History of Guyandotte, (Cabell County) West Virginia United States of America

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Theodore Thaddeus Sobieski Laidley, soldier, was born in Guyandotte, Va., April 14, 1822. He was graduated from the U.S. Military academy in 1842, sixth in his class, and was commissioned 2d lieutenant and assigned to the ordnance corps. He was commissioned 1st lieutenant in March, 1847, and was engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz, the battle of Cerro Gordo Pass, April 18, 1847, and in the siege of Puebla. He was brevetted captain and major for gallant and meritorious services during the war with Mexico. He served on ordnance duty in the arsenals at Watervliet, Fort Monroe and Charlestown, was in command of the North Carolina arsenal, 1854-58, and was promoted captain in July, 1856. During the civil war he served as inspector of powder, 1861-62; in command of the Frankfort arsenal, 1862-64, and inspector of ordnance and in charge of the Springfield armory, 1864-66. He was commandant of the New York arsenal, on Governor's Island, and subsequently of the arsenal at Watertown, Mass., and was promoted colonel in 1875. He was a member of several committees to make scientific tests and experiments, and was president of the commission appointed to test the strength and value of various kinds of metal in the Watertown arsenal, 1875-81. He was retired, at his own request, in December, 1882, having attained the rank of senior colonel in the ordnance department. He invented a number of appliances used in the ordnance department, and is the author of: Ordnance Manual (1861), which was the standard manual for many years, and of Instructions in Rifle Practice (1879), besides government reports. He died in Palatka, Fla., April 4, 1886.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Guyandotte, (Cabell County) West Virginia

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