Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-24
Death Of General yIyer.


"FATHER" OF OUR SIGNAL SERVICE SYSTEM.
A dispatch received by Captain Howgate to-
day from General Myers son announced that
his father Gied at the Palace hotel, In Buffalo,
New York, this morning at sun rise from heart
disease. 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 staid few days and then
went 10 Buffalo. where he was taken very LII
two weeks ago. His death has been daily ex-
pected, though the latter part OF last week he
seemed see acc to De improving. General Myer was
AID hard work that service has been brought
to Its present state of efficiency. He
sd YEAR He Graduated at Geneva college as h News eS
York, In 1S4I. The degrees of A. b. and A. NJ.
were conferred upon him. In 1851 he received
the degree of M. d. from the university OF Buf-
falo. He entered the al my OF the United States
in 1854 as an assistant surgeon. He served on
the Texas frontier to 1851. From 1855 to 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 mas been con-
nected with the signal service. He campatgned
against the NasaJoe Indians in the Rocky
afe War e wss sgaal ocep On 5h
staff Of General Butter at Fort Monroe.
and organized and commanded the signal camp
at that point. AS aid d-de-camp TO Gen. Nc
Dowell be was at the first Bull Run. He was
next on the staff OF Gen. Mcclellan, and en-
gagged In establishing camps OF Instruction and
organizing signal parties: He introduced his
signal OF Instruction into the u. S. Naval
Academy. In 1862 he commanded the signal
corps of the Army Of the Potomac, and was en-
gagged at Manassas, Yorktown, Williamsburg
West Point. Hanover Court House, Seven Pines
Fair Oaks, Mechanicsville, Gaines, Mills Savage
Station, White Oak, Malvern Hill. South Noun
tain, and Antietam. In 1923 he submitted
plans :or the organization OF signal corps OF the
army. which should be regular branch OF the
service, and do away with the method OF In
structlng men for that duty as they were
wanted. Upon his plans the corps was organ
lied. In 1868 he was colonel and chief signal
officer. He next introduced the study OF MILL
tary signals at the West Point Military Acad-
emy. From 1868 TO the. close OF the war he
Illinois. He was three times brevetted. He
received the brevet OF lieutenant colonel for
gallant and meritoriouS services at Hanover
Court House, Va, and the brevet OF colonel for
similar services at Malvern Hill. He received
bl1gad1er generals brevet for distinguished
services ia organizing. instructing and
commanding the signal corps OF ithe
army. and Tor special service october 5th, 1864,
the Gay on which the post and garrison OF
AllatOona, Georgia, and a most valuable depos-
tory of provisions were attacked by the rebel
just in time TO the defense, the messages having
Deen sent over the heads OF the enemy. Com.
mun1cat1op 10 any other way was impossible
In 1861 General Myer took charge OF the SIGNAL
Office In this city. He has devoted his time to
the Improvement and enlargement OF the signal
corps. Congress nearly every year. convinced
VI tuc Sitde uSeiuiHtSo Oi tEe CORPS mas granted
larger appropriations, and widened the facilI-
ties OF the service. The system OF weather re-
reports, Which are OF incalculable value, was
made part OF the signal service In 1870 by
Gen. Myer, and has been improved every year.
1t Is now almost perfect. One of the last acts
passed at the last session of Congress added
1lfty men to the signal corps, and made Gen.
Myer fun Drigadier general.
Secretary Ramsey to-day designated General
Drum, In addition to his duties as adjutant
general, to act as chief signal officer In place
OF General Myer. deceased. General Drum VIII
tomorrow issue an order announcing the death
or General Myer to the army. He to- day deSg-
mated Lleutenants Swift, Strong and DunToodie
on duty In the signal Office here to proceed to
Buffalo and attend the funeral OF Gen. Myer
which VIII take place in that city next Friday
Orders were also issued to-day that two com
pantes OF United States troops at Fort Porter
Buffalo, attend the funeral as military escort
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION.
The question as to who Will permanently sue
ceed General Myer will probably be one difficult
OF solution. The only officers in the sigma
corps proper were General Myer and five second
Heutenants. All other officers doing signal duty
are detailed from the line OF the army It is
evident that one OF the second NeutenantS ca
not be Jumped up to brigadier general. III,
coming man will therefore have TO be out d1e
the signal corps. IJ will probably be some olfi-
Ger OF the line with the rank OF colonel or above
that rank. Secretary Ramsey will not make
any haste In selecting a successor.