The Secretary of War is pained to announce to the Army the death of Brigadier General Albert J. Myer, Chief Signal Officer U.S. Army, which took place at Buffalo, New York, this morning.

Entering the Army in 1854 as an assistant surgeon on the Texas frontier, where vast stretches of plain offer great facility for communication by vision, General Myer's attention was early turned to the subject of signaling by sight, in which he has since achieved such remarkable success; establishing that branch of the military service, during the late war, on a basis of usefulness and importance that has proved of the greatest benefit and caused its knowledge to become an important part of education, not only for the Army but also the Navy. The Army is also largely indebted to his efforts for its telegraphic communication with posts on the extreme frontier; five thousand miles of electric telegraph lines having been built under his supervision.

Assigned by the Secretary of War, under the act of February 9, 1870, to the duty of taking meterorogical observations and giving public notice of the approach and force of storms, with the assistance of our extensive telegraph system, for the benefit of commerce, he brought to bear remarkable ability or organizing and perfecting this service, and making its usefulness felt, not only in every seaport but in every hamlet of the land. In this comparatively unexplored field of science and usefulness,General Myer displayed the enterprise of practical investigation and study of meteorology, with the production of useful results which has made his name familiar to every one of his countrymen, and proved of incalculable benefit to various interests. These services have been highly appreciated both at home and in foreign countries. His perseverance, energy, and tact, resulting in establishing a uniform international system of simultaneous meteorlogical observations, affords the world the only full and satisfactory data extant for the study of meteorology. Struck down at the meridian of his usefulness, the country has lost a most distinguished and promising officer, and the Signal Service an able, efficient and zealous chief.

The officers of the Signal Corps and on duty therewith will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

BY COMMAND OF GENERAL SHERMAN:

R.C.DRUM
Adjutant General.