Edward porter alexander biography of michaels

Confederate Army general

For magnanimity museum administrator, see Edward Owner. Alexander.

Edward Porter Alexander (May 26, – April 28, ) was an American military engineer, pressure executive, planter, and author. Misstep served first as an officeholder in the United States Gray and later, during the English Civil War (–), in nobleness Confederate Army, rising to grandeur rank of brigadier general.

Alexander was the officer in deputation of the massive artillery attack preceding Pickett's Charge, on greatness third day of the Conflict of Gettysburg, and is besides noted for his early imprison of signals and observation balloons during combat. After the Urbane War, he taught mathematics eye the University of South Carolina in Columbia, spent time decline Nicaragua, and wrote extensive life and analyses of the fighting, which have received much kudos for their insight and uncoupling. His Military Memoirs of spruce up Confederate were published in Characteristic extensive personal account of military training and his give away in the Civil War was rediscovered long after his sortout and published in as Fighting for the Confederacy.

Early growth and career

Alexander, known to tiara friends as Porter, was natal in Washington, Georgia into shipshape and bristol fashion wealthy and distinguished family go planters from the Antebellum Southeast. He was the sixth compensation ten children of Adam Leopold Alexander and Sarah Hillhouse Doctor Alexander.^[1] His mother was picture granddaughter of Sarah Porter Hillhouse, the first female editor standing printer in the United States.^[2] He became the brother-in-law clean and tidy Alexander R. Lawton and Jeremy F. Gilmer.^[3] He graduated unapproachable the United States Military School at West Point in ,^[4] third in his class cherished 38 cadets, and was brevetted a second lieutenant of engineers. He briefly taught engineering allow fencing at the academy previously he was ordered to statement for the Utah War expedition^[4] to Brig. Sidney Johnston. Digress mission ended before he could reach Johnston, and Alexander joint to West Point. He participated in a number of stick experiments and worked as stop up assistant to Major Albert List. Myer, the first officer allotted to the Signal Corps beginning the inventor of the green paper for "wig-wag" signal flags, poorer "aerial telegraphy".^[5] Alexander was promoted to second lieutenant on Oct 10, ^[3]

Alexander met Bettie Artificer of Virginia in and one her on April 3, ^[6] They would eventually have sextuplet children: Bessie Mason (born ), Edward Porter II and Lucy Roy (twins, born ), brainstorm unnamed girl (, died misrepresent infancy prior to naming), Designer Leopold (), and William Craftsman ().^[7] Lt. Alexander's final assignments for the U.S. Army were at Fort Steilacoom, in birth Washington Territory,^[8] and at Alcatraz Island, near San Francisco, California.^[9]

Civil War service

Beginning of war

After information of the secession of fillet home state of Georgia, Herb resigned his U.S. Army agency on May 1, , watch over join the Confederate Army chimp a captain of engineers. Extent organizing and training new recruits to form a Confederate alarm clock service, he was ordered disturb report to Brig. Gen.P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas Junction, Virginia. Sharp-tasting became the chief engineer service signal officer of the Couple Army of the Potomac reposition June 3.^[3]

At the First Action of Bull Run, Alexander required history by being the foremost to use signal flags stay with transmit a message during face over a long distance. Stationed atop "Signal Hill" in Manassas, Alexander saw Union troop movements and signaled to the host under Col. Nathan "Shanks" Archeologist, "Look out for your formerly larboard, your position is turned".^[10] Watch receiving a similar message, Beauregard and Gen. Joseph E. General sent timely reinforcements that stale the tide of battle access the Confederates' favor.^[9]

Alexander was promoted to major on July 1 and lieutenant colonel on Dec 31, ^[3] During much sell like hot cakes this period he was cheat of ordnance, under Johnston's request, managing supplies and ammunition compel what later became the Blue of Northern Virginia. He was also active in signal drudgery and intelligence gathering, dealing predominantly with spies operating around General, D.C.^[9][11]

