Alfred L. Rives

Alfred Landon Rives (born in March 25, 1830, Paris, France - February 27, 1903 Castle Hill, Virginia) was an American engineer.

Alfred Rives was the son of William Cabell and Judith (Walker) Rives. His father, who was among the most distinguished citizens of Virginia, was the United States minister to France, and he also filled the same position in 1848.

Rives was taught by private tutors until fourteen years of age, then became a student of Concord Academy. At the age of sixteen he entered the Virginia Military Institute, and graduated in two years, ranking sixth in a class of twenty-four.

Being proficient in engineering, he determined to adopt that as a profession, and in 1848 entered the University of Virginia, where he remained one session, then accompanied his father to France. After a year devoted to the study of mathematics and French, he successfully passed an examination for entrance in the Government Engineering School of France, "Ecole des ponts et Chaussees." After graduation in 1854, he was offered a position upon the great French railroad, "Du Nord," but instead returned to the United States, where he served in the engineering corps of the Virginia Midland railway.

Later Rives accepted a position in Washington under Captain Montgomery C. Meigs of the United States Engineering Corps. He served for a year as assistant engineer of the United States Capitol and Post Office buildings. He was appointed Secretary of the Interior under President Pierce, to report upon the best location for a bridge across the Potomac. He presented details and estimates for the project in the 1857 "Congressional records". The report was favorably received, and Rives was selected to make calculations and estimates for this Cabin John bridge, which was built under his supervision.

He returned to Virginia, his native state, upon its secession from the Union. Three days later he received the commission of captain of engineers from the state of Virginia, and was directed to report to Colonel Andrew Talcott, at that time chief engineer of the state. Rives was assigned to duty on the lower Virginia peninsula, and upon the resignation of Colonel Talcott was soon made acting chief engineer of the state of Virginia.

Later, Rives was appointed acting chief of the Engineer Bureau of the Confederate States, a position he held until the close of the Civil War. He was promoted successively to be major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel of engineers.

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