Charles Valentine Riley:
his formative years
Edward Smith and Gene Kritsky
entry to the right (Fig. 2). This diary ended during Riley’s service in
the Civil War, when he started another diary in a smaller book that
he could easily stow with his belongings. The Civil War diary was
written in French, most likely to keep it private from others in his
regiment. (Oftentimes, Riley’s rucksack was carted in a wagon and
was not in his possession, which would have permitted the curious
ample opportunity to peruse the diary).
Riley was born on 18 September 1843 in Chelsea in London,
England. When he was nine years old, he moved with his brother to
Walton-on-Thames to live with his aunt in a rural area 14 miles from
London (Smith and Smith 1996). His diary indicates that by that time Riley was collecting insects. There is an entry on 4 April 1853 that
reads, “Commenced collecting insects.” Prior to this entry, there is
little in the diary to suggest when Riley’s early entomological inter-
B
y the time Charles Valentine Riley (Fig. 1) passed away in
1895, he had become an internationally known American
entomologist, a correspondent to Darwin, and a gifted artist.
Much has been written about his major entomological contributions,
including his studies of the yucca moth (Sheppard and Oliver 2004)
and the grape phylloxera (Sorenson et al. 2008), his contributions
to agricultural entomology (Wheeler et al. 2010), his promotion of
entomological evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution through
natural selection (Kritsky 2007), and his early years that laid the
foundation for his future career in entomology and activities as
the State Entomologist of Missouri (Smith and Smith 1996). Our
knowledge of Riley’s formative years is now more detailed with the
transcription of the diaries that Riley produced from 1850 to 1857,
when he was between the ages of 7 and 14, and from January 1861
until December 26, 1864, when he was 17 to 21 years old.
The diaries were given to the senior author by Riley’s great-granddaughter and have been transcribed following the methodology
employed by the Darwin Correspondence Project at Cambridge University. The transcriptions of the English entries include forced line
and page breaks to reflect new lines or entries made by the author.
His occasional misspellings and grammatical errors were included,
along with the unusual abbreviations Riley used to denote the day
of the week. The 1861–1864 diary follows a ledger-like format, with
the date and day of the week in the left margin and the narrative
Fig. 2. The entries for June 1861 in Riley’s third diary illustrate his ledger
style of recording the day’s events.
Fig. 1. (above) Charles V. Riley at work on his insects. With permission of
the Special Collections at the National Agricultural Library.
74
American Entomologist • Summer 2011
est may have been sparked, but Packard (1895) suggested that Riley
might have been influenced along those lines by W. C. Hewitson, a
British lepidopterist whom Riley knew during this time. Riley does
not mention Hewitson in the diary, but in 1855 he reports that he
saw a butterfly during a walk, and later that year he started to raise
silkworms, a hobby he continued for over two years.
Shortly after he turned 13, Riley was sent to a boys’ school in
Dieppe on the coast of France (Smith and Smith 1996). Although
there is little in the diary that would suggest he was receiving any
formal natural history instruction, he does write about seeing crabs
along the shore and receiving awards for his artistic endeavors. Indeed, his artistic ability was such that he was encouraged to study
art in Paris (Packard 1895).
At age 15, Riley continued his studies in Germany at Bonn, but
unfortunately he did not maintain his diary during this period of
time. In 1860, when he was seventeen, Riley left England for America
to work for G. H. Edwards, a family friend (Smith and Smith 1996). Edwards owned a farm in Kankakee County, Illinois, where Riley
gained his farming experience, and Riley started in his second diary
shortly after his arrival in Illinois. The entries show that Riley was
a thoughtful, hard-working, and reliable field hand. He maintained
a careful accounting of his holdings and worth, taking pride in his
frugality. He also cherished newspapers and other publications
that he received from his mother and other family members. Riley’s
standing in the community grew, and he was introduced to a number of prominent farmers (Goode 1896). A casual reading of these
early entries documents the long days he worked, the extent of the
skills he was learning, and how people helped one another through
barter and shared tasks. The entries also show the decorum that
was prevalent at the time. For example, on 18 April 1861, so as not
to offend any casual reader of his journal, Riley recorded the mating
of a cow by writing in French, “Fanny prit le Taureau,” translated as
“Fanny took the bull.”
