William Henry Riley
Private, Co. D, 3rd
Regt. Infantry, Potomac Home Brigade
Mustered in: 23 Jul
1862 at Oakland, Md.
Mustered out: 29 May
1865 at Baltimore, Md.
Born 1842 Died 1894
Veteran's Activity Summary:
William
enlisted in the 3rd Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade in Allegany
(now Garrett) County, Md. His unit was assigned to the Middle
Department and on Sept. 13, 1862 this formed a part of the
beleaguered garrison at Harper's Ferry, Va. (now WV) The unit
was actively engaged during all the fighting incident to the
siege on Maryland Heights, Md and Bolivar Heights, Va from
September 13 to 15, 1862.
The 3rd Regiment
was captured and surrendered with the garrison and paroled
when duly exchanged on Sept. 15, 1862.
The Unit was then
assigned to guarding the line of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad.
On the invasion
of Maryland by General Early's Confederate Army in July 1864,
the 3rd Regiment Infantry confronted their advance, and had a
lively and gallant skirmish with the enemy to the west of
Frederick City, Md. The Unit also took a conspicuous part with
General Lew Wallace's little army at the battle of Monocacy,
July 9, 1864, where this small army was ordered to give battle
to overwhelming force of the enemy, in order to enable
reinforcements to reach and protect the Capital at Washington.
After General Early's Army was driven out of Maryland, the 3rd
Regiment Infantry advanced with General Hunter's Army into
Virginia, and took part in the engagement with the enemy at
Snicker's Gap, Va., July 18, 1864.
The 3rd Regiment Infantry then became a part of General
Sheridan's Army of the Shenandoah and participated in the
engagements at Bolivar Heights, Halltown, Charlestown and
Berryville, Va in August 1864. After this, the 3rd
Regiment Infantry was assigned to the Department of West
Virginia where they remained on duty until the close of the
war and the muster out of the unit on May 29, 1865.
Source: History and Roster of Md Volunteers of 1861-1865, Vol.
1-2.
William's
Memorial