Thomas Mercer Riley

In 1860 he was a 19 year old farmer living with his parents, 7 younger siblings, and 46 slaves on their plantation at Burnt Corn in Monroe County, AL. He enrolled in Pineville, AL on 15 March 1861 and joined his regiment and mustered on 11 May as 2nd Lieutenant of the Monroe Guards - Company D (later C), 5th Alabama Infantry. He was promoted to First Lieutenant by August 1861 and to Captain on 27 April 1862, then at Yorktown, VA.

He led his company in Maryland and "Brigadier-General Rodes reports as specially deserving notice for their gallantry ... Capt. T.M. Riley."

He was slightly wounded in the foot at Gettysburg, PA on 1 July 1863 and "left the field." He was in a Richmond, VA hospital by 17 July and furloughed for 30 days on 20 (or 27) July. He was wounded again on 2 June 1864, place not given, and then home on furlough from 14 June to at least September. He was surrendered and paroled at Appomattox Court House, VA on 9 April 1865.

By 1870 he was a farmer in Monroe County, AL and in 1880 was also "merchandising" there. In 1900, still farming, he was living with a servant; his (ex?)wife and 3 children were in their own household next door in Pineville, AL. He was still working the farm in 1910, then age 70. By 1920 and to his death at age 94 in 1935 he was president of the Bank of Beatrice (AL).

His service from the State of Alabama1 and his Compiled Service Records,2 online from fold3. The Rodes quote above from General D H Hill's after-action report. Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860-1930. His gravesite is on Findagrave.

He married Amanda Burgess (1850-1932) and they had a son, Will (1866-1927). He married again, Sarah R. "Sallie" McCreary (1849-1928) and they had 6 children between 1870-1879.

07/29/1840; Monroe County, AL

03/02/1935; Beatrice, AL; burial in Turnbull Cemetery, Monroe County, AL