Alexander Shaler
Born: March 19, 1827
Birthplace: Haddam, Connecticut
Father: Captain Ira Shaler 1788 – 1866
(Buried: Shailorville Tylerville Cemetery, Haddam, Connecticut)
Mother: Jerusha Arnold 1788 – 1874
(Buried: Shailorville Tylerville Cemetery, Haddam, Connecticut)
Wife: Mary McMurray 1829 – 1920
(Buried: Ridgefield Cemetery, Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Children:
Camilla Japonica Shaler Jussen 1847 – 1933
(Buried: Ridgefield Cemetery, Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Mary Virginia Shaler Shailer 1852 – 1925
(Buried: Ridgefield Cemetery, Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Martha W. Shaler Penney 1857 – 1932
(Buried: Ridgefield Cemetery, Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Major Ira Alexander Shaler 1862 – 1902
(Buried: Ridgefield Cemetery, Ridgefield, New Jersey)
Occupation before War:
Worked as a stone Mason at his father's business
Served in the New York State Militia rising to the rank of Major
He was a member of the 7th New York State Militia
Author of Manual of Arms for Light Infantry
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1862: Lt. Colonel of 65th New York Infantry Regiment
1861: Credited by New York Times for his way of drilling volunteers
1861: Served in the Defenses of Washington, D.C.
1862 – 1863: Colonel of 65th New York Infantry Regiment
1862: Served in the Virginia Peninsula Campaign
1862: His regiment was at Pleasant Valley, Maryland on Sept. 16th
1862: Marched his regiment nearly to Harper's Ferry
1862: Arrived on the battlefield of Antietam on Sept. 18th at 11:00 AM
1862: Present but not engaged at the Battle of Fredericksburg
1863 – 1865: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers
1863: Brigade Commander at Second Battle of Fredericksburg. Led the brigade, driving Jubal Early's division away from the Heights. At a crucial moment, Shaler seized a flag and led his men into the Confederate defenses.
1863: Helped hold Culp's Hill on the 3rd day Battle of Gettysburg
1863: Sent to the center in reserve during Pickett's Charge
1863 – 1864: Commander of Prisoner of War Camp, at Johnson's Island
1864: Captured during the Battle of the Wilderness while rallying
1864: Prisoner of War at Libby Prison and Macon, Georgia
1864: Placed under the fire of Union batteries at Charleston
1864: Released as Prisoner of War by the Confederate army
1864: Brigade Commander in the Union Army, Department of Gulf
1864 – 1865: Division Commander in Arkansas
1865: Helped coordinate paroles of M. Jeff Thompson's Confederates
1865: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 24th
1866: Confirmed as Brevet Major General of Union Army, Volunteers
Occupation after War:
1867 – 1873: New York City, New York Fire Commissioner
Active leader in Union Army, Veterans Affairs and groups
1867: Major General of New York State Militia
Known as the founder of the National Rifle Association
Chairman of New York City Board of Health
President of Soldiers Business Messenger and Dispatch Company
President of Automatic Signal Telegraph Company
1885: Arrested but not convicted of corruption
1893: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for his duty at Marye's Heights
1899 – 1901: Mayor of Ridgefield, New Jersey
Died: December 28, 1911
Place of Death: New York City, New York
Cause of Death: General Arteriosclerosis, Senility, Exhaustion
Age at time of Death: 84 years old
Burial Place: Ridgefield Cemetery, Ridgefield, New Jersey
Medal of Honor Citation | The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel Alexander Shaler, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 3 May 1863, while serving with 65th New York Infantry, in action at Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Virginia. At a most critical moment, the head of the charging column being about to be crushed by the severe fire of the enemy's artillery and infantry, Colonel Shaler pushed forward with a supporting column, pierced the enemy's works, and turned their flank. |
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