ramsay was a pleasant person, hopeful of providing satisfaction to his superiors and not unreceptive to new ideas in the weapons field. his tenure, however, was too short, and he could take little decisive action in this area. emphasis continued to be placed on seeing to it that adequate supplies reached the soldier on the fighting front. following continuing difficulties with secretary stanton and capt. balch, ramsay was relieved of his post in september, 1864. he then was made inspector of arsenals, a post he held until june 1866. (captain balch was soon transferred to west point as an instructor in ordnance, and resigned from the service as a brevet lieutenant colonel in 1865.) ramsay's last assignment was as commander of the washington arsenal, from which post he retired in february 1870, at the age of 68. in 1865, he was brevetted a major general for long and faithful service to the army. following his retirement, he lived in washington, and died there at age 80 on 23 may 1882.