J. Franklin Dyer

Dyer mustered into the Union Army on August 22, 1861. He spent three years as a surgeon in the 19th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. On December 3, 1862, he was appointed surgeon-in-chief, Second Division, II Corps. He was present at the Battle of Ball's Bluff, Siege of Yorktown, Battle of West Point, Battle of Seven Pines, Battle of Savage's Station, Battle of White Oak Swamp, Battle of Glendale, Battle of Malvern Hill, First and Second Battles of Bull Run, Battle of South Mountain, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Bristoe Station, Battle of Mine Run, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Battle of North Anna, Battle of Cold Harbor, and the First Battle of Deep Bottom. He was discharged on August 28, 1864.^[2]

Dyer’s wartime letters to his wife were later published as The Journal of a Civil War Surgeon.^[3]

Dyer served for many years on Gloucester’s school committee, board of health, and as town physician. He represented the community in the 1869 Massachusetts legislature. When the city form of government was adopted in 1873, Dyer was elected to represent Ward 6 on the board of aldermen. He was the Republican nominee for mayor in 1877 and defeated Democrat Samuel A. Stacy 1075 votes to 1006. He did not seek reelection and was succeeded by William Williams.^[1]

Dyer died on February 1, 1879 "after over a year's illness of consumption".^[4]