Position at Antietam
Commander, 4th U.S. Infantry Regiment, Sykes’ Division, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac (Age 40 at the battle)
Personal
1822-1867 New Hampshire
Born May 29, 1822 in Allegheny, NY. In 1859, married Alice Garrison; no children.
Education
Unknown
Mexican War
Enlisted as Private, then was Sergeant, and finally First Sergeant, in Company H, U.S. Mounted Rifles, from 31 October, 1846 – 24 July, 1848. Slightly wounded in combat at Chapultepec, 13-14 September, 1847.
Other military career highlights
Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 4th U.S. Artillery on July 31, 1848, and promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 29 September 1853. In November 1853, while stationed at Fort Vancouver in Oregon, Dryer displayed trademark courage in volunteering to lead a supply expedition to a group of settlers trapped by a blizzard in the Cascade Mountains.
Civilian career highlights
N/A
Civil War
Captain, Company H, 4th U.S. Infantry on May 14, 1861; Dryer, who saw service during the 1862 Peninsula and Second Bull Run Campaigns, was his regiment’s senior officer when fighting broke out at Antietam. He was cited by brevet in Civil War service: to Major, 13 December 1862 for the battle of Fredericksburg, VA, and to Lt. Col. on 3 May, 1863 for the battle of Chancellorsville, VA. Thrown from a horse in June 1863, Dryer would miss the Gettysburg Campaign. The injury apparently affected his ability to return to the field, for he spent the rest of the war in staff duties. Appointed Major, 13th U.S. Infantry on February 2, 1865
Postwar
Continued in Federal service, being transferred to the 22nd U.S. Infantry on 21 Sep, 1866. He was in command of Fort Randall, Dakota Territory until shortly before his death there in March 1867.
Death
March 5, 1867 at Fort Randall, South Dakota, age 45; Buried at Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit Michigan
Quotes
“…one of the coolest and bravest officers in our service.” A fellow officer
“Always kind and friendly.” A fellow officer
“[At Antietam] Dryer used the superior training, leadership, and marksmanship of the Regulars to probe and press the enemy defenses, his men deployed in dispersed order, offering no inviting targets for Confederate artillery or riflemen…We might add that he was also a man of remarkable, daring skill and competence who deserves to be remembered.” Scott Hartwig
“The troops under Captain Dryer behaved in the handsomest manner, and, had there been an available force for their support, there is no doubt he could have crowned the Sharpsburg crest.” George Sykes Antietam Report