Sacramento County
Biographies
GENERAL RICHARD H. ORTON
GENERAL R. H. ORTON.—Since the great importance of the
National Guards of the various States of the Republic has come to be so
generally recognized, California has not been backward in the military spirit,
and has been unusually fortunate in the class of men who have given their
personal efforts toward the advancement of the condition of her State
service. In the office of Adjutant-General she now has General R. H.
Orton, whose name heads this sketch, and who is peculiarly qualified for that
important position by nature and by training. General Orton,
is a native of Oneida County, New York, born August 23, 1838, His parents being
James M. and Rudy Hart (Gillett) Orton. Both parents were natives of
Windsor, Connecticut, his father’s ancestors having settled there in
1638. His father was a furniture manufacturer, and had learned the
cabinet-making trade with Mr. Cheney, father-in-law of Horace Greeley. R.
H. Orton, subject of this sketch, was reared in his native county, and there received
his education. He came to California in 1858, taking the steamer
“Philadelphia” to Havana, the “Grenada” to Aspinwall,
and the “John L. Stephens” to San Francisco, where he arrived on the 15th
of May. He engaged in the business of manufacturing furniture, which
engaged his attention until March, 1863. He was a strong Union man in his
sympathies, and had only abstained before from entering the Government service
as a soldier on account of the great distance from the seat of war. In
March, 1863, however, he offered his services in behalf of his country’s flag,
and was mustered in as Second Lieutenant of Company F., First California
Cavalry. The company was ordered to New Mexico, and on arrival in the
field of operations, Lieutenant Orton was detached and made Quartermaster and
Commissary of the camp on the Miembres
River. After being stationed there three months he was ordered to take
command of Company C, and extend the outposts of the lines in Texas to San Elizario, the next post being occupied by Confederate troops. He
was in command then about eight months, and during that time saw much active
service in the field. He made five raids into old Mexico after deserters
and stock thieves, being each time successful. He participated in the
pursuit of Comanche Indians as Adjutant under Kit Carson, commanding the First
New Mexico Cavalry. He was promoted to the Captaincy of Company M during
the latter part of the summer of 1865, and assumed his command in
November. He commanded the expedition that went to the relief of the town
of Harness, in old Mexico, 300 miles over the border, which was beleaguered by
Apache Indians, and as a result the town was relieved when nearly ready to
succumb. He was next stationed at Fort Sill, and while there his men were
consolidated with another company, and he was place in command of an
expedition, also acting as quartermaster. In the fall of 1866 all
California volunteers were ordered back to the State, and he started with his
men on the 17th of September, reaching San Francisco on the 28th
of December, losing only one horse and one wagon, a really remarkable record
for such a journey. All the troops were mustered out on December 31 except
the subject of this sketch, who severed his connection with the army on the 4th
of January, 1867, being the last California volunteer in the United States
service. He went back to his old home in New York, visiting there from
February to Thanksgiving day, and returning to
California in December. He then re-engaged in furniture manufacturing, but
afterward embarked in the insurance business, which engaged his attention until
the time of his appointment to the office of Adjutant-General of California, in
1887. He was, however, identified with the National Guard of California
from its organization, in 1861. He commenced at that time as Lieutenant,
and promotion has ever since marked his connection with the military. The
Civil War transferred him to active service in the field. In 1875 he
became Captain of Company D, First Infantry. Four years later he was made
Major of the Cavalry Battalion, which included all the mounted companies in the
State at that time. After his incumbency of that position he was on the
retired list four years, and resumed his connection with the military as Major
of the First Infantry. He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel a month later,
and served in that capacity until called to his present position. General
Orton was married at San Francisco in 1874, to Miss Dora Carroll, a native of
Oneida County, New York, born in the same neighborhood as himself. At
a point 100 yards from her birthplace the first American flag was
hoisted. The siege of Fort Steinwich (the scene
of this incident) commenced June 27th, 1777, and on the 17th
of August the flag flying under fire on this occasion was adopted as the
National colors. General Orton brings to his office unusual qualifications
in his long military training, and his zeal in the effort to place the National
Guard of California in the first rank of similar organizations in this country.
Transcribed
by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County,
California. Pages 561-562. Lewis Publishing
Company. 1890.
© 2006 Karen Pratt.