Alexander E. Shiras • Cullum's Register • 726

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1829, to July 1, 1833, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Served: in garrison at Ft. Monroe, Va. (Artillery School for Practice), 1833; in Creek Nation, 1833‑34; in garrison at Ft. Monroe, Va., 1834‑35,

1838, while transferring the Indians to the West; in the Florida War, 1838‑39; in garrison at Ft. Columbus, N. Y., 1839; at the Military Academy, 1839‑43, — as Asst. Professor of Mathematics, Aug. 30, 1839, to Jan. 4, 1840, — and as Principal Asst. Professor of Mathematics, Jan. 4, 1840, to Aug. 29, 1843; in garrison at Ft. Monroe, Va., 1843‑44; on Recruiting service, 1844‑45; in garrison at Ft. Monroe, Va., 1845‑46; at the West in charge of Subsistence for Volunteers for the Mexican War, 1846; on Commissary duty at New York city, Oct. 13, 1846, to

Apr. 27, 1847; and as Assistant to the Commissary-General in the Subsistence Bureau at Washington, D. C., Apr. 27, 1847, to Apr. 12, 1861, except while temporarily detached at St. Louis in 1857.

to the Commissary-General in the Subsistence Bureau at Washington, D. C., Apr. 12, 1861, to Feb. 9, 1863; as Asst. Commissary-

(Bvt. Brig.‑General, U. S. Army, Sep. 17, 1864,
for Meritorious and Distinguished Services in the Subsistence Department,
and in Supplying the Armies during the Rebellion)

Bvt. Maj.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865, for Faithful, Meritorious, and Distinguished Services in the Subsistence Department during the Rebellion.

Obituary Order.

Upon the death of General Shiras the War Department issued the following order: —

"The Secretary of War with deep regret announces the death of Brigadier-General Alexander E. Shiras, Commissary-General of Subsistence, Brevet Major-General, U. S. Army, which occurred at his residence in this city early this morning.

"General Shiras was a graduate of the Military Academy, of the Class of 1833. His clear intellect and close attention to whatever duty was assigned to him were the cause of his being principally employed in the p551 Subsistence Department, where he ever displayed great business capacity and stern integrity. His early training in that Department was under the veteran Gibson, with whom he long maintained the closest official and personal relations, and many of whose genial and popular traits of character he loved to reproduce.

"He more than once refused a proffered promotion, preferring as a subordinate to lend his best ability to the successful administration of the affairs of his Department. At no time was that ability more conspicuous or more useful than when it was most needed, — during the time of war.

"By due course of succession he became Chief of the Subsistence Department only a brief twelvemonth ago.

"The many friends of General Shiras throughout all branches of the service will long cherish the memory of his generous, affable, and courteous manners, indicative as they were of true kindness of heart.

"The officers of the Subsistence Department will wear the usual badge of mourning for six months."