Alexander Brydie Dyer

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 chief of ordnance for the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Biography
Dyer was born at Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1837. He served in the Seminole Wars in 1837–38 and as lieutenant of ordnance in the Mexican-American War in 1846–48, being brevetted captain for gallant conduct at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Rosales.

He served throughout the Civil War. From 1861 to 1864, he commanded the Federal armory in Springfield, Massachusetts. On September 13, 1864, he was appointed chief of ordnance at Washington, D.C., with the rank of brigadier general, U.S. Army, to rank from September 12, 1864. President Lincoln submitted the nomination to the U.S. Senate on December 12, 1864 and the Senate confirmed the appointment on February 23, 1865. Dyer held the position on May 30, 1864. Dyer is known as being the commander first committed to the purchasing of the Gatling gun,the first design of machine a gun, first designed by John Gatling. On March 8, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Eaton for appointment to the brevet grade of major general, USA, (Regular Army) to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination on May 4, 1866 and re-confirmed it on July 14, 1866 in order to have line officers precede staff officers in rank.

Dyer died in Washington and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.