Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-06-18
DEATH OF GEN. RILEY.

personally acquainted with him from the date o
his earliest public service, and noted with mos
friendly concern the incidents of his life, we ma,
be allowed to condoe with the warmes Of his friends
in lamenting his departure from among us We
could from memory, trace down the history of his
life from 1913 to 1853, and would have attempted
the task, had we not found it so well executed in the
following article, from the paper in which we find
the event announced. We cannot do better than
adopt it:
FROM THE BuFFALo COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER FRIDAY.
The mournfu event. so long anticipated, has at
last Brevet Major General BENNETT RILEY Colonel OF
the First Regiment Y. s. Infantry, died his residence
in this city, yesterday afternoon at halfp five o'clock
lie was brave soldier true patriot, and honest
Here, where his many amable and excellent qualities
were known and appreciated, he viii be mourned with
sincere grief He had resided among many years and
the relations which had sprung up between him and
citizens of character to inspire strong feelings of
mutual respect and attachment There tinge Of
personal affection in the esteem with which they regarded
him. lie was Of truly loyal nature and his generous dis
position and perfect simplicity of character cacu-
lated to draw around him the warmest friends There
was no more just Aeas.~l i.ottvr I'm tho
social circle or the field Of BATTLE he had the
tire confidence Of those around him. As soldier 1t may
be said Of him, Of Bayard that he was without fear
and without reproach The that his death
among his acquaintances will be partaken by the Amer-
people, from eastern frontier the shores of the
Pacific for his distinguished in had made
him known to them all.
We will undertake hasty summary of the principal
in his military life leaving the task adequate
memoir to more competent hand. We cannot now
enumerae the testimonials of gratitude and admiration
which the gallant old soldier had received from Congress-
from State Legislatures and other public bodies but
they many in number and all of them bestowed
der circumstances evncing the highest appreciation Of
his great worth and eminent services
Gen. RILEY was born in Maryland in 1887. He enter
ed the army Ensign of Rifles in 1873 and promoted
to Sd Lieutenancy the same year. He made ID
Lieutenant in 1914 and the reduction Of the army
which took place at tae close Of the with Great Br
tain he retained Lieutenant in the Rifle regiment
During the he distinguished gallant and eff
hcien soldier and gained the appreciation Of his
handing officers The St Lawrence frontier, extending
far as Pattsburg, tie Of his early military
exploits ard the parties Of British and Indians from oy
the lines from La Cole Mills to Lake Champaign, soon
dread the murderous rifles of the parties COM
manded by Lieut.. RILEY In 1917 he promoted to
LIST Lieutenant and to CaptaiIcy in 1878 The Rife
Regiment had been stationed the Western and North
western frontier since the Of 1872 and in performing
the duties incident his profession, Capt RILEY still
the efficient and indefatigablc officer In 1921 he was
arranged TO the 9TH Regiment Infantry and in the
year transferred the 9th Regiment Of the arm In
1923 Capt RILEYs company formed part of expedition
up the Missouri River far the Yellow Stone The
expedition commanded by Col LEAyENwoRTH The
gallant RILEY again distinguished himself in actions with
the Indians particularly with the Arickarees In 1923
lie received the brevet OF Major for ten years service in
the grade Of Captain Shortly after this time Major RILEY
sent with battalion OF troops the Santa Fe trail
at that time terra acogHtd He afforded during the
expedition protection to the traders and in several
hcts with large parties Of Indians laures and
taught for the first time the prairies Of the West,
lesson to the savage tribes which they have never for
gotten In 1882 his regiment participated in the Black
fearful n III nipn1 and Maia
RILEY was usual active in the performance of his du
ties In 1887 he promoted to Major Of the 4th In
fantry, aud stationed Fort Gibson the Arkansas
River His services for many years had been the
mote frontiers Of the West and Northwest About this
time he ordered TO Florida in the against the
Seminole Indians. In 1889 he promoted the rank
Of Lieutenant Colonel of the ID Regiment of Infantry and
took command OF his regiment that time operating in
Florida lie and his regiment were very active in the
prosecution Of the war; and several times engaged
with parties Of the enemy In 1914 he received the breyet
Of Colonel to rank from June 1910, the day on which
fought the battle Of Chokocbatta, Florida in which
he particularly distinguished himself bravery and good
conduct and for long meritorous, and gallant services
In 1872 a. the close Of the Florida war he with his
gment, ordered TO this frontier and for than
three years his headquarters in this city Here his
urbanty and kindness in private life and his soderly
bearing in the discharge Of his duties made him general
fayorte lie ordered Detroit in l515 early in
1885, and in the Of 1916 his regiment was order
ell TO Mexico to join the victorious army of Gen. TAYLOR
Being delayed some time to fill up his regiment with
recruits he did not join the army in Mexico until after
the battle Of Monterey In January, lS47, he accompa
MED the army in its march from Monterey Tampico
which point he joined Gen ScoTT and the landing
Of Vera Cruz, where he commanded the ID Brigade Of
TwIGGs's Diyision-Gen. p. F. SMITH commanding the
LIST Brigade After the fall of Vera Cruz the division 10
which RILEY belonged was pushed towards Mexico
and found the enemy In force at Cerro Gordo the 18th
April lS4I. In this battle he received the brevet Of Br
gader General for gallant and meritorious conduct
As the army approached the city of Mexico TwIoGs's
Division had the enemys strongly entrenched camp ia
carry at Contreras To RILEY's Brigade sustained by
reserves confded under the direction of Gen SMITH
the assauting Of the work The way they performed il
is matter Of history RILEY received the breyet of Major
General for gallant conduct in this battle, August
| 20th 1647.
When the American troops retired from Mexico, Gen
Riley's regiment ordered to Pascagoua Louisiana
and from thence TO Jefferson Barracks Missouri In the
fall Of S4S he ordered California with his reg
ment, and had most arduous duties there to perform
commanding that military department and ez ocio Pro-
yisional Governor. In his vacations whose duties
and responsibilities he encountered with that cheerful
ness and zeal which had characterized him. he gave
entire satisfaction and the esteem and confidence
all with whom be associated. While in California hi
was Frustrated by disease the seeds Of which WERE per
haps brought from the campaigns Of Mexico which
entirely eradcated, and which perhaps may have
brought the malady that has terminated his life In
1850 he was promoted be colonel Of the st infantry
and ordered from California to take command Of his eg
men that time serving the Rio Grande. He reach
ed New York. his return from California, the wreck
what he had been when he entered Mexico. Incapable
by debility and the remains Of disease Of active duties
and command be selected Buffalo the place where
his family had enjoyed health and happiness and wher
he hoped again TO enjoy those comforts in the society
his many friends He purchased pretty place, which
he designated the Soldiers Retreat and daily his
figure, Notwithstanding debility, and his firm step coult
be be walked the city, his health and strength
apparently improved.
In the winter Of 1912 he was at Washington urging