Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Zalinski, Edmund Louis Gray 1849-

Military officer; born in Kurnich, Prussian Poland, Dec. 13, 1849; came to the United States with his parents in 1853, and settled in Seneca Falls, N. Y. He was appointed an aide on the staff of Gen. Nelson A. Miles in 1864, and served till the close of the war, being promoted second lieutenant of volunteers in 1865 for gallantry at the battle of Hatcher's Run. In February, 1866, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the 5th United States Artillery; was promoted first lieutenant in January, 1867, and captain in December, 1887; was Professor of Military Science in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1872-76; graduated at the United States Artillery School at Fort Monroe, Va., and at the School of Submarine Mining at Willett's Point, N. Y., in 1880; invented and was engaged in developing and perfecting the pneumatic dynamite torpedo gun bearing his name in 1883-89; travelled in Europe to obtain military information in 1889-90; was on garrison duty in San Francisco, Cal., in 1892; and was retired Feb. 3, 1894. Captain Zalinski invented an intrenching tool, a ramrod bayonet, a telescopic sight for artillery, and a system of range and position finding for sea-coast and artillery firing.