Edward Porter Alexander

Edward Porter Alexander Historical Figure Nationality: United States (Confederate States, 1861-1865) Year of Birth: 1835 Year of Death: 1910 Cause of Death: Dementia Religion: Protestantism Occupation: Author of Non-Fiction, Railroad executive, Diplomat, Educator, Engineer, Farmer Spouse: Bettie Mason (d. 1899), Mary Mason Children: Six Military Branch: United States Army (1857-1861) Confederate States Army (1861-1865) Fictional Appearances: The Guns of the South POD: January 17, 1864 Type of Appearance: Direct Nationality: Confederate States Military Branch: Confederate States Army (Second American Revolution) Southern Victory POD: September 10, 1862 Appearance(s): How Few Remain Type of Appearance: Direct Nationality: Confederate States Military Branch: Confederate States Army (War of Secession; Second Mexican War)

Edward Porter Alexander (May 26, 1835 – April 28, 1910) was an engineer, an officer in the United States Army, a Confederate general in the American Civil War, and later a railroad executive, planter, diplomat, and author.

Alexander is best known as the officer in charge of the massive artillery bombardment preceding Pickett's Charge on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, but he is also noted for his early use of signal and observation balloon intelligence in combat and is well regarded for his postwar memoirs and analyses of the war.

Edward Porter Alexander in The Guns of the South

During the 1864 campaign, Brigadier General Edward Porter Alexander commanded the artillery of General James Longstreet's corps. He became a hero of the Second American Revolution by destroying the Long Bridge with long range artillery fire using a pair of Napoleon cannon during the storming of Washington City. This prevented Union General Ulysses Grant from effectively counter-attacking and allowed the Confederates to consolidate their occupation.

Edward Porter Alexander in Southern Victory

Edward Porter Alexander was a Confederate officer in both the War of Secession and the Second Mexican War.

In the War of Secession, he became chief of artillery in General James Longstreet's Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia at the young age of 28. In the Second Mexican War, he commanded the artillery of the Army of Kentucky, and was second-in-command to General-in-Chief Thomas Jackson throughout the Louisville campaign.

See also

• Alexander (Broadpath's brigadier), an analog of Alexander in The War Between the Provinces.