I thought I would follow the lead of determining the full identity of “Major Alexander.” However, the Official Records Volume 13 index mis-identified him as A.J. Alexander. That produced countless dead ends.

I was finally able to identify him by searching the CSR’s at Footnote of ordnance officers that may have been involved. And, I found him in the records of Colonel John Dunnington, chief ordnance officer of the Trans Miss at the time.

I reviewed Alexander’s CSR’s at Footnote [and other sources as indicated] in preparing this reply.

His real identity is Major George D. Alexander, formerly a Captain in the famous 3rd Arkansas. He had been disabled for active service by the loss of an arm, and was serving as AAQM and recruiting officer for the 3rd Arkansas when on Sept. 3, 1862; General Holmes nominated him as Major of Artillery. While this was later confirmed by the War Dept, Holmes put him to work that very day as follows:

Aug 31, 1862, Camden, Ark-“Geo D Alexander, Major ordnance and artillery”-his name appears on petition for Surgeon Pace’s resignation [Grinstead’s regiment] to be accepted.
[Interesting to note the title he uses to sign this petition. Apparently he did this in anticipation of the rank and title to come].

Sept. 3, 1862 HQ TM Dept-
“Major George D. Alexander is sent under orders from these HQs to obtain and transport to this place arms and ammunition for this command. It is of the first importance that such arms and ammunition be sent forward with all possible haste.
Commanding officers and all others having control of Government transportation along Major Alexander’s route are therefore earnestly requested to furnish him every facility in their power for the purpose stated.
Any assistance given him to hasten forward the stores in his charge will contribute greatly toward relieving the necessities of the service in this Department.”

By September 20th, Alexander was in Richmond as referenced by the settling of his accounts for prior recruiting expenses.

On Sept. 24, Alexander was nominated for Major of Artillery by the Secretary of War.

OR Vol 13
“WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, Va., September 25, 1862. Maj. Gen. T. H. HOLMES, Commanding, & Little Rock, Ark.: SIR: In reply to your letter of the 8th instant you are respectfully informed that all requisitions from the Trans-Mississippi Department have been promptly met, and over $33,000,000 has been sent to the department. Fearing some mistake or misconduct in the keeping and (disbursing of these funds, a statement of each sum forwarded and the name of the officer to whom it was sent has been prepared and inclosed to you, and another copy will be sent. Upward of 20,000 stand of arms have been ordered to the department and 16,000 actually forwarded;
5,000 will go under the charge of Major Alexander. The Department having been informed that Colonel Deshler was on board the boat captured by the enemy while transporting arms across the Mississippi River, desires an inquiry for the purpose of ascertaining whether he is responsible for the loss; and, if not, who is. You will use your own discretion in organizing the forces that may join you from Missouri. Permits to raise regiments in that State are always given subject to your approval. Before your arrival such permits were subject to General Price's approval, and he has been directed to communicate with you on the subject.…The Department will continue to send supplies of arms and ammunition to the Trans-Mississippi country whenever the exigencies of the service elsewhere will permit. Unless prevented by unforeseen contingencies, one-fourth of all the arms purchased and manufactured will be forwarded to you with suitable supplies of ammunition.
G. W. RANDOLPH “

“Sept. 26, Confederate States of America Quartermaster General’s Department, Richmond, Virginia
Sir, Officers of this department will furnish transportation to Major George D Alexander and three assistants to the Trans Miss Army in Arkansas and will extend to him all the aid in their power in forwarding the supplies in his charge.
A.B. Meyer. Quartermaster General C.S. Army”

“Sept 27 Bureau of Ordnance, Richmond, Va Order No 91
Sir-En route to the Trans Miss Dept you will gather all stores intended for that command and supervise their transportation to Little Rock, Arkansas. All messengers and others having in charge Ordnance stores for the Trans Miss department are hereby subject to your orders.
Col Gorgas
Chief of Ordnance”

“October 7, 1862- Capt Alexander-Appointed Major from Ark-[confirmed same day]-to rank from 6/24/62-to report to Gen Holmes”

OR Vol 13
Oct. 11, War Dept to Holmes
“…have ordered forward to you 3,000 stand of arms in addition to those already sent, and I shall continue to increase your stock of arms…”

Oct. 17, Vicksburg- reference to Major Alexander on his return trip to Arkansas as follows:

Captain McDonald ordnance officer writes to Capt Devereaux [AAG to Gen Martin Smith commanding at Vicksburg]-“Maj Alexander arrived Oct 17th, with ordnance stores for Gen Holmes’ Trans Miss command with orders from the Secretary of War to forward them urgently. He refused to wait till the next day when the boat with ordnance stores was going to mouth of Red River at Carthage with ordnance stores for Gen Taylor’s command. The messenger’s note indicated Gen Scurry is here by order of Gen Holmes to forward all stores for the Trans Miss Dept.”
[Note: reference is made to consult the personal papers of General Martin Smith for charges made by Major Alexander against officers at Vicksburg]

OR Vol 13
“WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, Va., October 20, 1862. G W Randolph to Lieut. Gen. T. H. HOLMES, Commanding Trans-Mississippi Department: GENERAL: I have directed a statement of the arms sent to the Trans-Mississippi Department to be forwarded to you, from which you will see that the entire number of small-arms exceeds 25,000. After deducting 5,000 lost in crossing the river and 4,000 intended for General Taylor you will have 16,000 for the force under your immediate command. I hope that these arms will enable you to commence offensive operations. Some delay must still be encountered, however, in getting them to you, owing to the difficulties of transportation. I suppose that the lateness of the season and General Bragg's retrograde movement in Kentucky will compel you to abandon for the present all intention of invading Missouri…”

Nov. 1, 1862 Major Alexander-Announced by Gen Holmes and entered upon duties as chief ordnance officer of the Department relieving Col Dunnington.

Nov 3, 1862- Little Rock- report by LtCol Sanders AQM-MSG. “By order from Gov Jackson dtd Sept 15, Little Rock, and Gen Holmes, Little Rock, dtd Sept 29-I did proceed to Greenwood, Ms, for the purpose of bringing to Little Rock a lot of military stores & returned to Little Rock Nov. 3rd.”
[may not be pertinent, but included for the sake of information]

Alexander Papers
“LITTLE ROCK, ARK., November 14, 1862.
Gen Holmes to General T. C. HINDMAN, Commanding Army of the Northwest:
I will send you up in a few days, or as soon as they arrive, 1,500 arms, making in all sent 5,500. This will arm all your unarmed men. I will also order up to you immediately 7,000 suits of clothes, which is all I have. In regard to the cloth ordered to Vicksburg, it was not from Huntsville, but some French cloth, that was destined originally for Richmond and which I stopped it at once…Nothing new from the East.

OR Vol 13
“HEADQUARTERS TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT, Little Rock, Ark., November 15, 1862
(Received December 15, 1862)
Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR: Your letter by Colonel Tappan has just been received.........Of the 25,000 arms sent to this department you will see by the accompanying return that 10,428 stand have been received. I still have at least 5,000 men without arms of any kind…”

Nov. 30, 1862-Maj Alexander is reimbursed for his expenses as follows:
“Sept 3- Oct. 29 expenses for trip to Richmond from Little Rock w/ 3 assistants and from Richmond to Little Rock w/5 assistants. In returning from Richmond, I was obliged to go to Macon arsenal, Ga, Columbus, Ga, Columbus, Ms & Fayetteville, NC.”

Dec. 1, 1862 Major Alexander relieved by Major Rhett as chief ordnance officer & is assigned to the command of the post of Arkadelphia