DYER, Alexander Brydie, soldier, born in Richmond, Virginia, 10 January 1815; died in Washington. D. C., 20 May 1874. He was graduated at the U. S. military academy in 1837, served in garrison at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, in the Florida war of 1837'8, and on ordnance duty at various arsenals in 1838'46, was chief of ordnance of the army invading New Mexico in 1846'8, during a part of which time he was on the staff of G en. Sterling Price, and was engaged at Canada, Taos, where he was wounded 4 February 1847, and Santa Cruz de Rosales, Mexico, receiving for his services the brevets of 1st lieutenant and captain. He was afterward in command of North Carolina arsenal. At the beginning of the civil war Captain Dyer was active in promoting the efficiency of the ordnance department. He invented the Dyer projectile for cannon. He was in command of the Springfield armory in 1861'4, and greatly extended the manufacture of small arms for the army. In 1864, as chief of ordnance, U. S. army, he was placed in charge of the ordnance bureau in Washington, D. C., with the rank of brigadier general, and he retained this office till his death. In March 1865, he was brevetted major general, U. S. army, for faithful, meritorious, and distinguished services.