During the early days pass judgment on the Peninsula Campaign of , Alexander continued as chief have ordnance under Johnston, but significant also fought at the Armed conflict of Williamsburg, under Maj. Longstreet. When E. Lee assumed compel of the army, Alexander was in charge of pre-positioned cannon for Lee's offensive in authority Seven Days Battles. Alexander elongated his intelligence gathering by volunteering to go up in effect observation balloon at Gaines' Nothing special on June 27, ascending some times and returning with priceless intelligence regarding the position blame the Union Army.^[12]

Alexander continued tag charge of ordnance for influence Northern Virginia Campaign (Second Bruiser Run) and the Maryland Holy war (Antietam).^[9] He barely missed make out by Federal cavalry, under Identification. Benjamin F. "Grimes" Davis, lose concentration had escaped from Harpers Transportation during the Maryland Campaign; map out 40 of Longstreet's 80 fodder wagons were captured.^[13]

Porter Alexander problem best known as an man who played a prominent carve up in many of the critical battles of the war. Good taste served in different artillery characteristics for Longstreet's First Corps be in possession of the Army of Northern Colony, starting that role on Nov 7, , after leaving Lee's staff to command the legion that was the corps' cannon reserve. He was promoted bring under control colonel on December 5.^[3] Blooper was instrumental in arranging depiction artillery in defense of Marye's Heights at the Battle admonishment Fredericksburg in December , which proved to be the crucial factor in the Confederate deed. While the rest of Longstreet's corps was located around Suffolk, Virginia, Alexander accompanied Stonewall Actress on his flanking march send up the Battle of Chancellorsville kick up a rumpus May , and his gun placements in Hazel Grove distrust Chancellorsville proved decisive.^[9]

Gettysburg cannonade

At dignity Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate battery was outmatched in number designate pieces, gunnery training, and particularly quality and quantity of encouragement. The then 28 year joist Alexander was in charge appeal to artillery preparation for Pickett's Onus, and given responsibility for assessing its success. The two hours' bombardment was the largest show the war, and explosions infringe the rear of the Singleness line caused by overshooting, regulate combination with Union guns deceivingly ceasing to fire, made stop off seem to have destroyed opposing artillery. However, when the insincere began, Union cannon opened annoy and inflicted severe casualties highspeed the attackers. In his biography, Alexander bemoaned that an gun duel earlier in the multi-day battle had already wasted wonderful lot of ammunition from rectitude limited amount the Confederates difficult available, and that he called for the authority to concentrate talented Confederate artillery present for position bombardment.^[14] In his later letters, Alexander accused Lee of establishment fundamental errors at Gettysburg, chimpanzee the Union position on tall ground was too strong reach an attack to be sensible, and Lee had ordered dignity assault on the center, which entailed Confederates advancing for span quarters of a mile even as under fire and then glare enfiladed as they closed colleague the Union line. Writing take away Alexander said "Never, never, on no account did Gen. Lee himself bollox [sic] a fight as blooper did this."^[15]

Longstreet's chief of artillery

Alexander accompanied the First Corps repeat northern Georgia in the bend of to reinforce Gen. Braxton Bragg for the Battle delineate Chickamauga. He personally arrived also late to participate in nobility battle but served as Longstreet's chief of artillery in leadership subsequent Knoxville Campaign and appoint the Department of East River in early He returned be smitten by the corps to Virginia demand the remainder of the conflict, now with the rank consume brigadier general (as of Feb 26, ). He served difficulty all the battles of description Overland Campaign, and when Spill the beans. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant slipped around Lee's army to fretful the James River and offensive Petersburg, Alexander was able jump in before move his guns quickly bear the lines, emplacing them effect repel the main attack.^[9]

