Alexander Hays
Alexander Hays graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1844, and served in the Mexican–American War, and won special distinction in an engagement near Atlixco, after which he resigned his commission, went on a foolish search for gold in California, and worked on several more promising engineering projects. When the Civil War began, he re-entered service as a Colonel. After the Seven Days Battles, he was appointed a brevet lieutenant colonel in the regular army for gallantry in action. He was badly wounded at 2nd Bull Run, but was appointed brigadier general of volunteers for his actions. Soon he was given command of the third Division in the II Corps during the Gettysburg Campaign. Hays's division defended the right of the Union line on July 3rd, holding firm on Cemetery Ridge. At the Battle of the Wilderness, Hays was struck in the head by a Minié ball and killed.
Born: July 8, 1819
Birthplace: Franklin, Pennsylvania
Father: U.S. Congressman Samuel Hays 1783 – 1868
(Buried: Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Pennsylvania)
Mother: Agnes Broadfoot 1783 – 1839
(Buried: Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Pennsylvania)
Wife: Annie Adams McFadden 1826 – 1890
(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Children:
Agnes Milnor Hays Gormly 1847 – 1908
(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Alden Farrelly Hays 1850 – 1919
(Buried: Sewickley Cemetery, Sewickley, Pennsylvania)
Gilbert Adams Hays 1854 – 1934
(Buried: Sewickley Cemetery, Sewickley, Pennsylvania)
Martha Alden Hays Black 1856 – 1916
(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Corporal Alfred Pearson Hays 1859 – 1931
(Buried: River View Cemetery, Portland, Oregon)
James McFadden Hays 1860 – 1923
(Buried: Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri)
Education:
Allegheny College
1844: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (20th in class)
Occupation before War:
1846 – 1846: Brevet 2nd Lt. United States Army, 4th Infantry Regt.
1846 – 1848: 2nd Lt. United States Army, 8th Infantry Regiment
1846: Brevetted 1st Lt. for Gallantry at Battle of Palo Alto, Mexico
1848: Resigned from United States Army on April 12th
1848 – 1850: Iron Manufacturer in Venango County, Pennsylvania
1850 – 1852: Assistant Engineer Pittsburgh & Steubenville Railroad
1852 – 1854: Assistant Engineer Allegheny Valley Railroad Co.
1854 – 1861: Civil Engineer in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Civil War Career:
1861: Major of 12th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry Regiment
1861: Captain United States Army 16th Infantry Regiment
1861 – 1862: Colonel of 63rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry Regt.
1861 – 1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
1862: Served in the Virginia Peninsula Campaign
1862: Brevet Major for Gallantry at Battles of Fair Oaks and Glendale
1862: Breveted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Malvern Hill, VA.
1862: Wounded during the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia
1862 – 1864: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers
1862 – 1863: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
1863: Division Commander at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1863: Served in the Battle of Mine Run, Virginia
1863: Suffered from the effects of Rheumatism
1864: Killed in action near the intersection of Brock and Plank Roads at the Battle of the Wilderness
Died: May 5, 1864
Place of Death: Battle of the Wilderness, Virginia
Cause of Death: Struck in the head by a Minié ball
Age at time of Death: 44 years old
Burial Place: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
On Left, Lt. U.S. Grant and his racing pony Dandy,
On Right, Lt. Alexander Hays and his pony Sunshine.
4th U.S. Infantry at Salubrity, Louisiana, 1845,
while preparing to leave for the Mexican-American War.
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