John and Francis Rieley were residents of the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio, who served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. They were the sons of Hugh Rieley (1813-1882) and Margaret Owens Rieley (1814-1886). Hugh Rieley was born in County Cavan, Ireland, and Margaret Owens was born in Monaghan County, Ireland. They immigrated to the United States separately and were married in Cleveland, Ohio. The Rieleys had seven children: Mary Ann (b. 1839), Francis (1842-1909), John (1840-1874), William Lloyd (1847-1882), Hugh (1850-1928), Thomas A. (1853-1897), and Edwin Sylvester (1855-1886). Hugh Rieley was the head maltster of the J. B. Smith malt house in Cleveland.
Francis "Frank" Rieley enlisted in Company I of the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1861 against the wishes of his parents. He served for four years, achieving the rank of sergeant. As a member of the Army of the Cumberland, Francis Rieley fought in battles in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. He was taken prisoner at Lexington, Kentucky, but escaped and rejoined his regiment. His most notable service was during the Second Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River).
Upon his return to Cleveland, Francis Rieley entered politics, serving as councilman for what was Cleveland's Twelfth Ward. He was the street commissioner of Cleveland for two terms, and served as deputy director of public works under mayor William G. Rose. His business background included manager of the Northern Ohio Paving and Construction Company; owner of a coal business, grocery store, and carriage painting business; president of the Walworth Run Foundry Company; and owner of various real estate interests. He married Mary Pritchard (1851-1899) and the couple had two sons, Charles (b. 1872) and Oliver (b. 1874), and a daughter who died at birth. Frank Rieley died in Cleveland in 1909 and is buried at Riverside Cemetery.
John Rieley (1840-1874) enlisted in the 19th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, in 1862. While serving in the Union Army, John Rieley wrote letters to his mother and sister detailing his daily activities. The letters document his experiences at camps in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, and elsewhere.
John returned to Cleveland after the war, worked as a machinist, and married Anna Haller. They had two children: Frank Henry (1867-1950) and Eugene W. (1870-1894). John Rieley died in Cleveland in 1874.
The Francis and John Rieley Papers, 1861-1865, consist of approximately 50 original letters written by John Rieley to his family; typed transcripts of letters written by Francis Rieley to his family that were compiled by Oliver Rieley; and typed transcripts of letters by both brothers and family history information that was compiled by James B. Rieley.
This collection will be useful to researchers studying the history of the American Civil War and the experiences of Irish-American soldiers from Cleveland, Ohio, who served in the Union Army. Those studying the activities of soldiers of the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and 19th Independent Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, will find this collection particularly useful.
The Francis "Frank" Rieley letter transcriptions include a letter written by Margaret Owens Rieley as she and her husband frantically searched for their runaway son in 1861. In the letter, written to Frank's Sabbath School teacher, she expresses her frustration that Frank was compelled to disobey her and enlist in the Union Army through the school's teachings. That letter is followed by Frank's first letter home where he explains his reasons for enlisting. Frank's subsequent letters describe his camp, fellow soldiers, officers, training, and social life at Camp Worcester at Monroeville, Ohio, from September-December 1861. Two letters in January-February 1862 describe daily life and conditions at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and the events surrounding the regiment's move there. From February-April 1862, the letters describe daily life and events at Camp Wright at Jeffersonville, Indiana; Bowling Green, Kentucky; Camp Jackson near Nashville, Tennessee; camps near Savannah, Tennessee; and Camp Shiloh at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. From May-June 1862, the letters describe conditions and events in and around Corinth, Mississippi; and from June-August 1862 in locations throughout Alabama. Frank Rieley's regiment returned to the Kentucky-Tennessee area for the remainder of 1862, and the letters describe battles, skirmishes, scouting missions, and guard duty. Rieley was taken prisoner by the Confederate Army at this time, and a letter describes his capture, escape, and reunion with his regiment.
From January-August 1863, Frank Rieley was stationed at camps near Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Stones River), and the letters describe battles, skirmishes, scouting missions, wounded and dead soldiers, and illnesses that incapacitated soldiers. In September 1863, a letter describes battles and events at Chattanooga, Tennessee. In November, Frank Rieley was back in Alabama, and letters describe battles and events, including the killing of Rieley's horse in battle and the capture of Confederate prisoners. In April-May 1864, the letters describe conditions at a camp near Columbia, Tennessee, but they do not include any descriptions of battles or skirmishes. In June-September 1864, Rieley was in Georgia, and his letters describe a raid on the Atlanta and Macon Railroad and several unsuccessful attempts to to connect with John Rieley as his regiment was stationed nearby. By November 1864, Frank Rieley was back in Kentucky, stationed near Louisville, and his letters describe his final, successful attempt to find John Rieley. For the remainder of 1864 and through the end of the Civil War, Rieley and his regiment moved frequently throughout Tennessee and Alabama, and the letters describe marches, camp life, and some of the final skirmishes of the war.
After the surrender of the Confederacy, Frank Rieley was stationed in Tennessee and Georgia to keep the peace in towns such as Macon. While stationed in Milledgeville, Georgia, a letter describes conditions and experiences of newly freed slaves. These observations include the tensions between freed slaves who refused to work without pay and former slave masters who evicted their former slaves from their plantations. The letters also include Rieley's reaction to the death of President Abraham Lincoln. Finally, the letters describe Rieley's plans for return to Cleveland upon his discharge.
