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Brig Gen. Edward Porter Alexander (b.1835 d.1910) was born in Washington, Georgia on May 26, 1835. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1857, third in his class and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant of engineers. He briefly taught at the academy before being sent west to reinforce A. S. Johnston actions against the Mormons. On October 10, 1858 he was officially promoted to 2nd lieutenant . E.P. Alexander married Bettie Mason of Virginia on April 3, 1860, eventually fathering six children. Although Alexander was openly against secession, when Georgia left the union he put the duty to his home state at the forefront and resigned his post in the U.S. Army. He then traveled to Virginia and was commissioned a captain of engineers March 16, 1861, being put in the service of Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas Junction, Virginia. He became the Chief Engineer and Signal Officer of the Army of the Potomac on June 3, 1861. At the battle of First Manassas, Alexander detected Federal flanking maneuvers from a series of observation towers built under his direction, giving the Confederates a decisive edge. He was later to be in the chief of ordnance position on several staffs including Beauregard, Joseph E. Johnston and Robert E. Lee. E.P served with distinction during the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Days, Second Manassas and the Maryland raid and was promoted to a colonel of artillery on July 17, 1862. In the newly reorganized artillery structure of the Army of North Virginia, Alexander was promoted to Colonel and was given a battalion command in Maj. Gen. James Longstreets corps. His un-orthodox approach to the positioning of gun batteries earned him success in many battle situations and also the respect of General Lee himself. It was at Gettysburg that he conducted a massive two-hour bombardment against the Federal position on Cemetery Ridge preceding "Picketts Charge". In the Fall of 1863, he moved with Longstreets corps to Georgia and took part in the failed Knoxville Campaign, returning to Virginia in the spring of 1864. He was recommended for promotion by Joseph E. Johnston and was requested to be chief of artillery in the Army of Tennessee, but Gen. Lee refused to release Alexander from duty. He was however, promoted to Brigadier General February 26, 1864 and elevated by Lee to the chief of artillery on March 19. Alexander served in all the battles of the Overland Campaign and during the Siege of Petersburg and also organized a large part of the defenses around Richmond. He retreated with Lee's army in the Appomattox Campaign where Brigadier General Edward Porter Alexander surrendered with the rest of The Army of Northern Virginia April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. After the war Alexander was quite successful in many ventures including teaching mathematics at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, serving as an executive at several railroad companies, and becoming a published author. Edward Porter Alexander died April 28, 1910 in Savannah, Georgia, and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia.

Nicely done!
Have you seen Alexander's autobio? Fighting for the Confederacy: The Personal Recollections of General Edward Porter Alexander
Oddly, Alexander is one of my mother's favorites. She enjoyed his book.
Did you know that Alexander's grandson was killed in WW1 as a 1st Lt in the Army? He's buried in Arlington.
Battleline

I have not read his books but after writing the bio I think I will. He really was a competant leader it would seem.I didnt put in the bio that it was his suggestion to gen. Lee to keep up the fight as guerillas(sp) and that he settled a land dispute between costa rica and nicaragura concerning a possible central america canal.
No, I was unaware of his grandsons contribution to the U.S..Thanks for the kind words.

mo reb 

Nice job. Let me know if the ratings seem off.


Brig Gen. Edward Porter Alexander (b. 1835, d. 1910). Porter was born in Washington, Georgia on May 26, 1835. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1857, third in his class and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant of engineers. He briefly taught at the academy before being sent west to reinforce Albert S. Johnston’s actions against the Mormons. On October 10, 1858 he was officially promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. I’m deleting this sentence because we usually don’t have family info unless directly relevant to their careers: Alexander married Bettie Mason of Virginia on April 3, 1860, eventually fathering six children. Although Alexander was openly against secession, when Georgia left the Union he put duty to his home state at the forefront and resigned his post in the U.S. Army. He then traveled to Virginia and was commissioned a Captain of engineers March 16, 1861, being put in the service of Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas Junction, Virginia. He became the Chief Engineer and Signal Officer of the Army of the Potomac on June 3, 1861. At the Battle of First Manassas, Alexander detected Federal flanking maneuvers from a series of observation towers built under his direction, giving the Confederates a decisive edge. He was later to be in the Chief of Ordnance position on several staffs, including those of Beauregard, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Gen. Robert E. Lee. Alexander served with distinction during the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Days, Second Manassas and the Maryland raid, and was promoted to a colonel of artillery on July 17, 1862. In the newly reorganized artillery structure of the Army of North Virginia, Alexander was promoted to Colonel and was given a battalion command in Maj. Gen. James Longstreet’s corps. His unorthodox approach to the positioning of gun batteries earned him success in many battle situations and also the respect of Lee himself. It was at Gettysburg that he conducted a massive two-hour bombardment against the Federal position on Cemetery Ridge preceding Pickett’s Charge. In the Fall of 1863, he moved with Longstreet’s corps to Georgia and took part in the failed Knoxville Campaign, returning to Virginia in the spring of 1864. He was recommended for promotion by Joseph E. Johnston and was requested to be chief of artillery in the Army of Tennessee, but Lee refused to release Alexander from duty. He was however, promoted to Brigadier General on February 26, 1864 and elevated by Lee to the chief of artillery on March 19. Alexander served in all the battles of the Overland Campaign and during the Siege of Petersburg and also organized a large part of the defenses around Richmond. He retreated with Lee's army in the Appomattox Campaign, surrendering with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. After the war Alexander was quite successful in many ventures, including teaching mathematics at the University of South Carolina, serving as an executive at several railroad companies, and becoming a published author. Alexander died April 28, 1910 in Savannah, Georgia, and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia.


