AYRES, Romeyn Beck - A Stan Klos Biography
AYRES, Romeyn Beck, soldier, born at East
Creek, Montgomery County, New York, 20 December 1825. He was graduated at West
Point in 1847, going almost at once to Mexico as a second lieutenant in the 3d
artillery, and remaining in garrison at Fort Preble, Mexico, until 1850. From
that time till the outbreak of the civil war he was on frontier and garrison
duty in various parts of the country.
In 1859-'61 he was at the artillery school for practice at
Fortress Monroe. In May 1861, he was promoted to be captain in the 3d artillery,
and he was present at all the early engagements of the war about the defenses of
Washington.
After serving as chief of artillery in W. F. Smith's
division and of the 6th army corps, he accompanied the army of the Potomac in
the peninsular campaign of 1862, and thence to the Maryland campaign, ending
with the battle of Antietam. He was obliged to take a sick-leave of nearly three
months, but was in the saddle again in December and engaging in the winter
campaign on the Rappahannock.
He was at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvile, and the
intervening engagements of less moment. As Brigadier-General of volunteers from
29 November 1862, he commanded a division of the 5th corps at Gettysburg, and
was then ordered to New York City to suppress the draft riots. In 1864 he was
with his command in the movement against Richmond, beginning with the battles of
the Wilderness (May 1864). He was wounded at the siege of Petersburg in June
returned to duty in August and was present at the final engagements, ending with
the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox, 9 April 1865.
During this period he received successive promotions and
brevets in his regular army grade until he was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 28th
infantry and brevet Major-General. He was mustered out of the volunteer service
as Major-General 30 April 1866. Since the war he has served on various important
commissions and boards. He was promoted in regular course to the colonelcy of
the 3d artillery, 18 July 1879.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 VirtualologyTM
AYRES, Romeyn Beck, soldier, born at East Creek, Montgomery County, New York, 20 December 1825. He was graduated at West Point in 1847, going almost at once to Mexico as a second lieutenant in the 3d artillery, and remaining in garrison at Fort Preble, Mexico, until 1850. From that time till the outbreak of the civil war he was on frontier and garrison duty m various parts of the country. In 1859-'61 he was at the artillery school for practice at Fortress Monroe. In May 1S61, he was promoted to be captain in the 8d artillery, and he was present at all the early engage-merits of the war about the defenses of Washington. After serving as chief of artillery in W. F. Smith's division and of the 6th army corps, he accompanied the army of the Potomac in the peninsular campaign of 1862, and thence to the Maryland campaign, ending with the battle of Antietam. He was obliged to take a sick-leave of nearly three months, but was in the saddle again in December and engaging in the winter campaign on the Rappahannock. He was at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsvile, and the intervening engagements of less moment. As Brigadier-General of volunteers from 29 November 1862, he commanded a division of the 5th corps at Gettysburg, and was then ordered to New York city to suppress the draft riots. In 1864 he was with his command in the movement against Richmond, beginning with the battles of the Wilderness (May 1864). He was wounded at the siege of Petersburg in June returned to duty in August and was present at the final engagements, ending with the surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox, 9 April 1865. During this period he received successive promotions and brevets in his regular army grade until he was Lieutenant-Colonel of the 28th infantry and brevet Major-General. He was mustered out of the volunteer service as Major-General 30 April 1866. Since the war he has served on various important commissions and boards. He was promoted in regular course to the colonelcy of the 3d artillery, 18 July 1879.