It was common for a farm to have one or two colonies of bees
to provide the household with honey for use as a sweetener and a
source of barter. Riley purchased a swarm of bees on 2 June 1861,
and this officially started his occupation as a beekeeper. There are
several entries about his bees swarming, robbing his bees of honey,
selling his honey, and paying for items with his hives. Unfortunately,
Riley provided no details as to the type of hive he was using for his
early beekeeping activities. Towards the end of the diary, he included
detailed notes on beekeeping. It is likely that he copied these notes
into the diary later, after he left the farm and moved to Chicago, where
he would have had access to beekeeping books and magazines. In
these notes he does not give a source, but his first set of notes were
taken from the December 1861 issue of the American Bee Journal
(Anonymous 1861). Additional beekeeping entries may have been
paraphrased from The Hive and the Honey Bee (Langstroth 1859), as
these notes include the dimensions of the hive box, which match the
dimensions of Langstroth’s simplest moveable frame hive. However,
Riley makes no mention of using frames in his hives. All of Riley’s
beekeeping diary entries and notes are included in Excerpt 1.
In January 1863, Riley decided to leave the farm. He wrote on 10
January, “I arranged all my things so as to be able to start on Monday
for Chicago.” He sold his horse, traded away his bees, accepted a
promissory note for monies due him, and departed on 13 January. He arrived in Chicago to discover that employment was hard to find,
and this created some anxiety when his funds started to run out. However, after two weeks of searching for work, he finally landed a
American Entomologist • Volume 57, Number 2
Excerpt 1: C.V. Riley’s Beekeeping Entries and Notes
1861
1 June Rain, I made a hive.
2 June bought a swarm of bees for 3 D[ollars].
7 July A swarm of bees went off from one of my hives
13 July I fetched my bees from Perry’s.
16 Sept. Took some honey.
24 Dec. Traded a watch & a pair of boots & paid for a swarm
of bees of Henry Baldwin.
25 Dec. Traded again with Henry Baldwin for his other
swarm of bees traded my gun, the 3 ½ D. flask,
produced shot & Beast-pins for his bees & hive &
40¢ besides the 2,30.
1862
27 June my bees swarmed but went back
7 July A swarm came out of one of my hives and went off
again to the hive.
29 Aug. Took some honey from my bees.
29 Sept. Took some Honey from my bees.
11 Oct. sold 3 D.32¢ worth of honey
6 Dec. Someone stole one of my bee-hives.
27 Dec. I traded my colt to Joseph Legg for his colt & I gave him
10D. and a new swarm of bees next Spring.
1863
10 Jan. I traded Effey to Mr. Legg with a swarm of bees & three
sacks for the 13 D I owed him, & 8 D to boot.
notes on Bee Keeping
[copied from the American Bee Journal vol 1, 1861]
Bees gorged with honey never volunteer an attack,
Bees may always be made peaceable by inducing them to accept
of liquid sweets.
Bees when frightened by smoke, or by drumming their hives fill
themselves with honey and lose all disposition to sting, unless
they are hurt.
Bees dislike any quick movements about their hives, especially
any motion when it jars their combs.
Bees dislike the offensive odor of sweaty animals and will not
endure impure hair from human beings.
The bee-keeper will generally derive all his profits from stocks,
strong and healty [sic] in early spring.
A moderate increase of colonies in any one season, will, in the
long run, prove to be the easiest, safest, and cheapest mode of
managing bees.
Queenless colonies, unless supplied with a queen, will inevitably
dwindle away or be destroyed by the beemoth or robber bees.
New colonies should be formed when the bees are accumulating
honey, in June or July.
75
Always keep your stocks strong if you want to be a good beekeeper.
As fast as the surplus-honey recepticles are filled and the cells
capped over they should be removed and empty ones put in
their places.
All swarms that come late in June should be added, doubled, or
returned to the mother stock.
It takes 21 days for the worker to come to maturity from the time
the egg is laid
16 ds queen
24 or 25 ds drone
A 3 year old queen should be replaced by a new one.
In the Spring shallow troughs should be set in front of the Apiaries filled about 2 inches deep with finely ground dry un-bolted
rye-meal or wheat flour.
In very hot weather the hives should be sheltered and in very
cold, plenty of ventilation given.
Swarming is generally from 10 AM till 2 PM.
Recipe for a paint for tough hives. 2 parts rough fine sand well
sifted. 1 best English cement. 1 curd whey well expressed. 1 buttermilk mixed- applied until repeated stirring by a common paint
brush, when dry brushed over with a thin coat of linseed oil.
Melted wax and resin will stick wax and combs to frames.
