The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-25
Death er General Myer.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE AND SERVICES or THE
"FATHER" OF OUR SIGNAL SERVICE sYs.
TEN.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., August PA dis
patch received by Captain Howgate to-day
from General Myers son announced that
his father died at the Palace Hotel, IN BufIa-
To-, New York, this morning at sunrise from
heart-dlsease. General Myer had been sick
for some time. He was looking very badly
when he left here three weeks ago. He
went from here TO New York, where he
stayed a few days, and then went 10 Buffalo,
where he was taken very i'll two weeks
ago. His death has been daily expected,
though the latter part OF last week he
seemed 10 be improving. General Myer was
the father OF the signal corps. By his pluck
and hard work that service has been brought
to its present state OF efficiency. He
was born in New York, and was in his
ffty-third year. He graduated at Geneva
College, New York. in 1S47. The degrees
OF A. Il. and A. NJ. were conferred upon
him. In 1851 he received the degree of
NJ. ID. from the University OF Buffalo. He
entered the army Of the United States in
1854 as on assistant surgeon. He served on
the Texas frontier TO 1857. From 1858 10
1860 he,was put on special duty in the signal
service. In the latter year he was made
major and chief signal officer. Ever since
then he has been connected with the signal
service. He campagned against the Navaioe
Indians in the Rocky Mountains in 1860 and
1861. During the late war he Was signal
officer on the staff OF General Butler at Fort
Monroe, and organized and commanded the
signal camp at that point. AS aid-de-camp
10 General Mcdowell he was at the first
Bull Run. He was next on the staff
OF General Mcclellan, and engaged in
establishing camps OF instruction and
organizing signal parties. lie introduced
his signal OF instruction into The United
States Naval Academy. In 1862 he com.
manded the signal corps Of the Army OF
the Potomac, and was engaged at Manassas,
Yorktown, Williamsburg, West Point,
Hanover Courthouse, Seven Pines, Fair
Oaks, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mill, Savage
Station, White Oak, Malvern Hill, South
Mountain, and antietam. In 1923 he
submitted plans for the organization OF a
signal corps OF the army, which should be
q regular branch of the service, and do away
with the method Of instructiDg men for
that duty as they were wanted. UDon his
plans the corps was organized. In 1868 he
was colonel and chief signal officer. He
next introduced the study OF military sig
nails at the West Point Military Academy.
From 1868 to the close Of the war he served
in Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, and
Illinois. He was three times brevctted. He
received the bTevet Of Northumberland for
gallant and mertOriOus services at Hanover
Courthouse, Va, and the breyet OF colonel
for similar services at Malvern Hill. He re-
ceived a brigadier- generals breyet for dis
tinguished services in organizing, instruct
ing, aud commanding the signal corps Of
the army and for special service October
5, 1864 the Gay on which the post and gar
rlson OF AlIatoona, Georgia, and a most
valuable depository Of provisions were
attacked by tbe rebel army. They were
saved by troops brought up just in time
TO the defence, the messengers having been
sent over the heads OF the enemy. Com
munication in any other way was impOSsi-
bic. In 1867 General Myer took charge OF
the signal Office in this city. He has de-
voted his time 10 the improvement and en-
lareement of the signal corps. Congress near
ly eyery year, convinced OF the great useful
ness of the corps, has granted lsrger sppro-
priations and widened the facilities OF the
service. The system OF weather reports,
which are OF incalculable value, was made
eral Myer, and has been improved every
wear. 1t Is now almost perfect. One Of the
last acts passed at the last session OF Con-
gress added fifty men TO the signal corps
and made General Myer full brigadier-
general.
Secretary Ramsey to-day designated Gen
eral Drum, In addition to his duties as AID.
jutant-General, 10 act as chief signal officer
in place OF General Myer, deceased. Gene
raj Drum will tomorrow issue an order an
nouncng the death OF General Myer TO the
army. He to-day designated Leutenants
Swift, Strong, and Dunwoodie, on duty in
the signal Office here, to proceed to Buffalo
and attend the funeral Of General Myer,
which will take place in that city next FRI
day.
Orders were also issued to-day that two
companies OF United States troops at Fort
Porter, Buffalo, attend the funeral as mill
tary escort.
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION.
The question as TO who will permanently
succeed General Myer will probably be one
difficult OF solution. The only officers in
the signal corps proper were General Myer
and five second lieutenants. All other OFF,
GERS doing signal duty are detailed from the
line OF the army. IL is evident that one OF
the second lieuteuants cannot be Jumped w
TO q brigadier-general. The coming man
will therefore have to be outside the signal
corps. 1t will probably be some officer OF
the line with the rank OF colonel, or above
that rank. Secretary Ramsey will not make
any haste in selecting a successor.
The Races at Saratoga.