Eugene Alger (abt. 1843 - 1865)

Born about 1843 in Otsego, Otsego, New York, United States

Ancestors

Died 4 Jan 1865 at about age 22 in Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Maryland, United States

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Biography

Corpotal Eugene Alger served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: August 4 1962
Mustered out: January 4, 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 121st Infantry Regiment Volunteers, New York, Company F

Corporal Eugene Alger was a Prisoner of War during United States Civil War.

Eugene was born in 1843 or 1844 (Census data). He was the son of Silas Alger and Catherine Oakley. He died while in military service in early 1865.

Enlisted At Otsego, New York, as a Private on 4 August 1862 at the age of 19. Mustered into Company F, 121st Infantry Regiment New York on 23 August 1862, later known also as "Upton's Regulars," for a term of 3 years. Was assigned to Capt. Nelson O. Wendell's Co. F, as a Private, but would later be promoted to a Corporal, at Camp Schuyler, near Herkimer, New York.

Saw initial action at South Mountain/Crompton's Pass in the Antietam Campaign. Was at Fredericksburg, Virginia in December 1862 during the ill fated attempt for the northern forces to unseat the Confederates then holding the town.

After their repulse went into winter quarters across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg in Stafford County at White Oak Church. Was involved in the now famous "Burnside Mud March" in January of 1863.

On 3 May 1863 the 6th Corp of which the 121st New York was a regiment in was ordered to re-cross the Rappahannock, capture the lightly defended Fredericksburg and continue on in an attempt to link up with Gen. Hooker then in battle at Chancellorsville. Between Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville they ran into a very strong contingent of Confederates at Salem Church, which almost annihilated the 121st Regiment New York

After their retreat, went onto the Gettysburg campaign and then back to Virginia.

Eugene was captured by the Reb's at the Battle of the Wilderness and was taken to the Confederate prisoner of war camp at Andersonville, Georgia. After 8 months of confinement, he was paroled and taken to Camp Parole in Annapolis, Maryland, where he received treatment for illnesses resulting from confinement. It was here that he died on 4 January 1864 and was buried in the cemetery there at Camp Parole, which later became Annapolis National Cemetery.

(NOTE: There is a Cenotaph marker at the Alger family plot in Fly Creek, New York, for both him and his brother, Freeman Alger, who also was in the 121st Regiment New York. Neither are buried there; it was a Cenotaph marker, placed in their memory.)

Sources

• 1860 US Census
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94658557/eugene-alger
• 121st New York Infantry Regiment