Andrew J. Alexander

Researcher: Megan Cole

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          Andrew J. Alexander was a private in the 45th Regiment of Massachusetts, also known as the Cadet Regiment because many officers were once members of the Boston Cadet. The regiment was called forth on August 4, 1862 for nine months. Alexander was under the command or Col. Charles R. Codman in Company C. Andrew’s company gathered on September 26, 1862 in Camp Meigs, Reedville with most of the other companies of his regiment. The 45th regiment took part in four battles - Kinston, White Hall Ferry, and Goldsborough Bridge, all in North Carolina and part of the Goldsborough Expedition, and in Core Creek on the railroad toward Goldsboro.

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          The battle at Kinston took place during the beginning of the Goldsborough Expedition on December 14, 1862. A brigade led by General John G. Foster was to destroy the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad at Goldsborough but near Kinston Bridge they fought with a Confederate force, but because the Confederates where outnumbered they withdrew and the Union force continued the next day along the River Road. During the battle there was an estimated 685 casualties, fifteen of them from the 45th Regiment of Massachusetts.

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          The second battle of the Goldsborough Expedition was a battle was fought on December 16 when the Union troops reached White Hall, where the Confederate troops were holding the North Bank of the Neuse River. Some of the Union soldiers stayed and fought with the Confederate troops trying to gain the bank while the majority of the Union troops continued on toward the railroad. Four men from the 45th Regiment of Massachusetts were killed and sixteen were wounded. 

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          The third and final battle during the Goldsborough Expedition was at Goldsborough Bridge on December 17. The Confederate brigade was able to delay them but unable to prevent the destruction of the bridge. During the battle there was an estimated 220 total casualties. During the Goldsborough Expedition there was a total estimate of 1050 casualties.

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          After the Goldsborough Expedition the 45th Regiment returned to its previous camp in till January 17th 1863 scouting in Trenton, returning on the 22nd that same month. From January 26th to April 26 they regiment served as provost guard, almost like police for the military, in Newbern.  The engaged in a fight near Core Creek on the railroad toward Goldsboro taking Confederate railroad near its intersection with the Dover Road. During the fight one man from the 45th Regiment was killed and four others were injured.  The regiment then returned to it’s last camp near Fort Spinola where it remained till June 24th 1863 when the returned to Boston where the remained till July 8 in their old camp, Camp Meigs, Reedville. Andrew J. Alexander lived to be discharged at the end of the war as a private.