Enlisted as a Private (date unknown).
"A" Co. TN 3rd Infantry
Federal Pension Information:
He applied for a pension on 6/25/1880
application # 384,992
His Widow (Sarah E Alexander) applied for a pension on 2/12/1892 from the state of TN
application # 541,059
Sources used by Historical Data Systems, Inc.:
- Index to Compiled Military Service Records
- National Archives: Index to Federal Pension Records

.......

Third Infantry
TENNESSEE
(3-YEARS)

Organized: on 2/1/62
Mustered Out: 2/23/65 at Nashville, TN

Officers Killed or Mortally Wounded: 3
Officers Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 0
Enlisted Men Killed or Mortally Wounded: 54
Enlisted Men Died of Disease, Accidents, etc.: 168
(Source: Fox, Regimental Losses)

Third Infantry. -- Cols., Leonidas C. Houk, William Cross;
Lieut.Cols., John C. Chiles, William M. Sawyers; Maj.,
Rhadamanthus H. Dunn.

This regiment was organized at Flat Lick, Ky., in March, 1862.
It remained near that place until June, when as part of
Spear's brigade it went to Cumberland Gap, but was
subsequently ordered to London, Ky.

There the regiment was divided, five companies under Col. Houk
remaining at that place and the other five under Lieut.-Col.
Chiles going to Richmond. Houk was attacked by a superior
force under Gen. Scott, retreated to Cumberland Gap, and
subsequently with Gen. Morgan to Ohio.

The five companies under Chiles, while on their way to rejoin
Houk at London, were attacked by Scott's cavalry at Big Hill
and the greater part of the command captured. The remainder
made their way to Richmond, Ky., where on Aug. 23, 1862, all
but about 100 were taken prisoners and paroled.

The few who escaped retreated to Louisville and were
temporarily attached to the 3rd Ky. infantry, with which they
took part in the battle of Perryville. They were then ordered
to Gallipolis, Ohio, where the regiment was reunited.

It then went to Nashville and thence to Murfreesboro. In
April, 1863, Col. Houk and Lieut.-Col. Chiles resigned and the
regiment, then stationed at Carthage, was placed under the
command of Maj. William Cross, who was commissioned colonel a
short time afterward. In August the regiment left Carthage
and marched by the way of Alexandria and McMinnville to a
point on the Tennessee River below Chattanooga.

It remained in the vicinity of Chattanooga until November,
when it proceeded to Knoxville to the relief of Burnside. On
April 26, 1864, it left Strawberry Plains to enter upon the
Atlanta campaign, in which it took an active part. After the
surrender of Atlanta it was ordered to Johnsonville, thence to
Duck River, and finally to Columbia.

Before reaching the latter place the approach of Hood forced
it back to Nashville, which it reached by the way of Charlotte
and Clarksville, arriving in time to participate in the
battles before that city.

After pursuing the enemy to Clifton, Tenn., it returned to
Nashville and was there mustered out Feb. 23, 1865, the
regiment at that time numbering about 340 of the original
command. During its existence it numbered 990 enlisted men.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 379