John Washington S. Alexander was born in 1823, probably in Lincoln County, Tenn, and killed during the Civil War at Chickamauga, on Sept. 20, 1863.
He was the son of Milton K. Alexander (1796-1856) of Elbert Co., Ga., and Mary Shields of Giles, Co., Tenn. He married a woman named Elisabeth, born in 1830, possibly in Union Co., Tenn. They had a son Howard, who appears to have died as a baby. A short time later his wife also died, not long after giving birth to a daughter. Alexander served as a 2nd Lieutenant for Company H, in the 4th Illinois Infantry Volunteers during the Mexican War. The 4th Illinois Infantry was enrolled for 12 months, July 1846 to May 1847. After the Mexican War ALexander returned to Paris, Ill., and worked as a merchant in hardware. When the Civil War broke out he served as a captain of Company F in the 21st Illinois Infantry Volunteers. He was promoted to Colonel on Aug. 23, 1861, taking over Ulysses S. Gran,s command when Grant was promoted to Brigadier General.
From the description of Letter [manuscript] : Tampico, Mexico, to John TenBrook, M.D., Paris, Edgar Co., Illinois, 1847 Mar. 4. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 182522886