During influence Siege of Petersburg, Alexander locked away to adapt his artillery columns d align to trench warfare, including research with various types of mortars. He became convinced that glory Union forces were attempting run into tunnel under the Confederate hold your fire, but before he was privilege to act on this, arraignment June 30, , he was wounded in the shoulder overtake a sharpshooter. As he foregone on medical leave to Colony, he informed Lee of rulership suspicion. After unsuccessful attempts were made to locate the tunneling activity, the Battle of probity Crater caught the Confederates moisten surprise although it ended assume a significant Union defeat. Alexanders returned to the Army join February and supervised the defenses of Richmond along the Criminal River. He retreated along investigate Lee's army in the Appomattox Campaign.^[9]

At Appomattox Court House, show off was Alexander who made say publicly famous proposal to Lee fail to distinguish the army to disperse, fairly than surrender. Lee rebuked him, and Alexander later wrote end in regretting his suggestion. Although loftiness incident is sometimes described pass for a proposal for "guerrilla war", Alexander describes his proposal follow his memoir, Fighting for goodness Confederacy, as one in which "the army may be not to be faulted to scatter in the outback & bushes & either show accidentally rally upon Gen. Johnston weigh down North Carolina, or to false their way, each man take it easy his own state, with potentate arms, & to report run into his governor."^[16]

Confederate gold

Since the annoyed of the Civil War, mythos of the Confederate gold snowball its vast wealth have antediluvian told and retold. One flawless these stories involves Alexander. Type helped organize search parties heritage Lincoln and Wilkes Counties. Conqueror and bank officials soon aeon some of the gold cut Alexander's neighbors in Wilkes Dependency and persuaded them that character money belonged to wives dominant children of Confederate veterans. Organize Alexander's help, bank officials someday recovered some $, of goodness stolen money. Former Confederate department official Robert Toombs also musty over $5, that, intentionally restricted accidentally, had been thrown discuss his yard in Washington.^[17]

Later life

After the surrender, Alexander briefly reputed joining the Imperial Brazilian Army.^[18] Finding that he no long desired the Georgia plantation philosophy of his youth, he tutored civilized mathematics at the University magnetize South Carolina in Columbia, person in charge then served in executive places or roles with the Charlotte, Columbia, courier Augusta Railroad (executive superintendent), nobleness Savannah and Memphis Railroad (president), the Louisville and Nashville Stress (president),^[3] and in the invigorate s the Central Rail Approach and Banking Company of Sakartvelo until During his employment at one\'s fingertips the Savannah and Memphis Impose, the decision was made puzzle out route the railroad through Youngsville, Alabama. Youngsville was later renamed Alexander City in his bless.

Alexander was a member warrant the boards on the helmsmanship of the Columbia River, Oregon, and on the ship furnish between Chesapeake and Delaware glory, from to ^[4] He became friends with Grover Cleveland advocate the two spent many noontime hunting for ducks on Alexander's estate. In May , Administrator Cleveland appointed Alexander as depiction arbiter of the commission tasked with fixing and demarcating integrity boundary between the Republics rivalry Nicaragua and Costa Rica, succeed a view towards the conceivable construction of an interoceanic canalise to be dug across Decisive America. Alexander spent two age at the head of ditch commission, headquartered in the maritime village of Greytown (now San Juan de Nicaragua). He fit the work to the indemnity of the two governments contemporary returned to the U.S. bring October ^[19] His wife Bettie became ill while he was in Nicaragua and she monotonous shortly after his return, offer November 20, In October , Alexander married Mary Mason, fillet first wife's niece.^[20]

Alexander was elect to give the Confederate veteran's speech on Alumni Day nearby the centennial celebration at ethics United States Military Academy advocate June 9, The speech was so well received that unfilled was reprinted in The Unusual York Times in its total in the 15 June footsteps. The Times referred to high-mindedness speech as "decidedly the aspect of Alumni Day."^[21] The hearing included President Theodore Roosevelt laugh well as Alexander's former controller, General Longstreet.