When frames are used for new swarm the rabbets should be
smeared with flour paste
Some dead bees threaded and fastened to a pole will attract a
swarm.
The less stocks are disturbed the better.
position with the Evening Journal collecting subscription fees. His salary was $3.50 per week, but this did not alleviate his situation much
as he was paying that amount just for his room and board. But the
resourceful Riley found a less expensive place to live and asked his
employer for a raise after just two weeks on the job. His request was
rewarded with an extra dollar per week. To supplement his income,
he advertised a cure for “corns” for $1.50. But he was still having
financial concerns, so he gave his notice to the Evening Journal and
eventually found work with the Prairie Farmer on 31 March.
The Prairie Farmer was the major farming publication in the
Midwest at the time, and there Riley applied his farming experience
with his interest in natural history. He also had the opportunity to
use his artistic skills in drawing insects, and this also provided him
with the credentials to meet others with entomological interests. It
was during this time that Riley wrote his first published paper; he
recorded that he wrote an article for the Prairie Farmer on 24 April
1863, but does not indicate the subject.
The Prairie Farmer provided Riley with the incentive to collect
insects, read reports about insects attacking crops, write articles,
learn the details of running a publication, and to obtain introductions
to some of the country’s leading scientists, including entomologists. Riley first mentioned B. D. Walsh on 3 June 1863, writing that he drew
some insects for Walsh. This may have been the first collaboration
between Walsh and Riley, who would work together to start American
Entomologist in 1868. He also began corresponding with J. L. LeConte
76
By pushing a rag saturated with chloroform or ether and closing
all tight one can do any thing with the bees.
There should be a mark on every hive so that the queen may
recollect it.
A mixture of 3 lbs of honey 2 lbs brown sugar and 1 lb water is
good food for bees.
Salt and water with short straw in it that the bees may not drown
is good for them
25 lbs of honey is enough to winter a good stock.
Not to irritate bees
Mind not sweat.
No quick motions near the hive
Not to breathe
If you are stung pull the sting out as quick as possible.
Never rub the place.
Juice of the berry of the common honeysuckle cures a sting, it
may be kept in bottles which are air-tight.
Juice of tobacco is also good for cure Cold water excellent
Size of Hive
2 pieces front and rear
Sides bottom
14 1/8” X 8 7/8” X 7/8”
19 7/8” X 10 7/8” X 7/8”
25 ½” X 10 1/8” X 7/8”
To strain honey from combs bring it to the boiling point
and when cool the wax will float on the top and the honey
may be strained and poured into bottles or jars (air tight).
Should it candy, the bottles may be put in water and boiled.
in June 1863. Other entomologists he was soon in contact with included Charles Sonne and George Hathaway. Riley’s entries detailing
his scientific pursuits during this time are included in Excerpt 2.
On 14 July 1863, Riley met Robert Kennicott, a prominent naturalist in the Chicago region and co-founder of the Chicago Academy of
Science. Riley would attend meetings at the Academy, and it was his
expanding circle of scientific friends that garnered Riley the invitation to meet Louis Agassiz on 10 February 1864. Riley unfortunately
had to leave early, but he did attend Agassiz’s lectures on 12 and 13
February. His observations of Agassiz are positive (Excerpt 3) and
do not give any hint that later in his life, Riley would oppose Agassiz’s
anti-Darwinian views (Kritsky 1995). Indeed, there is nothing in these
early journals to indicate that Riley was well acquainted with Darwin’s
writings at all. It seems likely that Riley did not fully appreciate Darwin
until he had worked with Walsh, a classmate of Darwin’s at Cambridge
and one of Darwin’s more vocal supporters in America.
Riley’s confidence was bolstered by his association with noted
scientific men in Chicago, and by his published writings in the Prairie
Farmer. The Prairie Farmer’s mission was to promote a quality rural
life, and to this end it published information on farming practices,
new crops, insect pests, beekeeping, poetry, and observations about
politics. The most notable political features during the years that
Riley worked for the Prairie Farmer were the articles on the Civil War,
which included President Lincoln’s call for men. A table published in
the 2 April 1864 issue, following Lincoln’s call for new troops, showed
American Entomologist • Summer 2011
Excerpt 2: Riley’s Scientific Entries
1863
31 March – Found employment at the Prairie Farmer’s Office.
1 April - Went to commence working at the Prairie Farmer’s Office.
9 April - I sent a letter to Mr Edwards to request him to take my insects
to town. bought a bottle of varnish 50¢.
