“  As  a  soldier,  Tyler,  in  his  early  manhood,  was  an  accomplished
artillerist ;  in  his  maturity,  an  ordnance  officer  to  whom  our  army  is
much  indebted  for  its  present  system  of  field  batteries  and  the  excellence  of
its  small  arms;  and,  in  his  after  life,  a  general  most  efficient  in  organiza¬
tion,  collected  and  bold  in  battle,  and  clear-headed  and  sagacious  in
strategy.  Age  and  rank  debarred  him  from  enlarged  command  ;  but  he
certainly  possessed  many  of  the  most  valuable  attributes  of  a  true  soldier,
— strength  and  activity  of  mind,  indomitable  will,  unflinching  courage,
tenacity  of  purpose,  restless  energy,  prompt  decision,  professional  ambi¬
tion,  and  appreciative  recognition  of  juniors  which  always  secured  their
cooperation.
“  Governor  Buckingham  reposed  unbounded  confidence  in  Tyler’s
military  capacity  and  executive  energy  ;  and  the  good  organization,  dis¬
cipline,  and  soldierly  tone  of  the  Connecticut  volunteers  showed  that  his
trust  in  his  selected  general  was  not  misapplied.  Though  these  troops
were  enlisted  for  only  three  months,  their  commander  in  this  brief  period
imbued  them  with  true  military  spirit,  a  realizing  sense  of  their  solemn
duty,  and  a  loyal  rivalry  to  accomplish  their  utmost  for  their  country’s


LAST  DAYS  AND  LAST  TRIBUTES.
143


cause.  Upon  them  he  tried  to  impress  his  own  gallant  daring,  his  disdain
of  political  machinery  to  secure  preferment,  a  deep  sense  of  the  responsi¬
bility  resting  upon  all  to  do  or  die  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and
to  make  every  sacrifice  for  the  maintenance  of  the  nationality  of  a  great
people.  All  feared,  yet  loved  him,  for  they  well  knew  that  quick  punish¬
ment  followed  every  dereliction  of  duty,  while  fidelity  and  assiduity  never
went  unrewarded.
