 He joined the army from Baltimore in November 1878.On August 16, 1881, Walley was serving as a private in Company I of the 9th Cavalry Regiment.On that day, Walley participated in the Battle of Cuchillo Negro Creek in the Black Range Mountains near Cuchillo Negro Creek of New Mexico, where he was cited for "[b]ravery in action with hostile Apaches" for helping rescue stranded soldiers under heavy fire.