Background
Alexander Brydie Dyer was born on January 10, 1815 in Richmond, Virginia, United States. He was the son of William Hay and Margaret (Brydie) Dyer.
(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
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Alexander Brydie Dyer was born on January 10, 1815 in Richmond, Virginia, United States. He was the son of William Hay and Margaret (Brydie) Dyer.
Graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, July 1, 1837, and promoted to second lieutenant, 3rd Artillery, he was assigned to duty at Fort Monroe, Virginia, and served in the Florida War of 1837-38.
Upon the enlargement of the Ordnance Corps he was transferred to that body in 1838, and served in various ordnance establishments until the outbreak of the Mexican War, when he was assigned to duty as chief of ordnance of the army invading New Mexico. In this campaign he was brevetted a captain “for gallant and meritorious conduct. ” He was engaged in the actions of Canada, Pueblo de Taos, and Santa Cruz de Rosales, and was wounded on Feburary 4, 1847.
He was promoted captain in the Ordnance Corps, March 3, 1853, after fourteen years’ continuous service. At the outbreak of the Civil War, though he was a native Virginian, he remained loyal to the Union.
On August 21, 1861, he was assigned to the command of the National Armory, at Springfield, Massachusetts, not without opposition, however, as some entertained misgivings of his loyalty. Later when Congress met, the question was raised of the advisability of permitting a Southerner to hold a position of such responsibility, involving, perhaps, the fate of the nation.
All suspicions were soon dispelled, however, by the evidence of his tireless industry, and the efficiency with which he administered his new command. He entered at once upon his difficult task with systematic energy and excellent judgment. Workshops were reorganized, grounds enlarged, and buildings erected, thousands of mechanics were employed, and the production of the National Armory was increased to 1, 000 rifles a day.
On March 3, 1863, Dyer was promoted major, Ordnance Corps, and the following year, September 1864, was appointed chief of ordnance, United States army, with the rank of brigadier-general. Before he left Springfield to assume his duties at Washington, 3, 000 employees of the armory presented him with an address offering him their congratulations for “the well deserved mark of public confidence” just bestowed upon him by his promotion to the head of his department, and assuring him that the termination of his late command was “a source of deep personal grief, and the end of official relations characterized by uninterrupted harmony and kindly feelings. ” The tremendous task, which the necessities of the nation imposed upon him as chief of ordnance, that of providing the Union armies with munitions of war, required his most watchful care and greatest efforts. His administration of the Ordnance Department won for him the admiration and respect of his fellow officers.
He had, however, difficulties with inventors and dishonest contractors, who, failing to gain their ends, were embittered against him and his department, and finally carried their grievances to Congress. He asked for a court martial, which was refused, and then asked for a court of inquiry, which was granted. The inquiry, which was long and thorough, not only exonerated him but held him up as an example worthy of the imitation of all army officers.
He was brevetted major-general, United States army, March 13, 1865, for “faithful, meritorious, and distinguished services in the Ordnance Department during the Rebellion. ” Dyer invented a projectile for cannon which he offered to and which was accepted by the government. He was offered a large royalty on this projectile but refused it, preferring to give his invention to the country. He retained the office of chief of ordnance until his death.
(This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)
At the outbreak of the Civil War, though he was a native Virginian, he remained loyal to the Union.
He was a man of generous and genial temper, of unaffected simplicity, candor, and dignity, and above all of uncompromising integrity.
He was married to Elizabeth Allen, on Feburary 6, 1840, and had six children.
