The New York herald., 1862-01-28
THE NEW CHIEF OF ORDNANCE.

Sketches OF Major Dyer, the Incoming,
and General Ripley, the Outgoing,
Chief OF Ordnance.
II has been announced by telegraph that change has
taken place in the Ordnance Department by the appoint
men Of Brcvet Major A. Dyer to the position OF Chief
OF the in tho place Of Brigadicr General Ripley
As the position is Of great importance when war
is in contemplation in active progress give our
readers brief sketch OF the military OF each of
tneso officers The sketches very interesting and IL
will be found that the Chief OF Ordnance entered
the Military Academy twenty years later than his pro-
decessor and OF course would be likely to be per-
feet in the knowledge Of modern warfare. His oxpe
rience Of tho would make him the better ated for
the position than student of OF preceding genera
tion and, being much younger man he would certain
ly bemoro active In the discharge Of the duties Of
portant post than much his senior
SKETCH OF GENERAL RIPLEY.
Brigadier General James W. Ripley born in and
appointed to tho army from the State Of Connecticut
and been the service OF the United States for over
forty seven years He entered the Military Academy az
cadet in April, 1s13 and graduated the next year. he
being appointed in june 1874 Second Lieutenant Of ar
tiery. lie the Regimental Quarermaster from the
year 1917 1891 during which me-viz in April 1915
he promoted to First Lieutenancy In May, 1921
he transferred to the Fourth artillery First Lieu
tancy He transferred TO the Ordnance Department
in May 1882 with the Of captain and on the th Of
July 1888, promoted TO Majority. In March 1sl9
he received brevet Of Lieutenant Colonel for
conduct particularly In tho performance Of his duties in
the prosecution OF the with Mexico the brevet bear
log date May 30 1s4s. On the 31st OF December 1854
he received his full commission Of Lieutenant Colonel or
Ordnance which position he held at the breaking out Of
the rebellion. On the I'd Of July 1861 he received the
trevet OF Brgadicr General and on the I'd OF August
In the year made full Brigader General ana
placed at the hoad OF the Ordnance Department.
SKETCH or MAJOR DYER.
Brevst Major Alexander Brydie Dyer native Of Wiz.
sna but appointed to the ARMY from the State OF
Missouri He entered the Military Academy in the year
1885, and graduated in 1887 and that time stood No
his class On the LIST Of July Of that year hs was ap
pointed Second Lieutenant Of the Third artillery and in
July, 1885, appointed 10 the Ordnance Department
In July, 1sls, he was brsvettsd First Lieutenant for
gallant and msritorious conduct in the conflicts At En-
buda and Taos In New Mexico the brevst bearing date
February T. 1s47 He however declined the honor and
made full First Lieutenant his commission dating
from March, 1sl7. He commanded section Of Loves
light battery, under Brigsdisr General Sterling Price
(6ow q rsbel) and was brevstted Captain for eallan.
and mcrtorous conduct In the battle OF Santa Cruz de
Rosales The brevst was awarded In March. 1sle, and
dated from the 10th March, 1s4s On the Sd Of March
1885, he promoted to be full Captain Of Ordnance
and the army lists Of 1862 1900 and 1861 he stood
ninth the list TO date Of commission The rebol
lion made q great change in the department, and his
name heads the list Of Captains Of Ordnance the army
list OF September, 1861. He has since been brevetted
Major aud now has chief charge OF the Ordnance Depart
ment post Of great importance the present state Of
the country The rank which will be awarded him with
his new position has not yet been announced