23 April - I wrote a piece for the Farmer
13 May 1863 -My insects came, Sent a letter to Mr. Edwards.
15 May - Cloudy I see my piece on the fly has been copied in the
Davenport Gazette. Went with Mr. Pool in the afternoon collecting.
Sold him my insects for 2.00$
29 May - Bought some cork to put in the bottom of an insect box.
1 June - Began making a breeding-case for insects.
3 June - Wrote a piece to put in the farmer about the May-beetle. Drew
some beetles for Mr. B.D. Walsh Rock Island.
5 June - Commence another Collection of Insects. Mr Emery went into
the country. … I went to Mr Emery’s house in the afternoon. Sent a
letter to Mrs Edwards. Drew a large stag beetle for Mr. Pool. Mr Metcalf
wrote a piece for the Farmer.
7 June - Went on the North side with Allen to catch insects.
10 June - Had 6 small boxes made for insects bought 10¢ worth chloriform. 21 June - Went with I & Pool on the North side by Edgar Sanders
to catch insects, got some caterpillars, it rained I got wet.
18 June - Commenced making out an index for the farmer, found
some caterpillars. Poole gave me a few beetles. drew a wool press
and tobacco-barn.
22 June - Went down in the country 6 miles to Mr Patricks to draw
his stallion went down on the Dummy car- enjoyed the trip very well.
Sent a letter to J.L. Leconte.
30 June - Sent off a lot of show bills, painted my Ten lineata larvae &
the chrysalis of another beetle Received a letter from George.
1 July - The hottest day we have had yet. Took some insects to Chs
Sonne to get named.
5 July - Went on the North Side to catch insects.
14 July - Went to the meeting at the Academy in the evening. Made
acquaintance with Robert Kennicott who has been collecting in the
arctic Regions.
15 July - Mr Emery went to a reaper trial down in the country. I went
to see George Hathaway on the North side, he gave me the names of
several beetles.
16 July - Geo. Hathaway came to the office we went out together on
the North side in the evening.
25 July - Went with George Hathaway on the North Side to Mr Sanders.
co caught some Hawk moths and some fine caterpillars
2 Aug. - Went up to Mr Sander’s in the afternoon. The rain poured
down. Got some very good insects. 7 Aug. - Sent the engraving of 4 insects to Mr Walsh. G. Hathaway
came to see me.
that Illinois was dead last in contributing recruits with no volunteers
for the war effort. This likely had an impact on the young Riley, who
also had an interest in politics and included comments in his diary
on both Republican and Democratic events. One can imagine the
hard-working Riley engaged in lively discussions about the war at
American Entomologist • Volume 57, Number 2
11 Aug. - Went to the meeting at the Academy of Sciences – it was
adjourned till Thursday.
13 Aug - Went to the Academy again.
12 Sept. - George Hathaway came in the afternoon and brought me 9
insects sent by Rob Kennicott from Arctic America. Received a letter
from Chs Chimigug. Put 7.00 in the bank
23 Oct. - Mr Emery bought a very powerful microscope which
cost 40 Dollars. Some un- known insects which were doing
great damage to the fir-trees and scotch pines at Sunny Farm they
were in the chrysalis state and therefore one cannot tell what they
are yet. It snowed in the night and froze rather hard
27 Oct. - I went out in the country with George Hathaway & his brother.
I got several Cecropia cocoons and various other things. it was a beautiful day. Translated some German for Mr Emery in the evening.
1 Nov. - Went to Mr Sonne’s in the morning to see his insects
2 Nov. - Went over to spend the evening at Geo Hathaway’s.
11 Nov. I wrote a letter to Revito Beebe and Mr Edwards. also one
to Dr Asa Fitch.
13 Nov. - I received a letter from Revito Beebe. I answered it and also
sent one to Mr Edwards and one to Dr. Asa Fitch with more of the
insects. Received a letter from A.A. Crampton with more insects in.
24 Nov. - Went to the Academy in the Evening; heard an excellent
speech or lecture on the formation of coal by Prof. Daniels.
