Alexander Duncan Adams

(1832 - 1872)
Home State: New York
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 27th New York Infantry

see his Battle Report

Before the Antietam Campaign:
Adams was resident of Lyons who was prewar lieutenant in Company A--Lyons Light Guard--of the 54th New York State Militia (NYSM). He had been an Engineer on the project to enlarge the Erie Canal, and teacher at the Union School in Lyons.

At the start of the War he helped raise a company in Wayne County and was appointed Captain, Company B, 27th Infantry at the unit's organization on 2 May 1861. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel after First Bull Run on 1 September 1861.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He commanded the regiment as they led the assault on Crampton's Gap on 14 September, but was not significantly engaged at Antietam on the 17th.

The remainder of the War:
Adams was appointed full Colonel on 4 October 1862 and led the regiment until the end of their term of service on 31 May 1863.

After the War:
After his service, Adams returned to Lyons and became Principal of the Union School. He died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1872, relatively young at 39 years, leaving a widow and daughter.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Service dates from Maryniak 1, additional details from Fairchild 2. The photograph here from one in the MOLLUS - Massachusetts collection at the USA Army Military History Institute; see also an engraved portrait of Adams from that volume featured in a post on behind AotW.

Birth Date: 12/25/1832    Place of Birth: Lyons, NY
College: Hobart College (Geneva, NY)
Death Date: 10/28/1872    Death Place: Lyons, NY    Burial Place: South Lyons Cemetery, Lyons, NY

Notes

1 Maryniak, Benedict R., N.Y.S. GAR Posts and their Namesakes, NYGenWeb Site of the Civil War, first accessed 01 May 2005, <http://www.rootsweb.com/~nycivilw/gar1.html>, Source page: "Wayne County" [AotW citation 21]

2 Fairchild, C. B, History of the 27th Regiment N.Y. Vols., Binghamton (NY): Carl & Matthews, printers, 1888, pg. 242 [AotW citation 688]

« Search for Another Participant