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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Colonel · U.S. Army

Alexander Shaler

Colonel Alexander Shaler, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 3, 1863 at Marye's Heights, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 3, 1863

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Colonel Alexander Shaler received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 3, 1863 at Marye's Heights, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 65th New York Infantry. Shaler was 36 years old.

29 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 25, 1893, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major General.

Shaler was born on March 19, 1827 in Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Shaler died on December 28, 1911 in New York, New York, at the age of 84. He is buried at English Neighborhood Reform Church Cemetery in Ridgefield, New Jersey. His medal is held by 7th Regiment Armory (1904 design), New York City, NY.

Shaler is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

At a most critical moment, the head of the charging column being about to be crushed by the severe fire of the enemy's artillery and infantry, he pushed forward with a supporting column, pierced the enemy's works, and turned their flank.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Haddam — map
  • Died: New York City — map
  • Buried: Ridgefield Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. March 19, 1827
    Born in Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut
  2. May 3, 1863
    Act of valor — Marye's Heights, Virginia
    Age 36. 65th New York Infantry
  3. November 25, 1893
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. December 28, 1911
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 84.
  5. Resting place
    English Neighborhood Reform Church Cemetery
    Ridgefield, New Jersey

Biography

Alexander Shaler (March 19, 1827 – December 28, 1911) was a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg. After the war, he was at various times the head of the New York City Fire Department, president of the National Rifle Association, and Mayor of Ridgefield, New Jersey, from 1899 to 1901.

From the Wikipedia article “Alexander Shaler”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 3, 1863

FB Frederick A. Ballen Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Thomas Wilson Bradley Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 EB Edward Brown Jr. Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 JB John Knight Bucklyn First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 John F. Chase Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Andrew Davidson Assistant Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1863 JF Jacob G. Frick Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 John Curtis Gilmore Major · Army Civil War · 1863 WG William Ernest Goodman First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1863 Lewis Addison Grant Colonel · Army Civil War · 1863 John Hack Private · Army Civil War · 1863 Francis Bloodgood Hall Chaplain · Army Civil War · 1863

See all 30 recipients for May 3, 1863 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

William H. Raymond Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 John Kiggins Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Samuel W. Kinnaird Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JH James Samuel Hill Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ RB Richard Beddows Private · Army Civil War · 1864 FJ Francis W. Judge First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.