The Frank Rieley letters describe his reasons for enlisting and include comments on news from home and requests for money, newspapers, books, clothing, paper and envelopes, and other items. Upon hearing the news that his brother, John, intends to enlist as well, he expressed his opinion that only one member of each family should serve in the Union Army. The letters describe skirmishes with local secessionists, battles and their aftermath, and scenes of wounded, sick, and dead soldiers. The letters primarily describe battles and army life during the Civil, but also include comments about home and family. Descriptions of fighting during the Second Battle of Murfreesboro (Stones River) are included.
The John Rieley letters describe daily life and military routines in camps and cities with the 19th Independent Battery of the Ohio Light Artillery. From November-December 1862, John Riely marched throughout Kentucky, and spent time at Camp Clay near Lexington, Camp Blair and Camp Sutton near Covington, and Richmond, Kentucky. His letters describe weather, camp conditions, illnesses, and the construction of entrenchments. In January 1863, Rieley marched from Kentucky to Tennessee, with stops at Camp Danville, Camp Frankfort, and Truine. He arrived at Murfreesboro where he participated in battles and skirmishes. Rieley spent February-March 1863 guarding various cities and towns throughout Kentucky, and marching between cities in Tennessee and Kentucky. In one letter he describes the practice of the Army of Kentucky to punish deserters by branding the letter "D" on their left cheek. From May-July 1863, John Rieley marched between Camp Somerset, Camp Carter, and Standford, Kentucky. His letters continue in much the same way, commenting on news from home and describing daily life and routines at camps. In one letter, he describes his experiences stealing food and animals from the civilian population and compares the Union Army practice favorably to that of the Confederate Army. In July 1863, in a letter written from McConnellsvile, Ohio, Rieley describes his participation in a march through Southern Ohio in pursuit of John Hunt Morgan.
John Rieley spent September 1863-March 1864 stationed in Knoxville, Kentucky. The Knoxville area was surrounded by Confederate troops at the time, and Rieley regularly received half and quarter rations. Mail and newspapers could not get through, and most of Rieley's fellow soldiers were in desperate need of boots, shoes, and warm clothing. There was a smallpox outbreak in the regiment, and many soldiers were ill with colds. In one letter, Rieley describes Kentucky men and boys hiding in caves and woods for months to avoid conscription in the Confederate Army. In another letter, John Rieley describes a meeting with Frank Rieley in Knoxville. Another letter describes the construction of a fort around a college near Knoxville, including his supervision of African American workers on the project.
In April-December 1864, John Rieley marched throughout Kentucky and Tennessee to guard various cities and towns, this time between Charleston, Tennessee; Camp Shield; Lexington, Kentucky (including Camp Ella Bishop); and Nashville, Tennessee; and Chatanooga, Tennessee; Camp Ashland; and Camp Blair. He saw battle at Cassville, Georgia, during this time, and was hit by shrapnel when a shell exploded over his head. He contracted dysentery in May 1864, and when his conditioned worsened he was sent to Cumberland Hospital in Nashville to recover. When he returned to his battery, he was surprised to learn that most people thought he had died. His regiment traveled over 1,000 miles via railroad at this time, some of it in continued pursuit of Morgan. In an August 1864 letter, Rieley reports the names of four Cleveland soldiers who deserted, warning his mother that their names would appear in the Cleveland
John Rieley spent a considerable amount of time in January 1865 traveling by steamboat in Tennessee and Kentucky. He spent the remainder of the Civil War in North Carolina, first near Kingston and then near Wilmington. These marches in North Carolina were performed during the worst conditions he experienced in the war, including swamps, quicksand, and unsafe bridges.
The John Rieley frequently commented on the conditions of his fellow "Brooklyn Boys" in his regiment, particularly John Bissell. He comments on news of his brothers back in Cleveland and of a former employer, Mr. Reitz.. Rieley frequently inquired about news of his brother Frank. At times, Rieley was frustrated and bitter that his family did not write to him as frequently as he expected, and at one point he vowed not to write another letter until he received a response to his current letter. In several letters, John Rieley expressed his hatred of copperheads and butternuts who walked the streets of Cleveland, stating that he would sooner kill one of them than General Robert E. Lee. Most of his letters describe long, frequent marches, daily camp life, the conditions of fellow soldiers, the quality and quantity of food and rations, and his observations of his environment. John Rieley was generally content and happy as a soldier in the Union Army, and seemed to enjoy the frequent marches and changes in scenery. There are very few descriptions of battles and skirmishes, and the letters generally describe marches, camp conditions, and efforts to secure cities and towns in Kentucky and Tennessee.
The collection is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.
Processed by Margaret Burzynski-Bays in 2014.
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 5269 Francis and John Rieley Papers, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gifts of Margaret Rieley Dennis in 1995; Oliver Rieley in 1999; and James B. Rieley in 2014.
Much of the biographical information contained in this finding aid was provided by James B. Rieley in 2014.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.