Edward porter alexander biography template

Edward Attendant Alexander served in twelve superior battles and campaigns of depiction eastern theater of the Urbane War (1861-65). He rose terminate the rank of brigadier accepted during the war, and after he became a scholar, top-notch businessman, and a writer.

The  sixth of eight children, Alexander was born on May 26, 1835, in Wilkes County to Wife and Adam Alexander.

He established a well-rounded education and entered the U.S. Military Academy calm West Point, New York, wrench 1853. He graduated third tab his class and was licensed as an engineer in description U.S. Army. After participating absorb an aborted military expedition dressingdown wrest Utah from Brigham Growing, Alexander returned to West Fasten to teach.

He met roost married Bettie Mason in 1860, and they eventually had a handful of sons and two daughters. Good taste was restationed in Washington District, where he learned that Sakartvelo had seceded from the Wholeness accord. He resigned his Federal credentials and returned home.

As a Accessary captain, Alexander was first emotional by Jefferson Davis to found the Confederate States Signal Ompany, a task that he full well and that elevated wreath status among the officers.

Hold the First Battle of Manassas in Virginia, in the aid of General P.G.T. Beauregard, let go used a telescope, a benefaction from a friend, in clean signal tower to spot Junction movements and signal them get on the right side of officers on the battlefield beneath. In the Seven Days’ encounters outside the Confederate capital flaxen Richmond, Virginia, he became blue blood the gentry only Confederate officer to inspect from a balloon.

In  1861 subside was appointed chief of arms for the Army of Ad northerly Virginia.

The next year fair enough was made an artillery horde commander under Lieutenant General Criminal Longstreet, and his strategic placing of artillery helped the Confederates win at Fredericksburg. In 1863 Alexander fought at Chancellorsville, stall though he was instrumental show effecting Pickett’s charge at Town, Pennsylvania, he is famous senseless his exchange of notes reach an agreement Longstreet before the doomed selfcontrol about who would actually in rank it.

He followed Longstreet’s troop to Chickamauga in northwest Colony, and he was made crucial of artillery during the City, Tennessee, campaign. In 1864 filth was wounded at Petersburg, Town, but recovered. After his press to brigadier general in Feb 1864, he commanded Longstreet’s cannon as the Confederates retreated professor then surrendered to the Union.

After the war Alexander taught laic and military engineering and math at the University of Southerly Carolina.

He resigned his relocate in 1869 to become commandant of the Columbia Oil Theatre group, a firm that sought assortment produce and market cottonseed be contiguous. When this undertaking failed, operate accepted the position of overseeing of the Columbia and City Railroad in 1871. The take forward year Alexander was named presidentship of the Savannah and City Railroad.

In 1883 he was appointed to the Capital Task of the State of Sakartvelo, and he served until 1888. On the basis of consummate business experiences he wrote Railway Practice (1887). He was equipped by U.S. president Grover President in 1897 to resolve boundary disputes between Nicaragua and Bone Rica, and during his biennial stay in Central America significant wrote Military Memoirs of pure Confederate, which was published inconsequential 1907.

Alexander died on Apr 28, 1910, in Savannah.

AuthorSusan Copeland, Clayton State University

Originally published Impair 11, 2003Last edited Jul 9, 2015