Edgar Porter Alexander was born on May 26, 1835, in Washington, GA. He was the son of plantation owner Adam Leopold Alexander and his wife Sarah Gilbert. He was appointed to West Point Academy in July 1853. He was ranked the 3rd highest in his class when he graduated in 1857. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant of engineers. Soon after he got out of college, he was sent to Utah on an expedition by President James Buchanan. The expedition was led by General Albert Sydney Johnson.

Alexander married Betty Mason on April 3, 1860, in King George County, VA. He was stationed at West Point as a teacher, where he helped form the Signal Corps of the United States Army. He resigned upon news of the attack at Fort Sumter, SC.

Alexander was appointed as a captain of engineers in the Confederate Army. He was promoted in July 1861 to lieutenant colonel after the Battle of Bull Run. He soon became the chief of ordinance of the Army of Northern Virginia. Alexander performed so well that he was soon made colonel and chief of artillery of General Longstreet’s forces. He was considered to be one of the best artillery officers in American history. Alexander took part in all the major battles in northern Virginia. He was severely wounded at the battle of Petersburg. Alexander was with General Robert E. Lee at the surrender at Appomattox.

After the war ended, Alexander became a professor of engineering and mathematics at the University of South Carolina. He founded and was president of the Columbia Oil Company. He was soon made superintendent of the Charlotte and Augusta Railroad. Alexander was also vice president of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and served as president of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company and as a director of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Alexander became very close friends with President Grover Cleveland. President Cleveland was a strong supporter of former Confederate soldiers and officers. He paid Alexander $1,000 dollars a month to settle the boundary dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This was the beginning of the idea of building a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Alexander maintained homes in Columbia, SC; Louisville, KY; Augusta, GA; and Savannah, GA. He also owned a large rice plantation on South Island near Georgetown, SC.

Alexander built a summer home in Flat Rock in Henderson County, NC. He called the home Wigwam. He would spend the months of June, July, August and part of September in his Henderson County home for the last 20 years of his life. Alexander began writing extensively in his later years, mainly at his Henderson County home. His best-known book was “Military Memoirs of a Confederate.” It took him five years to complete this book, which was published in 1907. The book was soon recognized as both a literary and military classic. The book is a collector’s item and the few that are found bring a high price.

Betty Mason Alexander died in Savannah, GA, on November 20, 1899. She is buried in Magnolia Cemetery in Augusta, GA. Edgar Porter Alexander died on April 28, 1910, also in Savannah. He is also buried in Magnolia Cemetery.

Bruce Whitaker documents Fairview-area genealogy. To get in touch with him, contact the Crier at [email protected] or 828-771-6983 (call/text).