[The 1860 Census lists Ridenhour as a 24-year-old farmer, married, with one child. He served as a private in Co. F, 5th NC Inf. Ridenhour was listed as absent without leave from December 1862 through December 1863. There are no further records after that.]

April 23 1863
Govenor Z. B. Vance

Der sir I seat my
self to drop you a few lines for
you to Do me a favor for I have
Don all for you I could & still
hop to do mor Der sir I was
concripted Last sumer the 8 of
August and was mustard in to
searvies I was transferde to the
5th N C Regiment at camp Hill
I wanted to go to the 42 or 52 Regiment
Bute they woulden Let me go I staid
a month or two with the 5 Regment
and I got Detaile to go to General Hill
Division for to acte as a ordley for the
Major of D. Hills Division I hapend
with Bad Luck & got wounded in my
Left arm and Lost my Posision
they send me home oun a furlough
and in that time Major Resing and
went home I am offerd a Nother
office for to act for ordley I dont want
Never to go in the 5 Regiment
[page 2]
my Reason for wanted to Be transferd
is Because I dont know noun of the offerces
they ar in tirely strangers to me I have
now Relatsion in the fifth I want to go
whar my Neighbors & school mates
& thay want me to com I want you
Govenor to git me transferd to 42 Regment
under captin Howle if you will git
me a tranferd for me to Cap Howle
company 42 Regiment I will give you
a $50, Dollars as sone as you git me transfer
I have a fourloug tell the 16 of june and
then I will go Back in serviss I saw
Capt Howle a few Dayes a go and he toll
me to git you to have me transferd
me and him has Bin formly Raised
to gether thats my Reasen that I want to
go to his company Honorly Z, B, vance
I want you to have me transferd and
I will Pay you for it and that well for your
trouble I will give $50 Dollar Bill or just what
Ever you will tak for your troubl
if I under Stude they have write it was
intention of the Law for man to Make
choice of ther companys & Regiments
[page 3]
I would to went in cervice Befor But my
my circstance was such that I staid at home
untell I was compel to go I can giv you Refer
as to my standing & charactor Col D. A. G. Palmer
Eben Hearin one of the members of the convention
or Col simson of stanly , Co,
I will Now giv you the company I was
concrpted 5 Reg, Co F under Capt Garrett
Now Col garrett first, Lieuten, Pordan
of Co F he will Be capt if Promoted
formly col McRae old Regiment
that I Belong to hoping you will
tend to it for me as sone as you can
Govenor and send my transferde
to Gold Hill. P, O, Rowan County NC
hoping that you will Do all for me that
you can if you Pleas Address me as
soon as you can git me a transferd
hoping you will have it gon forth with
for one that thinks the
wright men in the wright Place
so I hoping to hear from you
in a few Dayes I am willing to searve
my country But I dont Lik to Be
throught Entirly among strange officers
[page 4]
the Officers ar all strangers Never
saw any of them Befor I got to the
Regiment and the officers ar fine Looking
Gentlymanly By ther apearance the officers
of 42 Regiment I am acquainted with Nearly
all of them so No mor But hoping
you will Do all for me you can write
to me and Let me know what
you can Do for me hoing you will
Address me asone as you tend to it

I Remaine Yours truly
Iam Gonvernor Your obt servunt
Address D. E. Ridenhower
Gold Hill, P.O,
Rowan County
N.C.