19 Nov. - Wrote a piece on the Pine-leaf scale for the Farmer.
2 Dec. - Went over to spend the evening at Geo Hathaway’s.
12 Jan. 1864 - Went to the Academy of Science in the ev. heard some
interesting lectures on cold – its effects, the miasma of our Chicago
river etc9 Feb. 1864 - Went to the Academy of Science in the evening. Dr
Andrews shewed the Academy a plant called [blank] said to grow in
the deserts of Arabia, the peculiarity of which is, that it curls up in
dry weather, and is, on this account made use of as a chronometer,
and said to be very accurate indeed: one was passed round attached
in some way to a needle which, when breathed on turned round to
moist etc, and when breath was drawn out of it turned round the
opposite side.
10 – 13 February 1864 – [See Louis Agassiz section]
12 March 1864 - Geo Hathaway came to see me in the afternoon, he
intends to start tomorrow with Rob Kennicott for Washington, from
whence he will go to various other places, he will be gone 6 weeks
31 March 1864 - I find that an article I had written for the Farmer
on the Alanthus silkworm was copied both in the Rockford Register
and Wisconsin Weekly. H. D. started for Albany N.Y.
18 April 1864 - I had two moths and one hymenopterous insect
emerge from the chrysalis state.
28 April 1864 - George Hathaway came back from the East, he brought
a fine collection of Hemiptera and, books. I went over to see him in
the evening
30 April 1864 - Several of my moths have come out.
8 May 1864 – Went over to Mr Sonne’s he was not at home.
the Prairie Farmer offices, and the effect these talks must have had
on him. He enlisted on 8 May 1864.
Riley had a relatively uneventful service. He drilled, paraded,
heard cannon fire in the distance, served guard duty, marched
down to Kentucky, assisted in the building of a fort, and endured
77
Excerpt 3: C. V. Riley’s Observations
of Professor Louis Agassiz’ Chicago Lectures
10 Feb. 1864
I had a special invitation to meet Prof Louis Agassiz at a dinner
party at Mr Blatchfords house 375 N. Wells Lasalle, brought to
me in the morning. I went at the appointed hour, 8 O’Clock but
could not stay to dinner as I had to be at Mr Emery’s, and did not
want to keep his wife waiting.
I was introduced to Agassiz. English and several other scientific
men. Dr Andrews addressed the Professor very humerously
and he responded giving them good advice as to the starting of
a Museum in this City.
12 Feb 1864
Went to hear Prof Agassiz lecture at Bryant Hall in the evening. His subject was the metamorphosis of animals. I was deeply
interested and regretted not having been to his previous lectures. He showed plainly that all animals without exception arise from
eggs, identical in structure at some period of their existence. The
only difference being in the manner of growth of the egg and the
animal after it has come forth from the egg. That some lay ege
the egg when young or small, others when large and some not
at all, and that it requires a very high magnifier to perceive them
in some animals; the Mammalia, for instance. He showed us, the
different stages of growth of various jelly-fish and articulata, and
I was surprised to see that there was as much difference in the
young & the adult of these jelly-fish as in insects. The way he
placed animals and ascertained whether one is of a higher order
of being than the other was by comparing them at different stages
of growth, as for instance, the frog is of a higher order than the
lizard, eel, and snake, etc. because these latter only resemble the
frog in its younger period, when it is a tad-pole or a taled being;
and that the frog in becoming perfect and losing the tale, had
advanced one step beyond the infancy and beyond those animals
which in in their adult state only resemble it in its infancy. He
the mosquitoes and the heat. He did take the opportunity to collect some insects, made the acquaintance of an entomologist, and
recorded notes on caterpillars (Excerpt 4). On 20 June, he wrote a
“communication” to the Prairie Farmer, which was published on 9
July 1864. It was titled “Letter from the One Hundred Day Boys,” as
that was the planned duration of their enlistment. The tone of this
communication shows Riley’s political nature, and that he was acutely
aware of side issues regarding the war (Excerpt 5). Riley was discharged from the Army on 3 November 1864, but
he had received a pass to return to Chicago on 29 September enabling him to return to work for the Prairie Farmer. Mr. Emory, the
owner of the Prairie Farmer, rewarded Riley with a 50% pay increase
shortly after his return, giving Riley $12.00 per week. With his
position intact, he picked up where he had been before he enlisted. He attended political events and went to various Masonic lodge
meetings. Riley had been quite active in several lodges prior to his
army service, helping to organize meetings, making presentations,
and getting involved with subscriptions to help other members who
were having difficulties.
Riley’s diary entries stop abruptly at the end of 1864. He did
reserve a few pages at the end of the pre-war diary for notes, music
lyrics, transcriptions from books, and miscellaneous drawings. 78
concluded amidst applause and if every one went home as well
satisfied as I did, they had their money’s worth.
