Robert Ogden Tyler

Background

Tyler was born on December 31, 1831 in the tiny hamlet of Hunter, New York, to Frederick and Sophia (née Sharp) Tyler. He was a nephew of Daniel Tyler, who also would serve as a general in the Civil War.

Education

Given an excellent preparatory education, he entered the United States Military Academy in 1849, graduated in 1853, and became a second lieutenant of the 3rd Artillery.

Career

He soon participated in a movement of troops from the Missouri River to Salt Lake and San Francisco (1854 - 55).

In 1856-he was promoted first lieutenant on September 1 of that year--he was engaged in Indian wars in what is now the state of Washington.

In 1859, he went to the Sioux country in Minnesota. At the opening of the Civil War he was in garrison at the Fort Columbus Recruiting Station, N. Y. He accompanied the relief expedition to Fort Sumter, S. C. , in April 1861, and then went to Baltimore to assist in the opening of that city to Federal forces. In May 1861 he transferred as a captain to the quartermaster's department and opened a supply depot at Alexandria, Va.

In September he became colonel of the 16t Connecticut Heavy Artillery. He found this regiment, considerably demoralized, within the defenses of Washington, but soon brought it to a state of high efficiency. The following spring he participated in the Peninsular campaign. He prepared his batteries to bombard Yorktown, but owing to the fact that the Confederates withdrew just before the batteries were ready to fire, there was no engagement. With great effort the batteries were moved up for an attack on Richmond, which also never occurred.

At Gaines's Mill, June 27, 1862, the batteries did good work in assisting the Federals north of the Chickahominy. In the retreat to Malvern Hill, Tyler brought off all his guns but one and used them in repulsing the Confederate attack on July 1. For these services he was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers on November 29, 1862. The following month he had charge of the Federal batteries which fired upon Fredericksburg.

In the Gettysburg campaign he commanded the artillery reserve of 130 guns and, under direction of Gen. Henry J. Hunt, chief of artillery, disposed these guns to maximum advantage, especially in stopping Pickett's charging infantry.

In 1864 Tyler's artillery served as infantry throughout the Wilderness campaign. It distinguished itself at Spotsylvania, May 17-24, driving back the Confederate forces under Gen. Richard Ewell. At Cold Harbor, on June 1, it was one of the brigades selected for the famous bloody assault.

Early in this action Tyler was shot through the ankle, a wound from the effects of which he never recovered. Returning to duty in December, he was assigned to board duties, and to the command of districts outside of the theatre of active operations.

On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted major-general for gallant conduct and meritorious services. He was mustered out of the volunteer service Jan. 15, 1866, and on July 29 was appointed to the Regular Army as a lieutenant-colonel in the quartermaster's department. In this capacity he served at many important military headquarters, with constantly declining health.

In an effort to recuperate he took a year's leave in 1872, visiting the Far East. A diary relating to part of this trip was published in Memoir of Brevet Major-General Robert Ogden Tyler (1878). Failing to find the relief he had sought, Tyler died at Boston in the year after his return from the East, and was buried in Hartford, Connecticut.

Achievements

• Robert Ogden Tyler is best known as the commander of the Artillery Reserve of the Army of the Potomac, including at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, where many of his batteries played important role in the Union victory. Tyler later led a division of heavy artillery turned infantry during the Overland Campaign of 1864, when he was badly wounded and relegated to administrative duties for the duration of the war. The Robert O. Tyler Post #50 of the Grand Army of the Republic in Hartford was named in his honor.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Memoir of Brevet Major-General Robert Ogden Tyler, U. S: Army, Together With His Journal of Two Months Travels in British and Farther India (Classic Reprint)

    (For the following record of the military career of Robert...)

  • Revised Outline Descriptions of the Posts and Stations of Troops in the Military Division of the Pacific Commanded by John M. Schofield

    ( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)

Personality

He was noted for strictness and justice, but was of kindly disposition.

Connections

He never married.

Father:

Frederick Tyler

Mother:

Sophia (née Sharp) Tyler

Uncle:

Daniel Tyler

(January 7, 1799 – November 30, 1882) He was an iron manufacturer, railroad president, and one of the first Union Army generals of the American Civil War.

References

• Civil War High Commands
• Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders