Biographies
S. 5801. Delia B. Lydecker is the widow of Garrett J. Lydecker, late colonel, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, and brigadier general, United States Army retired.
Garret J. Lydecker was born in New Jersey November 15, 1843 . He entered the Army as a cadet at West Point September 1, 1860 , and continued in active service in the various grades to which he was duly promoted until November 15, 1907 , when he was retired as brigadier general, having reached the age of 64 years. He received the following appointments and promotions: First lieutenant of Engineers, June 13, 1864; captain, August 8, 1866; major, Corps of Engineers, March 31 1880; lieutenant colonel, December 14, 1891; colonel, April 20, 1901; and brigadier general, United States Army, November 15, 1907, and was retired same day. He served his country in the Regular Army for upward of 43 years. We append hereto a complete statement of the officer’s military service.
Gen. Lydecker died at his home in Detroit , Mich. , July 9, 1914 , the cause of his death being given by the public records as carcinoma (cancer) of larynx. The widow was originally granted pension of $12 per month (certificate No. 803071) provided by the act of April 19, 1908, for the widow of an officer or enlisted man who served 90 days in the Civil War. Under act of September 8, 1916 , her rate was increased to $20 per month, which is the pension she is now receiving. She is unable to obtain pension under the general law more commensurate with the rank and distinguished services of her husband for the reason that she can not prove that his death was chargeable to his active military service. She married the deceased officer September 21, 1869 , and is 71 years of age.
Evidence accompanying the bill shows that Mrs. Lydecker has been an invalid for several years and is in very delicate health and wholly incapable of doing anything in the way of self-support. She is also in poor circumstances financially, having apart from her pension only a small income of less that $100 annually.
In view of the long-continued and valuable services of Gen. Lydecker and the widow’s necessitous circumstances, your committee feel justified in reporting the bill favorably, with recommendation for increase of pension to $50 per month.
Garrett J. Lydecker, brigadier general, retired, Corps of Engineers, United States Army.
Born at Englewood , N. J. November 15, 1843.
Cadet, United States Military Academy , West Point , N. Y., September 1, 1860
Brevet captain, United States Army, “for gallant services at the siege of Petersburg , VA,” April 2, 1865 .
Captain, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, August 8, 1866
Major, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, March 31, 1880 .
Lieutenant colonel, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, December 14, 1891 .
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, May 10, 1901.
Appointed from New York City a cadet to the United States Military Academy September 1, 1860 . Graduated first in class standing, June 13, 1864 , and commissioned a first lieutenant, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, on that date. Was ordered to immediate duty at headquarters Army of the Potomac on the staff of Maj. Gen. George G. Meade, commanding, and continued there until the end of the War of the Rebellions, serving as aid to Chief Engineer of the Army during its operation about Petersburg , VA. , up to the surrender of Gen. Lee’s army at Appomattox, Va.; after that as assistant engineer in surveying the theater of the Army’s operations until August 1865. From August, 1865 to March, 1867, served at New York City as assistant to the Board of Engineers on Fortifications. From March, 1867 to December, 1868, at Detroit , Mich. , as assistant to Gen. T. J. Cram, Corps of Engineers, in charge of harbor improvements on Lakes Erie, Huron, and Superior and the St. Marys River improvements, and made the survey for and located the St. Clair Flats Ship Canal and directed the first year’s work of its construction.
From December, 1868, to February 15, 1871 , assistant professor of civil and military engineering at the West Point Military Academy .
From February 15, 1871 to August 15, 1872, serving as “principal” assistant professor of engineering at West Point.
From July, 1872 to March, 1874, at San Francisco , Cal. , as chief engineer on the staff of Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield, commanding the military division of the Pacific, serving with the field command during the Modoc Indian wars.
From March, 1874. to May 1882, was on duty at Milwaukee and Chicago as superintending engineer in charge of the harbors on Lake Michigan ( Michigan City , New Buffalo, Chicago , and Calumet ) and the Illinois River improvements. Was member of the board to examine candidates for appointments of second lieutenants in United States Army, and also of a board of engineers for harbor improvements, and also as chief engine4er on the staff of Lieut. Gen. Sheridan, commanding the military division of the Missouri.
From May, 1881, till April, 1891, on duty at Vancouver Barracks, Wash. , as chief engineer on the staff of Brig., Gen John Gibbon,commanding the Department of the Columbia .
From April 1891, to November, 1893, on duty at Louisville , KY., in charge of all the works on the Ohio River and its tributaries, including the Falls of the Ohio River and the Louisville and Portland Canal .
From November, 1893, till January, 1902, on duty at Detroit , Mich. , in charge of the river and harbor district, including works on the east shore of Lake Michigan and west shore of Lake Huron, the improvement of the ship channel connecting the waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, the St. Marys River, its falls, Hay Lake Channel, and the operating and care of the locks and ship canal, also the improvement, operating, and care of the St. Clair Flats Canal, the Lake Survey office, and the making and issuing of charts of the Great Lakes and of water level observations on Lakes Superior, Michigan, and Huron, also supervision of bridge construction across the Belle and Pine Rivers and River Rouge.
From January 1902, until November 14, 1904 , he was stationed at Cincinnati , Ohio , as division engineer of the central division, also in charge of river and harbor works and acting as member of various boards of engineers, also in charge of the fourteenth lighthouse district.
From November 14, 1904 , until November 15, 1907 , he was in Detroit , Mich. , as division engineer of the central division; also in charge of fortifications and river and harbor works and a member of various engineering boards; also acting as chairman of the commission appointed by the United States to decide the method of construction of the railroad tunnel under the Detroit River.
In 1905 was also appointed engineer of the eleventh lighthouse district, and from 1905 to 1907 was in charge of the surveys of northern and northwestern lakes and of water level observations on all the Great Lakes .
November 15, 1907 , he was appointed brigadier general, United States Army, and by operation of law, having reached the age of 64, was retired from active service, continuing his residence in Detroit and interest in the commerce and improvements of the Great Lakes waterways until his death, July 9, 1914 .
Pensions and increase of pensions for certain soldiers and sailors of the regular Army and Navy, etc.
  
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