Civil War Union Army Officer. Born in Giles County, Tennessee, he resided in Paris, Illinois through most of his life. After graduating from Wabash College in 1845, he enlisted in the volunteer army during the Mexican War, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company H, 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry regiment. He fought in the United States Army's march through Mexico from Vera Cruz to Mexico City, and was honorably discharged after the war. He was a successful hardware merchant in his hometown in the 1850s, and after the Civil War began he helped recruit and train what became the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment's commander was Colonel Ulysses S. Grant, who recommended that John Washington Shields Alexander be commissioned Lieutenant Colonel and second-in-command, which he received on June 28, 1861. When Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to Brigadier General on August 7, 1861 on his way to eventually commanding the entire Union Army, John A. S. Alexander was promoted Colonel and regimental commander to fill the vacancy on August 30, 1861. He led the regiment through the October 1862 Battle of Perryyville, Kentucky, and the December 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he was wounded and was commended by brigade commander Brigadier General William P. Carlin. Forced to recover from his injury at home in Illinois, he would return to his men in time to lead them through the 1863 Tullahoma Campaign. At the Sept. 20,1863 Battle of Chickamauga his brigade was part of the disjointed, see-saw action that marked the first day of battle. Colonel Alexander was killed in action leading his soon to be routed brigade. His body was later removed to lay at rest in his Illinois hometown.
Civil War Union Army Officer. Born in Giles County, Tennessee, he resided in Paris, Illinois through most of his life. After graduating from Wabash College in 1845, he enlisted in the volunteer army during the Mexican War, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Company H, 4th Illinois Volunteer Infantry regiment. He fought in the United States Army's march through Mexico from Vera Cruz to Mexico City, and was honorably discharged after the war. He was a successful hardware merchant in his hometown in the 1850s, and after the Civil War began he helped recruit and train what became the 21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment's commander was Colonel Ulysses S. Grant, who recommended that John Washington Shields Alexander be commissioned Lieutenant Colonel and second-in-command, which he received on June 28, 1861. When Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to Brigadier General on August 7, 1861 on his way to eventually commanding the entire Union Army, John A. S. Alexander was promoted Colonel and regimental commander to fill the vacancy on August 30, 1861. He led the regiment through the October 1862 Battle of Perryyville, Kentucky, and the December 1862 Battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he was wounded and was commended by brigade commander Brigadier General William P. Carlin. Forced to recover from his injury at home in Illinois, he would return to his men in time to lead them through the 1863 Tullahoma Campaign. At the Sept. 20,1863 Battle of Chickamauga his brigade was part of the disjointed, see-saw action that marked the first day of battle. Colonel Alexander was killed in action leading his soon to be routed brigade. His body was later removed to lay at rest in his Illinois hometown.
Bio by: JFJN
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Alexander memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