13 Feb. 1864
Went to hear Prof Agassiz’s last lecture on Man’s place in nature. He divided the Animal kingdom into 4 great classes: radiata,- ray
shaped; mollusca,- soft bodied with the weight of the structure
thrown on the side; Articulata,- jointed, with the appendages themselves jointed; and vertebrata,- animals with a back bone. These can be subdivided into: Radiata- Polyps, Acalephs &
Echinoderms Mollusca- Acephala, Gastropoda, & Cephalopoda. Articulata- Worms, Crustacea & insects Vertebrata- Fishes Reptiles Birds & Mammalia. These might be divided into still more
but it is not necessary. He divided History into primary, tertiary
& secondary [line to place it before teriary] or ancient middle
& modern. Types of all but insects, Reptiles, birds & Mammalia
have coexisted from the earliest periods Insects & Reptiles begin at the carboniferous period. Birds & Mammalia also began
soon after this but no traces of man can be found till the present
period. He showed beautifully the relative place in the scale of
all animals by the different formations of the brain. The fish
more horizontally not being able to lift its head at all and its
. Reptiles also more horizontally but
brain is thus
are capable of partial elevation of the head and the brain is thus . the 3 lobes being almost even. In Birds we have the
1st steps towards the erect posture, although the head prevents
any deviation from the horizontal position both in walking or
flying and the brain is thus
. In the quadruped we
see still further advance the body being erected on 4 firm feet,
and we go through the higher stages of vertebrata, gradually increasing through the different species of monkies until we come
to man who stands el erect, looking into the universe, with the
first lobe of the brain covering as it were the other two and the
spinal marrow running direct from the centre. He gave his opinion
that there were no other changes to go through; that any other
change would be going backwards and that the only progress to
be made now was in intellect, mind. These reflect his readings on economics, poetry, phrenology, and
the power of the pen.
The Riley diaries provide important glimpses into the demeanor and work ethic of a young man destined to become one
of his country’s major entomologists. His hard work and practical
understanding of farm life coupled with his education in England,
France, and Germany enabled him to gain employment with the
Prairie Farmer. This, in turn, brought him to the attention of B.
D. Walsh, who eventually was to become the State Entomologist
of Illinois and Riley’s senior partner in a new publication, American Entomologist. With Walsh’s recommendation, Riley became
Missouri’s State Entomologist in 1868, when he was just 25 years
of age. Soon, Riley was lecturing on entomology at the University
of Missouri and Kansas State College, and in 1873, he was awarded
an honorary Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. His successes
eventually led to his appointment in 1878 as the Entomologist
to the United States Department of Agriculture, and although he
resigned nine months later following an internal dispute with his
superiors, he was reappointed in 1881 and served for 13 years
(Mallis 1971). These achievements were the products of his work
ethic and determination: qualities that are abundantly evident in
Riley’s early diaries.
American Entomologist • Summer 2011
Excerpt 4: Riley’s Entomological Entries
in his Civil War Diary.
Riley composed this diary in French, and presented here is an English translation for each day’s entry that included entomological
details. All the entries were made during 1864 and include Riley’s
spellings and omissions.
May 12 - I went to camp and had my first government dinner.
There was some good beef, bread and potatoes. I obtained a pass
for some time away from camp in the afternoon. I wrote several
lines on insects and caterpillars sent from South Pofs by L m
Laures for the Journal. Met Ed Noyce. He came from Madison,
Wisconsin. I went after supper with him to the “Varieties” and
slept in town. Very good weather.
May 25 - from south R. W. Galloway and M. H. Pearson are appointed. We paraded in the afternoon but were not given our
bounty money. Mr. Emery came to see me and brought me a letter
from Charles Willis with the fifty cents he owed me. I went in the
evening to Star North Lodge with Giddes and two or three others. I
had some difficulty in getting a pass. I met Mr. Sanders at the cars.
I bought myself a bottle with a glass stopper for my insects.
June 9 - I went on the banks to catch insects. I did not have much
success because it was extremely hot and I have just come back
from the drills.
June 11 - All day long we heard axes being used as they were busy
fixing tents. I caught several beetles and a beautiful little snake.
I’m on guard duty today. It’s pretty hot around noon but as it is
not as changeable as in Chicago one can stand it better.
June 20 - I sent a communication to the Prairie Farmer and a letter
to my brother. There was a big storm the previous night.
