when the Pension Office received it are unknown — Leslie]

Questionnarie (3-493), Isaac Reddick, 14 November 1899 [date stamped received by Pension Office]
[address and residence] National Soldier’s Home, Va., as above
[residence after discharge] “I, after my discharge from the U.S. Army, came to my present place of residence.”
[nearest post-office] “always the National Soldier’s Home p.o. address”
[occupation] laborer
[other names] “Isaac Reddick is my name from birth, never altered.”
[in military or naval service under different name] “I have not been in the military or naval service, under no other name than as above.”

General Affidavit, Edward Haig and Alexander Lewis, 30 October 1900
[Haig] 56 years old; residence and post-office address, National Soldier’s Home, Elizabeth City Co., Va.;
[Lewis] 67 years old; residence and post-office address, National Soldier’s Home, Elizabeth City Co., Va.;
[Haig] “personally acquainted with [Reddick] who is a member of this National Soldier’s Home, Va. … since 1893 …
[Lewis] “also a member of this National Soldier’s Home, Va. for about 9 years, when I became acquainted with Isaac Reddick as a comrade in this Home …”

General Affidavit, William Reed and Isaac P. Patterson,13 May 1901
[Reed] 60 years old; residence and post-office address, National Soldier’s Home, Elizabeth City Co., Virginia
“do know [Reddick] over 35 years … and for 15 years I know him as an Invalid, totally unable to perform any manual labor whatever … totally deaf …
[Patterson] 64 years old; residence and post-office address, National Soldier’s Home, Elizabeth City Co., Virginia
“I’m a member of the National Soldier’s Home, Va. Southern Branch. I know Isaac Reddick personally and since I have made his acquaintance about 3 years ago I know him suffering [and Patterson lists a number of ailments — Leslie]