Erastus Tyler | |
|---|---|
 Brig. Gen. Erastus B. Tyler | |
| Born | (1822-04-24)April 24, 1822 |
| Died | January 9, 1891(1891-01-09) (aged 68) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Branch |  United States Army |
| Service years | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  BrevetMajor General |
| Commands | VIII Corps (briefly) 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, V Corps |
| Conflicts | American Civil War |
| Other work | Postmaster of Baltimore |
Erastus Bernard Tyler (April 24, 1822 – January 9, 1891) was an American businessman, merchant, and soldier. He was a general in theUnion Army during theAmerican Civil War and fought in many of the early battles in theEastern Theater before being assigned command of the defenses ofBaltimore, Maryland. He briefly commanded theVIII Corps.
Erastus B. Tyler was born inWest Bloomfield, New York, and was educated in the common schools. As a young man, he moved toRavenna, Ohio, and graduated from what was then known as Granville College (nowDenison University). At the age of 23, he opened a successful business as a fur merchant inwestern Virginia.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, Tyler helped raise and recruit the7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in northeastern Ohio. He was elected as theregiment's firstcolonel, withJohn S. Casement asmajor. After initial training and organization, Tyler and the 7th OVI were sent to western Virginia in August 1861. At theBattle of Kessler's Cross Lanes on August 26, Tyler's raw regiment was surprised in its camp by aConfederatebrigade commanded byBrigadier GeneralJohn B. Floyd, which had crossed theGauley River unseen and attacked. Pressed by a numerically superior and more experienced enemy, the 7th withdrew and then routed from the field.
In early 1862, GeneralFrederick W. Lander gave Tyler command of a brigade, which was later assigned to thedivision commanded byJames Shields and laterNathan Kimball. Tyler was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on May 14. His brigade was involved in several engagements during theValley Campaign against the Confederates ofStonewall Jackson, including theFirst Battle of Winchester. Tyler was in command of the Union forces engaged at theBattle of Port Republic. In one of the most hotly contested and bloodiest battles of the campaign, Jackson forced Tyler to withdraw.
With the reorganization of theArmy of the Potomac following theNorthern Virginia Campaign, Tyler was given command of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, in theV Corps. Tyler's Brigade was involved in theMaryland Campaign and theBattle of Fredericksburg, as well as theMud March before going into winter quarters. His troops were a part of the unsuccessful series of attacks on well-entrenched Confederates on Marye's Heights at Fredericksburg. Tyler suffered a wound and lost a significant portion of his brigade in the fifth wave of Union attackers.
In the spring of 1863, Tyler was again in combat at theBattle of Chancellorsville. His brigade played a role in helping to stabilize the right flank of the UnionIII Corps by countering an assault by theGeorgia brigade ofAlfred Colquitt in dense woods that made it difficult for the two sides to see each other. The Federals continued until Tyler's ammunition grew scarce and Confederate reinforcements turned the Federal right flank.[1]
Shortly after the battle, three of the four regiments in his brigade mustered out of the army, their terms of enlistment having expired. Left without a field command, Tyler returned to Washington, D.C. to await further orders. In June, he was assigned command of the defenses ofBaltimore, Maryland. He remained stationed there for the rest of the war and married a local woman. He was in command of the VIII Corps from September 28, 1863 – October 10, 1863, succeedingRobert C. Schenck.
During theBattle of Monocacy in July 1864, Tyler commanded two regiments of inexperiencedHundred Days Men that successfully held off numerous Confederate attempts to capture the Jug Bridge on the Baltimore Pike. The bridge was of great strategic importance as it protected the Union's extreme right flank. It was also the route used by the Union army in their subsequent retreat toward Baltimore.[2]
As the war ended, Tyler was included in the omnibus list of promotions to recognize Union officers for their "gallant and meritorious service." He received thebrevet rank ofmajor general, dating from March 1865. On August 24, 1865, he was mustered out of the army.[3]
Tyler and his wife remained in Baltimore after the war and raised a family. He rose to social prominence and served a term as the city's postmaster, apatronage position.
Erastus Tyler died at the age of 68 and was buried in Baltimore'sGreen Mount Cemetery.
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Wilson, J. G.;Fiske, J., eds. (1891).Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
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| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Commander of theVIII Corps (ACW) September 28, 1863 - October 10, 1863 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
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