July 2 - We fixed up our little copse very nicely. Giddies sleeps
here until Allen returns. It rained during the night. I went before
breakfast in the morning to swim with Olson. I bought some brass
wire to make my net and I also bought some nails and stamps. It
rained throughout the day.
August 9 - I didn’t sleep too well during the night because the
mosquitoes were insufferable­ – however, I chose a good bed near
a window. Having drunk all my “bitters” I persuaded the head of
the “Home” to refill my little bottle with blackberry wine, a very
good substitute.
August 12 - After breakfast we went to the river and stayed there
till eleven o’clock when we embarked, and after having eaten our
butter bread that Orange had given us, we arrived at Cairo at 4
o’clock in the afternoon. There was a big storm while we were
on the river ­– the wind blew with great force and the rain came
down in torrents. Upon learning that the boat would not leave
before morning, we went to eat our supper at the Home. Clemenson, Long, Sturtevant and I returned to the boat and spent the
night there. I could not sleep as the mosquitoes were in full force
as were the bees.
September 27 - It rained a little throughout the day and the wind
was very disagreeable. I wrote a letter to Mamma and to Mrs.
Edwards. Before breakfast we had taken some honey, and I had
eaten too much and was very sick.
October 29 - The weather is better. Mssrs. Emery and Corbett have
returned. Our regiment was formally discharged yesterday but we
haven’t been paid yet. General Hathaway came to look for some
of my insects in order to name them. Mr. Emery gave me $ 20.00.
I see by the papers that Meredith [sentence not completed.]
American Entomologist • Volume 57, Number 2
November 1 - I went to see General Hathaway in the evening. He
named for me some insects.
November 4 - Went to Star of Hope in the evening. Received a letter from Mamma (it took only thirteen days to arrive). Received a
pamphlet from B D Walsh (on certain remarkable or exceptional
larvae - Coleopterous, Lepidopterous and Dipterous). We had a
frost last night (it froze) and they had snow in Springfield.
November 8 - It rained all day long and the weather was very
disagreeable. The election passed without trouble in spite of the
funereal efforts that the Democrats made to cause war. I wrote the
first essay of my life on insects to be read at the Houston Lodge
on next Monday. Went with Patten to Colonel Woods museum to
see “Cohen Bawn” being played. Mr. Emery became ill.
November 10 - I wrote a letter to B.D. Walsh - Rock Island, Ill.
Received two books from the “Smithsonian Institute”, Washington,
D.C. also “Monographs of the Bats of North America” and “List
of North American Coleoptera”. Went with J.J. Patten to Warren
Lodge. It got very cold and upon returning, we were obliged to
walk the whole distance, it being too late for the “cars”. Big west
wind and cold.
November 18 - The price of gold fell today from 43 to 20. The
weather was beautiful -- clear and warm. I went to Star of Hope
Lodge. I received a letter from B.D. Walsh. He tells me that “although the caterpillars ‘Eudyas Grata’ and ‘d Olympia octomatulata’ resemble each other, when they are examined very closely
there is a small difference as William Harris says on page 10 of
his report, read before the pomologique of 1859. They say that
the Mississippi has been taken.
Excerpt 5: LETTER FROM THE HUNDRED DAYS BOYS.
EDS. PRAIRIE FARMER:– The 184th Ills, Vol. (100 day men,)
commanded by Colonel W. W. McChesney, is now stationed at
Columbus Ky., the encampment grounds being about 1½ miles
east of the city. Columbus is a neat little place. The river near it
is almost a mile wide; its shores are steep, and the water has
the yellow muddy appearance, characteristic of the Mississippi.
It branches off just beyond the city, and meets again four miles
below, forming an island called “Wolf’s Island.” The city is 40
feet above the river, and hills and bluffs, composed principally of
yellow clay, rise directly in its rear, to the height of two hundred
feet. On the summit of these bluffs, to the north of the city, are
three forts guarded by negro troops, while their sides are dotted with negro huts, the inhabitants of which appear happy and
contented, their principal occupation seeming to be the washing
for the soldiers. Two or three miles up the river on the opposite
shore, may be seen the battle-field of Belmont. The rebels did
not evacuate this place without leaving behind them traces of
their determination and hatred, In the shape of poisoned springs,
covered wells, etc., but it is now free from their evil devices, and
we are supplied with excellent water from three good springs,
within a hundred yards of the camp.
