Welcome Alonzo Crafts

He studied the law at Lancaster, NH. He served as First Sergeant, Company F, 2nd New Hampshire Infantry from 27 May to 3 October 1861. Giving his age as 23, he enrolled in Company B, 5th New Hampshire Infantry as First Lieutenant on 21 October 1861. Captured in action during the Seven Days, reportedly after falling asleep on duty, and held at Libby Prison, Richmond. Exchanged and returned to duty shortly after. He was appointed Captain on 11 September 1862.

He may have been slightly wounded by "grapeshot" at Antietam on 17 September 1862.

He was wounded again in action at Fredericksburg, VA on 13 September 1862. He was appointed Major on 6 September 1864, Lieutenant Colonel on 28 October, and Colonel on 29 April 1865 (although he was not mustered at that rank). He mustered out as Lieutenant Colonel on 28 June 1865. He was honored by brevet to Colonel, U. S. V. to date from 13 March 1865, for gallant and meritorious conduct during the War.

In 1866 was briefly a clerk in the US Treasury Department before accepting a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, 17th US Infantry in April. He was appointed Captain, 26th US Infantry 28 July 1866. He was unassigned 19 May 1869 and mustered out 1 January 1871. He was again honored by brevets on 2 March 1867 - to Major for actions at Fredericksburg, and to Lieutenant Colonel for Gettysburg. He then returned to the law with a practice in Austin, TX then to Brownsville in 1878.

Basic military information from Child1 and Heitman2. His photograph from a CDV offered for sale by Heritage Auctions, December 2014. Further details from a series of posts by Mike Pride, and family genealogists - especially The Crafts Family: A Genealogical and Biographical History (Northampton, MA: Gazette Printing, 1893), pg. 541.

01/23/1835; Milan, NH

01/12/1891; Brownsville, TX; burial in Old City Cemetery, Brownsville, TX