Leadership: 5
Tactics: 6
Initiative: 5
Command: 6
Cavalry: 0

Teaches: Diggers (7), Disciplined (1), Steady (14)

Golly, I wouldn't make his ratings that high. He was considered mediocre -- his ineptitude on day 3 at Gettysburg doomed Pickett.

Regards,
Feltan

ORIGINAL: Feltan

Golly, I wouldn't make his ratings that high. He was considered mediocre -- his ineptitude on day 3 at Gettysburg doomed Pickett.

Regards,
Feltan

Lee Doomed Pickett. Alexander was up against both superior numbers and quality of Union artillery. Best case scenario is he causes slightly higher union losses before Pickett gets crushed.

I don't know. He showed incredible iniative in battle.

During the campaigns of 1862-63, Alexander would repay Lee's confidence with brilliance and tactical successes. At Fredricksburg, he intelligently deployed his artillery to assault the attacking Federals rather than duel it out with federal batteries on the opposite side of the Rappahannock. While General Lee personally disagreed with the disposition of artillery, he did not insist that Alexander move his cannon. This became a tactical success when Burnside launched his assaults against Longstreet's corps on December 13, Alexander's guns decimated the attacking federals.....
....... as Alexander again showed his discernment of terrain when his artillery deployment at Hazel Grove enabled him to direct its fire against Federal defenders at Fairview Cemetery, driving them into retreat and allowing Lee's wings to reunite.

mo reb

Brig Gen. Edward Porter Alexander (b. 1835, d. 1910). Porter was born in Washington, Georgia on May 26, 1835. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1857, third in his class and was commissioned a brevet second lieutenant of engineers. He briefly taught at the academy before being sent west to reinforce Albert S. Johnston’s actions against the Mormons. On October 10, 1858 he was officially promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.Although Alexander was openly against secession, when Georgia left the Union he put duty to his home state at the forefront and resigned his post in the U.S. Army. He then traveled to Virginia and was commissioned a Captain of engineers March 16, 1861, being put in the service of Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard at Manassas Junction, Virginia. He became the Chief Engineer and Signal Officer of the Army of the Potomac on June 3, 1861. At the Battle of First Manassas, Alexander detected Federal flanking maneuvers from a series of observation towers built under his direction, giving the Confederates a decisive edge. He was later to be in the Chief of Ordnance position on several staffs, including those of Beauregard, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and Gen. Robert E. Lee. Alexander served with distinction during the Peninsula Campaign, Seven Days, Second Manassas and the Maryland raid, and was promoted to a colonel of artillery on July 17, 1862. In the newly reorganized artillery structure of the Army of North Virginia, Alexander was promoted to Colonel and was given a battalion command in Maj. Gen. James Longstreet’s corps. His unorthodox approach to the positioning of gun batteries earned him success in many battle situations and also the respect of Lee himself. It was at Gettysburg that he conducted a massive two-hour bombardment against the Federal position on Cemetery Ridge preceding Pickett’s Charge. In the Fall of 1863, he moved with Longstreet’s corps to Georgia and took part in the failed Knoxville Campaign, returning to Virginia in the spring of 1864. He was recommended for promotion by Joseph E. Johnston and was requested to be chief of artillery in the Army of Tennessee, but Lee refused to release Alexander from duty. He was however, promoted to Brigadier General on February 26, 1864 and elevated by Lee to the chief of artillery on March 19.Jefferson Davis once commented that Alexander was "one of the few whom General Lee would not give to anybody." Alexander served in all the battles of the Overland Campaign and during the Siege of Petersburg and also organized a large part of the defenses around Richmond. He retreated with Lee's army in the Appomattox Campaign, surrendering with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Courthouse. After the war Alexander was quite successful in many ventures, including teaching mathematics at the University of South Carolina, serving as an executive at several railroad companies, and becoming a published author. Alexander died April 28, 1910 in Savannah, Georgia, and is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta, Georgia.


Took out the part about his wife and added a quote.

mo reb

You fellows are compiling very good bios. Thanx. Chris

I like the Jeff Davis quote, so I put it at the start of your bio:

A general who was so valued by the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia that Pres. Jefferson Davis once remarked that he was "one of the few whom General Lee would not give to anybody," Alexander was born in Washington, Georgia on May 26, 1835.

This one's good to go. Thanks!