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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1833

Vol. I
p550
726

(Born Pa.)

Alexander E. Shiras

(Ap'd N. J.)

20

Alexander Eakin Shiras: Born Aug. 10, 1812, Mount Holly, NJ.

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

Bvt. Second Lieut., 4th Artillery, July 1, 1833.

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,

(Second Lieut., 4th Artillery, Oct. 6, 1835)

— Ft. Washington, Md., 1835, — and Ft. Columbus, N. Y., 1835‑37; on Commissary duty at New York harbor, 1837‑38; in the Cherokee Nation,

(First Lieut., 4th Artillery, May 31, 1837)

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

(Captain, 4th Artillery, Mar. 3, 1847, to Sep. 27, 1850)

(Capt., Staff — Commissary of Subsistence, Mar. 3, 1847)

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.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑66: as Assistant

(Major, Staff — Commissary of Subsistence, May 11, 1861)

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

(Col., Staff — Asst. Com.‑Gen. of Subsistence, Feb. 9, 1863)

General of Subsistence at Washington, D. C., Feb. 9, 1863, to June 23,

(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)

1874; and as Member of the U. S. Sanitary Commission, 1861‑66.

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

Served in charge of the Bureau of Subsistence, June 23, 1874, to

(Brig.‑Gen., Staff — Commissary-General of Subsistence, June 23, 1874)

Apr. 14, 1875.

Died, Apr. 14, 1875, at Washington, D. C.: Aged 63.

Buried, St. Andrews Graveyard, Mount Holly, NJ.

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."


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