The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1853-06-25

Ntu NUff.
The grave has closed over MI rha, was mortal
~ III. late Gen Brnnet Riley. of the u. ) Army.
and it Is due to the spirit "lort n,ttuiuns which
invite men to ralse 'henI.ev,s above the accident
u! birth and circurstnnccs--thai something more
should be said oI Rcnnet Riley than simply To al.
nsuncc hs death Y = bad hoped iha, .bmn one
more familiar with hi, history would have fi,nl-h.
ed Biography Of the deceased but rs this la,
not been done, we throw together such facts as are
wclI authenticated
Gen. Riley, nt the time OF lis death, leld the
rnuk of Brevct Major General in the Army o! the
United States. lha; he had merit Is proven by
the fact that, before the war, he was tho foreman
Of .hoemaker's shop in Baltimore-a Llace OF
confidence and jus.lfying the belief tha; he was a
master workman. But this employ sIent did not
suit him, aid lie entered as sailor on boatd one
OF the American privateers about the comm ence.
ment Of the war sflsl2, but was unsuccessful in
the cruise Returning to Baltimore after war was
declared, influential friends procured for him the
commission of Ensign in the Army. This was the
commencement Of the career ~kich Afterwards
gave him distinction and proud name in tie his
tery of the country.
! His commission Of Ensign in a Rife COMPANY
bore date the 10Th January, 1913, at which tire
he was over twenty two years Of age. He was
3
services dnring the war, in which he was active.
| ly employed on the Canada frontier. At the close
of the war be WAS Captain in ore OF the Riff
Regiments. In 1919 he was at CouEcl SlBif-, and
was transferred to the gallant 9Th Infantry, IN
which regiment were Atkinson, enyenworth,
/ Cummings, Foster, Brown and other woitbios---
all o. whom have gone before him, to answer roll
call in the land Of blessed Spirits lie distinguish
ed hlmselfin the expedition led by the gallant
LeavenwOrth against the Aurckarse Indians, and
in which they were badly defeated. These In
dians had attacked and routed party Of Noun.
tain Trappers urdar Gen Ashley and Henri, on
the Missouri; ana for which Lea venworth aud bis
command took ample vengeance.
/ In 1926, he was appointed to command an
escort the traders 10 Santa Fe, aud when near tie
Arkansas was attacked by the Indians, but he to-
tally routed them. After his regiment left For.
LeaveDworth, they were stationed at jefferson
Barracks, and here has Intercourse with the peo
pie Of 81 Louis was Of an unreseTved character
and he acquired the friendship Of all with whom
he came in contact. IN 1882. he. with Ills regi.
ment, participated in tho Black Hawk War, and
, contributed materially to the earl, termination OF
that war. 10 1886. he was order ed to tie Sabine
the Texas boundary. Thence his regiment was
transferred to Florida, to take part in the Semin-
ole War and it is familiar to Gll bow many gal
liant spirits gave up TIER lives for their Country
in that strife The Sixth Regiment suffered fear
fully in officers and men. He was commissioned
Bfeyet Col from the day on Which was Tough,
the battle Of ChukaChstta, Florida in which he
particularly distinguished himself by brave and
galian. conduct and for long nertorious and gal
liant service The war in Florida having come tc
: termination he was promoted to be It. C0lone
OF Cd Infantry, and stationed on the Lakes, an,
afterwards at Jefferson Barracks
= OF course, the war with Mexico found him il
=. the field, in command Of the I'd Brigade o. Cen
Iwiggs' Division, CON posed Of the 4th Artil,er'
and the lat aud 7th lnl,ntty on Gen Scott's line
lie participated IN all the principal battles vhic
marked Gen. SCOTS march to ;he capital Of III
= Montezumas. lie received the Brevet Of DHga
der General for gallant and merItorons conGur
: III the battle of Cero Gurdo April Is, AZ" an,
= the further h-eNet of Maj General for gailsn
I, conduct at ContTera,, Aug. 90, lSl7' lie WA
also a gallant participant IN the memorable BAT
;, ties of Churuhu,co and CLepullepcc, and was d
" ways distinguished by hi- courage Hnd the jiIg
= meut and cyouess with which lie wen. into La;
y, tie.
u On his return from Mexico, he was ordered t
- the command Of the Military Deparmeu, in Cal
fornla where be exercised civil as well as militar
, power; and so well did he deport himself, that !
was con,em plated At one time to elect HIM to IL
Senate Of the United States from California; bu
this be declined. For two or three years lat, h
- has been residing with his family at Bntfalo, Ney
~. York, whore he dled in the 62d vesr Of his =,
y lie married Miss Israel Of Philadelphia in IS,
:, and several children were born to them-one
whom Is now promising y0ans officer IN II.
Navy
" 1t may bo stated re an evidence Of the tig
-, estimation entertoiued Cor him by the people ,
- Missouri, that the Legislature at a recent session
" caused to tc procured and presented to him,
. splendid SWord, and he wns accustomed TO iefe
. in terms of gratfid sensblity, to this Tes,
monal of the state in his favor.
Gen. Riley was not M educated mar, but h
V was ready in word and action He was slow
. writing, i: is cnid, and Oh one occasion, whta Il
y could III brook haunting alusion to this Gefe,
in his early education, he put an end to it by sa,
. ing, by Cd can make my mark" Gen.
. ley WAS the very soul Of chivalry. Ee WAS !,
capable Of mean action aud never tolerated
- in another. He was devoted to his proi,ssiC
!, and his country; and it may be said with p.npi
~ ETY., that in his death the Army ha, les, one
the Preur Chsrdlisrs who have given to il
, much OF .ts glory