It is exceedingly hot here: we have no thermometer in camp, but a
very good idea can be formed of the weather, since tallow candles
melt like butter, even under the shade of our tents. On the night
of the 20th it stormed for the first time since we have been here.
The heavens appeared to be in a continual blaze, so constantly
did the lightning flash forth; and peal after peal of thunder rent
the heavens, as it only can in a hot climate.
79
Speakingoftheregimentgenerally,theboyshaveenjoyedexcellenthealth.Outdoorlifewasnewtomostofus,andithaswrought
a very good physical effect.
Refugees are continually crossing the river from the opposite
side,andasIsawanumbertheothernightwhohadcomefrom
Arkansas, I could not help thinking how selfish and erroneous the
idea–soprevalentinourlargenortherncities–that the great war
is not felt.Weknowthatatthecommencementofthewar,trade
wasinspiredwithgreatactivitybythemultifariousdemandsof
government;andcontractorsofallkindsmadefortuneswithlittle
effort. ‘Tis well enough for these, and others who are acquiring
wealthatthemarketplaceandexchange,toexclaimthatthey
donotfeelthewar;butletthemlookaroundandseethemany
familieswhohavebeencompelledtogoNorthbecauseoftheir
Unionsentiments;leavingtheirpropertybehind–letthemthink
of fathers, husbands and sons, killed on the battle-field; but above
allletthemcomeSouthandseethechangethathascomeoverthe
country–thedesolation,thelackofindustriallaboranditsresults,
(forpeoplewillnotsettlewheretheirpropertyisnotsafe,)and
theywillchangetheirminds.C.V.RILEY
Thereisroomforimprovementinthecommissarydepartment,as
weoftenfailtoobtainthefullrationwhichtheGovernmentallows
us.Thesutler[black-marketseller]ofcourse,(asallsutlersdo)
imposeswoefullyupontheboys,bychargingexorbitantpricesfor
everythinghesells,andhisstallistheattractionplaceforthose
who cannot find better employment for their leisure hours.
Wehaveagoodparadegroundanditissaidthat“consideringthe
shorttimetheregimentbasbeeninservice,itisverywelldrilled.”
We have very good officers and a good chaplain, and the regiment
willcomparewithanyinthecountryforhabitsoftemperance.If
moreattentionwerepaidtotheexhortingoftemperanceinthe
army,andthetemptationsoldiershavecontinuallybeforethem
weretakenaway,thosedependingonthemforsupportwouldnot
havetorelysomuchonthecharityofothers;asthemonthlypay
wouldnotbesquanderedawayatthesutler’sshop.
Columbus.KY.June22,1864
Acknowledgements
Goode, G. B. 1896.AmemorialappreciationofCharlesValentineRiley.
Sciencen.s.III:217–225.
Kritsky, G.1995. Darwin,Walsh,andRiley:theentomologicallink.AmericanEntomologist41:81–95.
Kritsky, G. 2007.ReviewofEntomologicalReactionstoDarwin’sTheory
inthe19thCenturyAnn.Rev.Ent.53:345–360.
Langstroth, L. L. 1859.Apracticaltreatiseonthehiveandthehoney-bee.
A.P.MooreandCo.,NewYork.
Mallis, A. 1971.AmericanEntomologists.RutgersUniversityPress,New
Brunswick,NJ.
Packard, A. S. 1895.CharlesValentineRiley.Sciencen.s.II:745–751.
Riley, C. V. 1864.Letterfromthehundreddaysboys.PrairieFarmer14:
26.
Sheppard, C. A. and R. A. Oliver. 2004.Yuccamothsandyuccaplants:
discoveryof“themostwonderfulcaseoffertilization.AmericanEntomologist50:32–46.
Smith, E. H. and J. R. Smith. 1996.CharlesValentineRiley;themakingof
themanandhisachievements.AmericanEntomologist42:228–238.
Sorenson, W. C., E. H. Smith, J. Smith, and Y. Carton. 2008.CharlesV.
Riley,France,andPhylloxera.AmericanEntomologist54:134–149.
Wheeler, A. G., E. R. Hoebeke, and E. H. Smith. 2010.CharlesValentine
Riley:Taxonomiccontributionsofaneminentagriculturalentomologist.
AmericanEntomologist56:14–30.
We thank Janet Smith and Jessee Smith for their support and
helpwiththisproject,andCarolAnelliforhervaluablecomments
onthemanuscript.
References Cited
Anonymous. 1861. Monthly management December. American Bee
Journal1:284.
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