Born at the crossroads of East Creek in Montgomery County, New York, December 20, 1825. His father, a country physician, trained him so thoroughly in Latin that was regarded as an authority in it among cadets at the United States Military Academy from 1843 until his graduation in 1847, 22nd in class of 38, and assigned to Artillery.

He served in the Mexican War, on the frontier, and in Eastern garrisons and promoted to Captain, 5th US Artillery, May 14, 1861. He fought at 1st Bull Run and served as Chief of Artillery for W. F. Smith's Division, October-November 1862, and VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, to April 1863. In these positions he was at the siege of Yorktown, Lee's Mill, Williamsburg, Gaines's Mill, Golding's Farm, Glendale, Harrison's Landing, South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericksburg.

His first wife was Emily Louis Gerry Dearborn, born 8 May 1829 in Bangor, Penobscot, Maine. Married 14 August 1849.

His second wife was Juliet Opie Hopkins Butcher, the daughter of Juliet Opie Hopkins.

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. He was brevetted for Gettysburg, the Wilderness, as Major General, United States Volunteers,, for the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Jericho Ford, Totopotomoy, Bethesda Church, Petersburg, Globe Tavern, Weldon Railroad, 5 Forks, Brigadier General, United States Army, for war service, Major General, United States Army.

He was described as tall, distinguished, meticulous in dress, and a hard fighter. He continued in the regular army until his death on active duty as a Colonel. He served in garrison in Puebla and Mexico City after active hostilities in the Mexican War had ceased, and then had routine duty in many sections of the US. Advanced to Captain of 5th Artillery on May 14, 1861. Commanded artillery battery at 1st Manassas, continued with Army of the Potomac until surrender at Appomattox.

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. Died: Ft Hamilton, New York Harbor, December 4, 1888. He was the son-in-law of Juliet Opie Hopkins, she is buried with him in Section 1 of Arlington National Cemetery.

R B Ayres