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

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Viele, Egbert Ludovickus 1825-

Military engineer; born in Waterford, N. Y., June 17, 1825; graduated at West Point in 1847; served through a portion of the war against Mexico. He resigned in 1853, and was appointed State engineer of New Jersey. In 1857 he was engineer-in-chief of the Central Park (N. Y.) commission, and, in 1860, of Prospect Park, Brooklyn. In August, 1861, he was commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers, and accompanied the expedition to Port Royal. In the siege of Fort Pulaski he was in command of the investing forces; and he led the advance in the capture of Norfolk, of which place he was made military governor in August, and remained so until his resignation in October, 1863. Since then he has been a civil engineer in New York City. He became a park commissioner in New York City in 1883, and a Democratic member of Congress in 1884. He is author of a Hand-book for active service; Reports on the Central Park; Topographical survey of New Jersey; A topographical Atlas of the City of New York, etc.