From Civil War Military Records:
Alexander enlisted at Age 21 on Aug 11,1862 into Co. H 22nd Iowa Infantry. Residence Jefferson,Iowa. Nativity Virginia. Discharged for disability Jun 12,1863 Rolla, Mo.
Birthdate is based on military records.

Alexander had 2 brothers who fought for the Confederacy as Virginians and 3 brothers who fought for the Union as Iowans. (Courtesy of Rita Ogron)

The following report of adjutant concerning suidical ill-advised frontal assault of Fort Beauregard,Vicksburg by 22nd Iowa on May 22 1863(probably the cause of his disability): "The enemy were on the alert and, as our colors rose above the crest of the hill, a thousand bayonets glistened in the sunlight above the parapet at Fort Beauregard.
The strong work against which the main attack was directed covered about half an acre of ground, the walls being about fifteen feet high, surrounded by a ditch ten feet wide. A line of rifle pits connected it with others of the same kind, each of which was so arranged as to enfilade the approach to the other. The regiment succeeded in reaching—under a concentrated fire of grape and musketry—an almost impenetrable abatis, forty yards from. the works, where it became necessary to reform the line, the men having become separated in crossing the obstructions. They promptly rallied to the flag and were again led to the charge. Lieutenant Colonel Graham then assumed command and, with a few officers and about fifty men, succeeded in reaching the ditch surrounding the fort, but, having no scaling ladders, they were unable to enter the works. Sergeant Joseph E. Griffith, with some fifteen or twenty men,succeeded—by raising one another up the wall—in gaining an entrance and capturing a number of prisoners, but the fire from the enemy's rifle pits in rear of the fort, and the lack of reinforcements coming to their aid, rendered the place untenable. Sergeant Griffith and David
Trine, of Company I, were the only survivors of this daring exploit. This was the last frontal assault of Fort Beauregard ever attempted. Afterwards Vicksburg was defeated using long term siege tactics."