Alexander Shaler

What kind of commander steps forward when an assault is close to failure?

Alexander Shaler built his reputation by doing exactly that. A Union Army officer, brigadier general, brevet major general, prisoner of war, and Medal of Honor recipient, Shaler became one of the notable New York commanders of the American Civil War.

Born on March 19, 1827, in Haddam, Connecticut, Shaler gained military experience in the New York State Militia before the Civil War. He served with the 7th New York Militia and developed a strong knowledge of infantry drill and organization. When war began in 1861, he helped defend Washington before joining the 65th New York Infantry, also known as the 1st United States Chasseurs.

Shaler entered the regiment as lieutenant colonel and later became its colonel. He served through several major campaigns, including the Peninsula Campaign, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness. His most famous action took place at Marye’s Heights, Virginia, on May 3, 1863, during the Second Battle of Fredericksburg.

At a critical point in the fighting, the leading Union assault column was in danger of being destroyed. Shaler moved forward with supporting troops, penetrated the Confederate defenses, and helped turn the enemy’s flank. His official Medal of Honor citation recognized that he advanced at a decisive moment and broke through the enemy’s works while the success of the attack remained uncertain.

For this act of battlefield leadership, Alexander Shaler received the Medal of Honor on November 25, 1893. He had been serving as colonel of the 65th New York Infantry when the action occurred.

But Shaler’s wartime story did not end at Marye’s Heights.

He continued to command troops during the Gettysburg Campaign and later returned to field service during the Overland Campaign of 1864. At the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, Confederate forces struck the exposed Union right flank. Shaler attempted to rally his men but was captured in the confusion.

He was held as a prisoner of war before being exchanged and returned to duty. After his release, he continued serving in the Western Theater until the end of his military service in August 1865. He later received the brevet rank of major general of volunteers in recognition of his wartime service.

Shaler’s documented Civil War service also qualified him for the Civil War Campaign Medal. Unlike the Medal of Honor, the campaign medal did not have an individual gallantry citation. It recognized qualifying United States Army service during the Civil War.

After the conflict, Shaler remained active in military and public affairs. He became a major general in the New York State Militia, worked in fire administration, and assisted with the reorganization of fire services. He also served as president of the National Rifle Association and later became mayor of Ridgefield, New Jersey.

Alexander Shaler died on December 28, 1911. His legacy rests on more than rank or public office. He is remembered as a Union commander who acted decisively under fire, survived captivity, and continued serving his country long after the Civil War ended.

His courage at Marye’s Heights remains the defining moment of his career and the reason Alexander Shaler holds an enduring place among America’s Medal of Honor recipients.