Gen. Riley's Civil Correspondence. Senate Document 52-2... (31st Congress, 1st Session, 1850): Correspondence between Brevet Brigadier General Bennet Riley and various others concerning the ongoing conflict and diplomacy with local native people in California and Oregon). First edition.
Washington, DC: Department of State, 1850. 3-180 pp. Lacking title page. With folding engraved map at the rear. 22.2x14.2 cm (8¾x5¾"), later calf-backed buckram, original spine strip laid down, morocco spine label lettered in gilt....
Senate document 52, primarily the correspondence between Brvt, Brigr. Gen. B. Riley and various others concerning the ongoing conflict and diplomacy with local native peoples.....
Senate Document 52 (31st Congress, 1st Session, 1850) is a crucial collection of official correspondence, largely featuring Brevet Brigadier General Bennet Riley
. It details the tumultuous transition of California to US control, focusing on military efforts to stabilize the territory, interactions with Native American populations, and the push for statehood. .....
Key Aspects of Senate Document 52:
Riley’s Correspondence: The document centers on reports and letters from Gen. Riley, who served as the military governor of California, highlighting the challenges of managing both the local populations and the influx of settlers. ....
Conflict and Diplomacy: It covers military actions, peacekeeping efforts, and diplomatic negotiations with California's native peoples during a period of rapid change......
California Context: The correspondence provides insight into the "civil" and military affairs of California immediately following the Mexican-American War. .....
Significance: It serves as a primary source for understanding early U.S. government policy toward Native Americans in California during the Gold Rush era.....
This material is a foundational text in the Serial Set (561), documenting the chaotic formative years of California....BENNET RILEY, Major General, USA
General Bennet Riley distinguished himself as a dedicated leader during the War
of 1812, the Indian wars, and the Mexican War. He also distinguished himself as a
statesman and leader in the development of the Western Frontier.....
General Riley commanded the first military contingent to escort a wagon train
from Leavenworth along the Santa Fe Trail. This mission opened the trail for trade with
Mexico and for the flow of settlers to the Southwest.
He won national fame as a brigade commander during the Mexican War in the
Battle of Contreras. His citation reads, "The charge of his noble brigade down the slope,
in full view of friend and foe, unchecked even for a moment until he had planted all his
colors upon the farthest works, was a spectacle that animated the Army "to the boldest
deeds."
General Riley served with honor as the military governor of the California
Territory and was instrumental in the formation of its first state government.
Service at Fort Leavenworth, Service at Fort Leavenworth, 1829-30, 1832-34. Item #51-7148
Price: $550.00