Romeyn Beck Ayres

After graduation from the USMA, West Point, he served in the Mexican War, on the frontier, and in Eastern garrisons. He was promoted to Captain, 5th US Artillery, on May 14, 1861.

Promoted to Brigadier General, United States Volunteers, November 29, 1862, he took command of 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, V Corps, Army of the Potomac, April 21, 1863 and led it at Chancellorsville. He commanded the Division at Gettysburg and during the New York Draft Riots. He fought in subsequent actions of V Corps, commanding 4th Brigade, 1st Division, March 1864, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, from the Wilderness through Cold Harbor, April-June 5, 1864, and commanded 2nd Division, June 6, 1864-January 1865, at Petersburg where he was wounded.

He also commanded 3rd Division, Provisional Corps, Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1865, and District of Shenandoah, August 23, 1865-April 30, 1866.

With the contraction of the Regular Army in 1870's, he performed garrison duty at number of posts, including Little Rock, Arkansas, Jackson Barracks, Louisiana, Key West, Florida, and other places in the South. July 15, 1879, promoted to Colonel of the 2nd Artillery, and supervised various army posts in Florida.

Sources: Nicely formatted text above largely taken from the Arlington National Cemetery, VA; verified (probably the original source) in Heitman, Francis Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army 1789-1903, Washington, US Government Printing Office, 1903.

12/20/1825; Montgomery County, NY

12/4/1888; Ft Hamilton, NY; burial in Arlington National Cemetery, VA