Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Camp Riley
On August 6, 1849, seven
companies of the 2nd Infantry, commanded by Brigadier General
Bennett Riley, the last military governor of California, arrived
via transports at Monterey. Five companies were immediately shipped
to San Diego. Two companies set up tents in the groves at Mission
San Diego and the other troops went on to garrison Mission San
Luis Rey. This encampment of the Boundary Commission was commanded
by Major Samuel P. Heintzelman and was located at the southern
end of San Diego Bay where today only salt flats exist.