National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-12
THE ENGINEER ooMMIssl oNERsHlP.
UnJor Garrett J. LydecIter Appointed
sketch Of EEIa militant Record.

NAeNfp Hhlh hsNuENs
An order was issued by the War Del arImont
yesterday detailing Major Garrett ]. Lydecker as
Engineer Commits doner Of the District Of Column
bio. This selection caused some surprise among
Washingtonians, who thought General o. L. Bah
cock was to receive the appoi tment, rs petitions
signed by our most influential ciizonshad been
circulated in his interest Major Lydecker's APP
pointment Is viewed with much pleasure, how
ever, as those who know him say he is possessed
of fine executive ability sterling integrity, and his
brilliant war record is most enyiable one. Major
LydCckcr is considered one Uf tho best engineer
officers III. the Army, and there is little doubt he
lie will take good care Of the legacy Of District in
tcrcss which he lalls heir to by succeeding so
CAPABLE an officer MS was Major Twining Malor
IIydecker is the son Of J; II. Ltdecker, OF New
York, who was chief deputy collector mt the Port
of New York under the President, aEdwOs dis
missed from that office by Hayes in company with
Mr. Arthur.
HE IS A NATIVE OF NEW JERSEY,
and was selected for appointment to military
cadctship by competitive examination of pupils
from the Tree schools Of New York. He was at
Wtst Point from SET TENDER, 1860, TO June IL, 1861,
when he was graduated and promoted TO first lieu
tnnnt Co ps " Engineers. During the rebellion
he served NJ the siege of Petersburg In the Army
OF The Potomac, being In commrnd Of company
of the engineer battalion. He was brevctcd CAP
tain April 2, 1863 for gallant and meritornus scr
vices IT that siege also as assistant engineer IN
making ,urveys at the thentcr Of military opera
tions before Pet r'burg from April 10 70 June 49,
1868, and while 0cting MS assistant TO the board OF
bCTS lDplltlNliOll VI lC
the vicinity of New York he was promoted to be
captain. He served Ms ASSISTANT engineer on Fort
Wayne, Michigan, ana harbOr improvements on
Lake, Eiiu aud Huron from April, 1867 TO Noyein-
Der, lSCS, and OH the works in charge of MAYOR
primc from November 1868. TO April, 1869; n8 su-
pCrintcHdCnt engineer of the dCfcnscs Of New
Orleans the survey of Galveston harbOr, Toxins
and tie eighth lighthouse district, west of peur
IdN or from April 10 July 1869; he served as assist.
ant professor ul engineering at the West Point
Military Academy from August %, 1869, to fcbru'
airy To- 1871, and
As PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
until August 10. 1872; as Chief engineer on TIC
staff OF the commanding general OF the Division
Of the Pacific from september 5, lsi2 to FEBRUARY
D, lsIi; us assistant Engineer ON tie works IN
charge of Major Hens Ell from February "a 1870, to
May 3 1877, and as Chiet.engineer OF The Division
OF the Missouri until July l6, 1875 performing the
duties of experimenting. engineer Of Improve
mcuts Of the hatbur of Michigan City, of the new
Buffalo harbor, OF the Chicago aud Calumet hnr-
bors, aud of the Illinois River lie was member
OF the board of officers to examine candidates TOR
the position of second lieutenant IN the Army in
1873, and was also n member of the b urt OF cngi
(, ers on the improvement of the Chicago aud
Michigan City hGrGUrS in 1878. lie was Stationed
at ChiClyO continuously from january l. 1873, MS
ChiCf-euEiuCtr officer TT the headquarters Of the
| Military Division Of the Missouri, lie was de-
taChCd from duty a. Chiei-clgiueer officer July H.
1875 aud since that date la, hgunin charge OF I'M
prUNCnCuls of hdrburs, phftiyu arly the ChicngO
| hNrDor. He was promoted 10 be major March 81
| 1880.