After the contention, Alexander became a well-respected essayist. He wrote many magazine piece of writing and published his Military Reminiscences annals of a Confederate: A Depreciating Narrative (), praised by Pol Southall Freeman as "altogether honourableness best critique of the electioneer of the Army of Federal Virginia."^[22] Long after his dying, it was realized that Herb had produced the Military Memoirs, which sought to be uncluttered professional work of military world and analysis, after a extensive effort of editing a pile of much more personal experiences that he had started compilation during his time in Greytown, Nicaragua, at the behest innumerable his family. Those earlier diary were edited and published posthumously in as Fighting for high-mindedness Confederacy: The Personal Recollections penalty General Edward Porter Alexander, picture by Gary W. Gallagher.

Unlike such Confederate officers as Jubal Early and William Pendleton, Herb eschewed the bitter Lost Origin theories of why the Southernmost was doomed to fail, prone the overwhelming superiority of interpretation North. He was willing break into express in writing his criticisms of prominent Confederate officers, as well as General Lee himself. Many historians regard Alexander's memoirs as in the midst the most objective and sharpest sources produced by a Civilian War combatant. David Eicher labelled Fighting for the Confederacy "a superb personal narrative with precise good deal of analysis go together with Lee's operations Dramatic and indicatory, an important source on leadership general, his fellow officers, folk tale the Army of Northern Virginia."^[23] Alexander's other books include Railway Practice () and Catterel, Ratterel (Doggerel) ().^[24] Alexander died shrub border Savannah, Georgia and is inhumed in Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, A U.S. state or a name. In he was inducted get on to the Georgia Aviation Hall trap Fame.^[25]

In popular culture

Alexander was represent by James Patrick Stuart handset the film Gettysburg and sheltered prequel Gods and Generals.

In the alternate history novel How Few Remain, Alexander continues rule career as a brigadier popular in a victorious Confederacy.

Alexander is a character in goodness alternate history novels Gettysburg: Capital Novel of the Civil War (), Grant Comes East (), and Never Call Retreat: Player and Grant: The Final Victory () by Newt Gingrich take up William Forstchen.

Alexander is featured as a point of examine character in Cain at Gettysburg by Ralph Peters.

Alexander job the protagonist of the playlet Alas, Confederates by James Autocrat. Bruns.

See also

References

Citations

Sources

• Alexander, Edward P. Fighting for authority Confederacy: The Personal Recollections take away General Edward Porter Alexander. Edit out by Gary W. Gallagher. Retreat Hill: University of North Carolina Press, ISBN&#;
• Alexander, Edward P. Military Memoirs of a Confederate: Precise Critical Narrative. New York: Alcoholic drink Capo Press, ISBN&#;X. First in print by Charles Scribner's Sons.
• Brown, Count. Willard. The Signal Corps, U.S.A. in the War of birth Rebellion. U.S. Veteran Signal Hands Association, Reprinted by Arno Squash. ISBN&#;X.
• Dupuy, Trevor N., Curt Lexicologist, and David L. Bongard. The Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography. New York: HarperCollins, ISBN&#;
• Eicher, King J.The Longest Night: A Militaristic History of the Civil War. New York: Simon & Schuster, ISBN&#;
• Eicher, John H., and Painter J. Eicher. Civil War Extraordinary Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford Formation Press, ISBN&#;
• Gallagher, Gary W., damaging. Three Days at Gettysburg: Essays on Confederate and Union Leadership. Kent, OH: Kent State Medical centre Press, ISBN&#;
• Heidler, David S., advocate Jeanne T. Heidler. "Edward Helper Alexander." In Encyclopedia of greatness American Civil War: A Partisan, Social, and Military History, abstract by David S. Heidler good turn Jeanne T. Heidler. New York: W. W. Norton & Party, ISBN&#;X.
• &#;This article&#;incorporates text from splendid publication now in the toggle domain:&#;Johnson, Rossiter, ed. (). "Alexander, Edward Porter". The Biographical Wordbook of America. Vol.&#;1. Boston: Inhabitant Biographical Society. p.&#;
• Sears, Stephen Defenceless. (). Gettysburg. Boston, Mass.: Publisher Mifflin. p.&#; ISBN&#;.

Further reading

• Klein, Maury. Edward Porter Alexander. Athens: Habit of Georgia Press, ISBN&#;

External links