The Washington herald., 1909-07-25
BRILLIANT SERVICE RECALLED
Maj. Richard W. Tyler Won Dis
tinction in Civil War.
officer Who Died Recently Was De-
tailed for Special Duty by
President Grant.

The recent death Of Maj. Richard Wool
sey Tyler recalls a long and brilliant ca
reer in the service Of his country. during
which he endured hardships and priva-
tons finally suffering the loss of his left
arm in the active discharge OF his duty.
Maj. Tyler was born IN Michigan, jan
uary 1. 1872. in which state ne resided I'M
Gil the outbreak Of the civil war in 1861
when he enlisted as a volunteer in the
First United States SharpshoOters.
He saw active service during the entire
period Of the war. taking part in the fol-
lowing battles: Big Bethel attack and
siege OF Yorktown. the battles Of Will
iamsburg Hanover Court House. Mechan-
icsviue. Gaines Mil, Savage Station, Glen
dale, Malvern Hill. and second battle Of
Bull Run, August % and 30, 1852, where
he received a gunshOt wound that frac-
tured the bone Of his left leg.
He also participated In the battles OF
Charlottesville, Gettysburg, Mapping
Heights. Kellys Ford. Locust Grove, Mine
Run, The Wilderness. May ), 6. and T..
1864; Todds Tavern. May S, 1864 SpOttsyl-
vania, North Anna. Hanoverton. Cold
Harbor, Jerusalem. Plank Road, the first
battle of Deep Bottom, the Nine Ex-
plosion. second battle Of Deep Bottom.
Hatcher's Run. Groveton, Auburn. Pc
River, and also the siege Of Petersburg.
II was at the second battle Of Deep
Bottom. August 16. 1864, that he received
the wound in his left arm that finally
resulted in its amputation above the
elbow. after which he lay in the Turner'S
Lane Hospital. Philadelphia, Pa, for
hot
death. He was also I'm the judiciary
Square Hospital Washington. D. c., for
some time recovering from the wound re-
ceived at the second battle of Bull Run,
August % and 30. 1862.
At the close OF the war he was honor
ably mustered out with the rank Of first
lieutenant OF volunteers. but was recon-
mended by Gen. Grant for special promo
ton from the volunteer service to the
regular army, and was detailed for spe-
cial duty at the War Department from
1860 TO 1863 and later with the troops at
Norfolk. Va. in 1869. after which he was
again assigned to special duty at the War
Department in 1870, with the rank of
captain.
He was sent. by the direction OF Gen
Grant TO inspect the battlefield Of Bull
Run, and was afterward placed in charge
of the work Of gathering up the remains
Of the Union dead there and removing
them to the Arlington National Gene
terry, where they now rest In what is
known as the Tomb Of the Unknown.
Another memorable incident of his
career was his detail for special duty for
the apprehension and arrest Of J. Wilkes
Booth after the assassination Of President
Lincoln and afterward as officer of the
day at the trial of the assassins. He was
also on duty at the trial Of Wirz. who
was convicted and hanged for cruelty 10
the Union prisoners at A1dersonYille.
After his retirement from active service
he began a suit In his own behalf In 1881,
In which ne made the principal arguments
in the Court of Claims and in the United
States Supreme Court, in which he estab-
lished the right OF officers Of the army TO
reckon time after retirement the same as
the time of active service in computing
service or longevity pay.
In May. 1887. he was admitted to prac-
tice in the Supreme Court, and since that
date he has been a resident Of Washing
ton living at 1903 Nineteenth street north
west. and president of the real estate firm
OF Tyler e Rutherford. incorporated. of
730 Fifteenth street northwest