★ Hays, Alexander

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:

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Agnes Milnor Hays Gormly 1847 – 1908​

(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)​

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Alden Farrelly Hays 1850 – 1919​

(Buried: Sewickley Cemetery, Sewickley, Pennsylvania)​

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Gilbert Adams Hays 1854 – 1934​

(Buried: Sewickley Cemetery, Sewickley, Pennsylvania)​

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Martha Alden Hays Black 1856 – 1916​

(Buried: Allegheny Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)​

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Corporal Alfred Pearson Hays 1859 – 1931​

(Buried: River View Cemetery, Portland, Oregon)​

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James McFadden Hays 1860 – 1923​

(Buried: Bellefontaine Cemetery, Saint Louis, Missouri)​

Brig. Gen. Alexander Hays Monument

Located at Gettysburg NMP, Pennsylvania

Photo ©Michael Kendra, about 2003.

Education:

Allegheny College​

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1844: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (20th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1846 – 1846: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 4th​ Infantry Regt.​

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1846 – 1848: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1846: Brevetted 1st​ Lt. for Gallantry at Battle of Palo Alto, Mexico​

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1848: Resigned from United States Army on April 12th​​

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1848 – 1850: Iron Manufacturer in Venango County, Pennsylvania​

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1850 – 1852: Assistant Engineer Pittsburgh & Steubenville Railroad​

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1852 – 1854: Assistant Engineer Allegheny Valley Railroad Co.​

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1854 – 1861: Civil Engineer in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania​

Civil War Career:

1861: Major of 12th​ Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry Regiment​

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1861: Captain United States Army 16th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1861 – 1862: Colonel of 63rd​ Pennsylvania Volunteers, Infantry Regt.​

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1861 – 1862: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

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1862: Served in the Virginia Peninsula Campaign​

Brig. General Alexander Hays Monument Allegheny Cemetery

Photo Cbaile19, May 2015

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1862: Brevet Major for Gallantry at Battles of Fair Oaks and Glendale​

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1862: Breveted Lt. Colonel for Gallantry at Battle of Malvern Hill, VA.​

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1862: Wounded during the Second Battle of Bull Run, Virginia​

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1862 – 1864: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

1862 – 1863: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.​

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1863: Division Commander at the Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Mine Run, Virginia​

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1863: Suffered from the effects of Rheumatism​

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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.​

 

[ErnieMac]

IMO there is more to the flag story than meets the eye. In January 1863 Hays was assigned to command a New York brigade composed of the 39th, 111th, 125th and 126th Infantry Regiments in the defenses of Washington DC. The regiments had an unfortunate history in that they were part of Colonel Dixon Miles' Harpers Ferry garrison that was surrendered during the Maryland Campaign in September 1862. Throughout the Eastern Theater the units bore the unflattering nickname of the 'Cowards of Harpers Ferry'. Three of the four regiments had less than a month of service before Harpers Ferry and the colonel of the fourth was dismissed for the good of the service. Hays oversaw their training outside Washington. He seems to have been a good disciplinarian.

On June 24, 1863, Hays and his brigade were ordered to the Third Division of Hancock's Second Corps which it joined as the command headed north. William Hays, the division's normal commander, was temporarily detached so Hays, as the senior brigadier took command. Command of Hays' brigade temporarily was assigned to Colonel George Willard until his death confronting Barksdale's Brigade on July 2. Colonel Eliakim Sherrill took over and was fatally wounded during Pickett's Charge. The brigade acquitted itself well during its two days of action. Hays' command captured over twenty flags Confederate flag of varying types. At least one, that of the 28th North Carolina, had Harper's Ferry as one of its inscribed battle honors and was taken by the 126th New York. Hays and two of his staff officers rode up and down the line, each of them dragging a flag in the dust to the cheers of the watching troops. Whether one of them was that of the 28th North Carolina I can't be certain, but I have to think Hays was sending a message of redemption to the New Yorkers.

 

[Cavalier]

@ErnieMac I agree with your sentiments expressed above. My ancestor was in the 111th. and I have developed a special fondness for Hays as a result of looking into my ancestors military service.

John

 

[Pollaco]

I can see where to Northern soldiers it would be a positive moral builder but to onlooking (and possibly wounded) Southern soldiers it may appear insulting much like a slap in the face.But then victors always did get to make the rules.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Alexander Hays was a popular cadet at West Point according to this source, and won many friends:

While Hays graduated near the bottom of his class, he excelled in horsemanship and was completely fearless in executing his duties as a soldier. He also, at six feet tall, was someone who readily came to the rescue against any troublemakers – a trait that endeared him to many. His friends called him "Sandy"….

When the general rode out among his men in the final moments of the fight, dragging a Confederate flag, it was miraculous that he was not shot down. Or, perhaps there was another reason. Lieutenant David Shields, who at age 21 served on Hays's staff at Gettysburg, walked the battlefield many years later with a friend who had served as a Confederate officer. The officer remembered seeing General Hays riding along the ridge during the fateful charge, and that he heard one of his superiors say, "Pick that Federal general off." He was immediately countermanded by his own superior, who said, "No, don't shoot him. That's Sandy Hays."

Source:

General Alexander Hays | The Gettysburg Experience

Discover the heroic tale of Brigadier General Alexander Hays, a key figure in Gettysburg's pivotal battle. Explore his life, military career, and legacy at The Gettysburg Experience.

www.thegettysburgexperience.com

 

[nc native]

The flag that General Hays was dragging across the ground was that of the 28th North Carolina Infantry which was present when his command was forced to surrender at Harper's Ferry when it was captured during the Maryland Campaign in September 1862. General Hays was not present because he was recovering from a wound he suffered at 2nd Manassas. Perhaps there was a little payback on
behalf of the men who were there. He was a fearless and inspiring officer and his men poured a devastating fire into Pettegrew's division during the charge on the third day at Gettysburg.

 

[Cavalier]

@nc native There is a story loaded with irony, especially for the Harper's Ferry Cowards. Had I been a member of that brigade I would certainly have enjoyed that display by Hays, regardless of who it offended.

John