The Biographical Dictionary of America/Alexander, Edmund Brooke

ALEXANDER, Edmund Brooke, soldier, was born in Prince William county, Va., Oct. 2, 1802. He was graduated at West Point in 1823. He served in the army on the frontier and on garrison duty for twenty years. In the Mexican war he won distinction for bravery at Cerro Gordo, Contreras, and Churubusco, and was brevetted major and lieutenant-colonel. He was afterwards major of the 8th infantry from Nov. 10, 1857, and colonel of the 10th infantry from March 3, 1855. He commanded the Utah expedition of 1857-'58 until relieved by Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. In the civil war he was detailed as provost marshal of St. Louis, and was chief disbursing officer for the state of Missouri, and superintendent of the volunteer recruiting service with headquarters at St. Louis during the war. He was brevetted brigadier-general March 14, 1865, and with his regiment commanded Fort Snelling, Minn., until Feb. 22, 1869, when he was placed on the retired list after fifty years' service. He removed to Washington, D.C., where he died Jan. 3, 1888.