ALEXANDER TAYLOR -- 5th CAVALRYDIED AFTER 9 MONTHS IN THE FIELD - In the spring of 1863, AlexanderTaylor, the son of Daniel Taylor and Sally Austin, was added to theDraft Register for Crown Point, NY. By the end of the year, he hadenlisted in the 5th Cavalry in Plattsburgh. He was one of sixteen menwho were recruited and sent to the field from Plattsburgh.He left his wife on the farm and at 5'3" tall with grey eyes, dark hairand a light complexion, left to join his regiment. By January 1864, hewas with the 5th Cavalry while they were in the field near Richmond,and Alexander skirmished and patrolled with them in the area until theend of June.The 5th Cavalry had fought their way down from Richmond to thePetersburg area and had been in some of the major battles of 1864 --South Anna, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor andMalvern Hill -- before they went on the South Side and DanvilleRailroad. On June 29th, he was captured at Ream's Station and was oneof the 91 men captured during the raid.Alexander was taken South and the Register of Officers and Enlisted MenMustered into Federal Service -- 1861-1865 states that he died atAndersonville Prison in September 1864. The history of the regimentwritten in 1865, also says he died at Andersonville.No record of his burial can be found.A pension was granted to his minor son, Chauncy, in 1867.
