Richard Beale

Company D 22nd Infantry

DOD 12/23/1888

Richard Beale was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1852.

In some accounts his name is given as Richard L. Beale.

He enlisted for a period of 5 years as a Private in Company (Troop) B of the 6th Cavalry on November 8, 1873
at Baltimore, Maryland. His enlistment record indicated that he stood 5 feet 7 ¾ inches tall, had light hair,
gray eyes and a light complexion. His previous occupation was listed as Shoemaker. He was discharged
from this enlistment as a Private on November 8, 1878 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona Territory with a character
reference of Excellent.

Beale enlisted in the 6th Cavalry again, this time in Company E on June 8, 1885 at Philadelphia, Pennyslvania.
On this enlistment record his previous occupation was listed as Clerk. At some time during this enlistment he
was promoted to First Sergeant.

On March 15, 1888 Beale was transferred as a First Sergeant from the 6th Cavalry to Company D 22nd Infantry
then on station at Fort Lewis, Colorado. In May 1888 he went with the 22nd Infantry to Fort Keogh, Montana Territory.

First Sergeant Beale was admitted to the hospital at Fort Keogh on November 25, 1888 for treatment of dementia
originated in the Line of Duty.

He died on December 23, 1888. The cause of death recorded on his enlistment record was Secondary Dementia.

In the Returns of the 22nd Infantry for the month of December 1888 the entry under his name read:

"Died in Post Hospital Ft. Keogh, M.T. Disease 'Dementia' Cont'd (Contracted) in line of duty."

Richard Beale was buried in the Post Cemetery at Fort Keogh in Section A Grave 18.

Some time later he was re-interred in the Custer Battlefield National Cemetery in Montana.

Burial:
Custer National Cemetery
Crow Agency
Big Horn County
Montana
Plot: A 479

Grave marker for Richard Beale

Photo by MT EJ from the Find A Grave website

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