William C. Rivers
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William C. Rivers | |
|---|---|
.jpg) National Archives photo of Rivers in October 1927. | |
| Born | January 11, 1866 |
| Died | July 10, 1943 (aged 77) |
| Buried | |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1887–1930 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Service number | 0–168[1] |
| Unit | U.S. Army Cavalry Branch U.S. Army Inspector General Department |
| Commands | Philippine Constabulary 18th Cavalry Regiment 76th Field Artillery Regiment 5th Field Artillery Brigade 12th Cavalry Regiment Sub-District of New Mexico 3rd Cavalry Regiment Inspector General of the United States Army |
| Wars | Spanish–American War Philippine–American War World War I |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Croix de Guerre (France) |
| Spouse |
Mary Dancey Battle
(m. 1897–1943) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relations | Tiemann Newell Horn (brother-in-law) |
William C. Rivers (11 January 1866 – 10 July 1943) was a career officer in the United States Army. An 1887 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, the Spanish–American War, the Philippine–American War, and World War I. Rivers served until 1930 and attained the rank of major general. He served as Inspector General of the United States Army from 1927 until his retirement and was a recipient of the Army Distinguished Service Medal and French Croix de Guerre.
A native of Pulaski, Tennessee, Rivers graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) in 1887 and began his career in the Cavalry. Rivers served in the western United States during the American Indian Wars, and in Cuba during the Spanish–American War. During the Philippine–American War, he served for several years with the Philippine Constabulary, which he commanded from 1912 to 1914. During World War I, he commanded a Field Artillery regiment, and later a brigade. After the war, he served as Inspector General of the United States Army.
Rivers retired in 1927. He died in Fletcher, North Carolina on 10 July 1943. Rivers was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
William Cannon Rivers was born in Pulaski, Tennessee on 11 January 1866, a son of William Rivers and Julia (Flournoy) Rivers.[2] Among his siblings was Tyree Rodes Rivers (1862–1923), a career army officer who attained the rank of brigadier general.[2] In addition, his sister Myra was the first wife of Brigadier General Tiemann Newell Horn.[3] Rivers was raised and educated in Pulaski, and in 1883 he competed for an appointment to the United States Military Academy.[4] He finished first of 10 applicants and received the appointment from U.S. Representative John Goff Ballentine.[5] He graduated in 1887 ranked 24th of 64 and received his commission as a second lieutenant of Cavalry.[2]
Many of Rivers's classmates became general officers during the First World War, including Frank Herman Albright,[6] Marcus Daniel Cronin,[7] Alexander Lucian Dade,[8] James Theodore Dean,[9] Charles S. Farnsworth,[10] George Washington Gatchell,[11] Charles Gerhardt,[8] Herman Hall,[12] Thomas Grafton Hanson,[13] Mark L. Hersey,[14] Ernest Hinds,[15] Michael Joseph Lenihan,[16] Ulysses G. McAlexander,[17] Nathaniel Fish McClure,[18] George Owen Squier,[19] Charles Brewster Wheeler,[20] and Edmund Wittenmyer.[21]
Early career
After receiving his commission, Rivers was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Regiment, which was serving at Camp Sheridan, Wyoming.[22] In June 1889, the regiment was posted to Fort Custer, Montana.[23] During his service in Montana, Rivers took part in the Ghost Dance War of 1890–1891.[24]
In October 1891, Rivers was assigned to West Point as assistant quartermaster. In December 1893, he rejoined his regiment in Arizona.[25] In August 1894, he was promoted to first lieutenant in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment.[25] From 1895 to 1897, he was in charge of operations at Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and in November 1897 he was transferred back to the 1st Cavalry.[25] During the April to August 1898 Spanish–American War, Rivers served with the 1st Cavalry in Cuba until he became ill at the end of June.[25] After convalescing in Tampa, Florida for six weeks, he rejoined the 1st Cavalry during its mid-August demobilization at Camp Wikoff, New York.[25] From September 1898 to January 1899, he performed temporary detached duty in New York City, after which he rejoined the 1st Cavalry at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.[25]
Family
In 1897, Rivers married Mary Dancey Battle.[2] They were the parents of two sons, James B. Rivers and William F. Rivers.[2]
Continued career
From 1899 to 1903, Rivers was assigned as West Point's adjutant,[26] and he was promoted to captain in February 1901.[27] In July 1903, Rivers was assigned to Philippine–American War duty in Manila, where he served in the office of the Military Information Division.[28] In April 1904, he was assigned as adjutant of the Philippine Constabulary, and in September he was appointed as the constabulary's inspector general.[29] In October 1906, Rivers was appointed assistant chief of the Philippine Constabulary with the temporary rank of colonel, and he served in this post until 1913.[29] He was transferred to the 12th Cavalry Regiment in November 1909.[30] In June 1910, he was assigned to the 1st Cavalry, and he was promoted to permanent major in March 1911.[29] In May 1912, he was promoted to chief of the constabulary as a temporary brigadier general, and he served until March 1914.[29]
Upon returning to the United States, Rivers was assigned to the Presidio of Monterey, California as a major in the 1st Cavalry,[31] and in August he was transferred to the 2nd Cavalry at Fort Ethan Allen.[32] On 1 July 1916, Rivers was promoted to lieutenant colonel and colonel.[29] With the army expanding for US entry into World War I, in May 1917 he was assigned to command the newly-organized 18th Cavalry Regiment.[29] Rivers led his regiment during organization at Fort Ethan Allen, then during subsequent training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Camp Merritt, New Jersey.[29] When the army determined that Cavalry regiments would not be needed in France, existing Cavalry units were reorganized as Field Artillery; the 18th Cavalry became the 76th Field Artillery Regiment, which Rivers continued to command.[29]
