McALESTER, Miles Daniel, soldier, born in New York, 21 March, 1833 ; died in Buffalo, New York, 23 April, 1869. He was graduated at the United States military academy in 1856, and assigned to the engineer corps, becoming 1st lieutenant, 2 May, 1861, and captain, 3 March, 1863. He served in the construction and repair of fortifications on the Atlantic coast from Florida to New York, superintending the defences of the Narrows in 1859-'61 and Fort Mifflin, Pennsylvania, in 1861. During the civil war he was engaged in constructing the defences in Washington, and also served as chief engineer of the 3d corps in the Army of the Potomac till October, 1862, being in all the important battles of that army, and winning the brevets of major and lieutenant-colonel. From October, 1862, till April, 1863, he served as chief engineer of the Department of the Ohio, fortified Cincinnati and its vicinity, and constructed bridge-trains for the western armies. During the siege of Vicksburg he was detached under the orders of General Grant, and subsequently became assistant professor of engineering at West Point. On 15 July, 1864, he was appointed chief engineer of the military division of west Mississippi, and engaged in the reduction of the Confederate defences in Mobile bay and in the Mobile campaign, receiving the brevets of colonel, 23 April, 1864, for his services as chief engineer of the military division of west Mississippi, and especially as supervising engineer of the siege of Forts Gaines and Morgan, and brigadier-general, 9 April, 1865, for services at the siege of Mobile. He was then engaged in constructing defences at Mobile and New Orleans, and in the improvements of the Mississippi river. He was commissioned major of the engineer corps on 7 March, 1867, and appointed engineer of the 8th light-house district, 22 May, 1867.