Alexander Brydie Dyer (January 10, 1815 – May 20, 1874) was an American soldier in a variety of 19th century wars, serving most notably as a general and the Army's

Chief of Ordnance The United States Army Ordnance Corps, formerly the United States Army Ordnance Department, is a Combat service support (United States), sustainment branch of the United States Army, headquartered at Fort Lee (Virginia), Fort Lee, Virginia. The ...

for the U.S. Army Ordnance Corps during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

Early life

Dyer was born at Richmond, Virginia, on January 10, 1815. He was the son of William Hay Dyer (1788–1862) and Margaret ( née Brydie) Dyer (1796–1888), who later moved their family to

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

. Dyer graduated from the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

in 1837 as 6th out of 50 cadets.Cullum, G.W.; ''Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U S Military Academy at West Point, N Y'', 3rd Edition; 1891, page 664

Career

He served in the

Seminole Wars The Seminole Wars (also known as the Florida Wars) were three related military conflicts in Florida between the United States and the Seminole, citizens of a Native American nation which formed in the region during the early 1700s. Hostilities ...

1837–38 in the 3rd US Artillery and as Lieutenant in the Ordnance Corps. In the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

in 1846–48, he was

brevetted In many of the world's military establishments, a brevet ( or ) was a warrant giving a commissioned officer a higher rank title as a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct but may not confer the authority, precedence, or pay of real rank. ...

Captain for gallant conduct at the

Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales The Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales was an engagement of the Mexican–American War that took place after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo had been signed. Background Arriving in El Paso on 23 February, Brigadier General Sterling Price, commande ...

. He was promoted to full Captain in the Ordnance Department on March 3, 1853. Between the wars, Dyer commanded

Fayetteville Arsenal The Fayetteville Arsenal in Fayetteville, North Carolina was built in 1838 because during the War of 1812 the United States government realized that the existing distribution of weapons and ammunition factories was not adequate for the defense o ...

(1851–1853),

Little Rock Arsenal The Tower Building of the Little Rock Arsenal, also known as the Main Building of the U.S. Arsenal at Little Rock, or Headquarters Building of the Little Rock Barracks, is the home of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History. It is also ...

(1853–1855), and Fort Monroe Arsenal (1855–1861). He became a member of the Ordnance Board in 1859. When the Civil War erupted Dyer stayed with the Union, and in August 1861 he was given command of the

Springfield Armory The Springfield Armory, more formally known as the United States Armory and Arsenal at Springfield located in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, was the primary center for the manufacture of United States military firearms from 1777 until ...

in Springfield, Massachusetts, where his expansions and enlargement of operations gained notice. During his tenure at Springfield, Dyer was responsible for expanding the output of small arms for the Union Army. Doubts about the wisdom of placing a southerner in such a position of responsibility were rapidly dispelled as Dyer upgraded production with energy and dispatch. In 1862, Dyer was approached by his superiors concerning the possibility of his supplanting General Ripley as Chief of Ordnance, but he declined to take the assignment because he had great respect for his chief, and because he was in the middle of a major upgrading of weapons production at Springfield Armory. On the retirement of General Ramsey, the previous Chief of Ordnance, on September 12, 1864, he was advanced three ranks and appointed as the 7th Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army with the rank of

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

.Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, . page 716 On December 12, 1864, President Lincoln submitted his nomination to brevet

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

to the U.S. Senate, which confirmed the appointment on February 23, 1865. During his ten years in the office, Dyer had to contend with the demands of inventors and unscrupulous contractors, who ultimately took their various complaints to Congress. Seeking to clear his name, Dyer asked for a court-martial. Failing in this, he requested a court of inquiry, which proved to be protracted and exhaustive. He was not only exonerated, but was declared to be an exemplary officer, worthy of emulation by all Army officers. Dyer is known as being the first commander committed to the purchasing of a Gatling gun, one of the first designs of a machine gun. He is also known as the creator of the ''Dyer Shell'', an artillery projectile for the 3-inch ordnance rifle, a principal artillery piece by the end of the Civil War. After the war Dyer stayed in the army and continued his service as head of the Ordnance Department until his death.

Personal life

Dyer was married to Elizabeth Beersheba Allen (1823–1891). Together, they were the parents of six children. Of note is his son, Colonel Alexander Brydie Dyer, Jr. (1852–1920), West Point class of 1873; as the author of the ''Handbook for Light Artillery''. Dyer died on May 20, 1874, in Washington, D.C. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. Dyer was reinterred at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

along with his wife on November 30, 1910.

Notes

References

*Eicher, John H., and Eicher, David J., ''Civil War High Commands'', Stanford University Press, 2001, . {{DEFAULTSORT:Dyer, Alexander Byrdie 1815 births 1874 deaths People from Richmond, Virginia United States Military Academy alumni Military personnel from Missouri United States Army personnel of the Seminole Wars American military personnel of the Mexican–American War People of Missouri in the American Civil War Union Army generals United States Army generals Burials at Arlington National Cemetery

Early life

Career

Personal life

See also

Notes

References