HISTORY
OF THE SEVENTY SEVENTH DIVISION
Major -
General Robert Alexander
MAJOR-GENERAL
ALEXANDER, under whose command the 77th Division operated
during the last three phases of this history, the
Vesle-Aisne advance, the Argonne campaign, and the
advance on Sedan, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on the
seventeenth of October, 1863. His father was Justice
William Alexander of the Circuit Court of Baltimore City
and the Court of Appeals of the State of Maryland.
In his youth it
seemed that the future general would choose the
profession of law as had his father, but after reading
law for two years in the office of Messrs. J. B. and
Edwin H. Brown, Centerville, Maryland, and subsequent
admission to the bar, Robert Alexander, lawyer, enlisted
April 7, 1886, in Company G, 4th Infantry and became
Robert Alexander, Private, U. S. Army.
On July 4, 1887, he
became 1st Sergeant of his company, in which capacity he
served until commissioned 2d Lieutenant of Infantry on
December 19, 1889. To follow the rise and adventures of
Captain, Major, Colonel, and General Alexander is to
follow the tale of the American Army through its
campaigns against the Indians, the War with Spain, the
Cuban Occupation, the Philippine Insurrection, the A. E.
F. Mexico, and the A. E. F. France.
His first
assignment as an officer was with the 7th Infantry, with
which he served in the expedition against the hostile
Sioux Indians in the winter of 1890-91 and in suppressing
the quasi Civil War in Denver, Colorado, and the Debs
Railway Strike (1894). In December, 1896, he became a 1st
Lieutenant and was assigned to the 12th Infantry.
In March, 1898, he
was assigned to the 11th Infantry and was with that
regiment in Porto Rico when it was part of the brigade
under Brigadier-General Theodore Schwan that cleared the
western end of the island of the enemy. Lieutenant
Alexander commanded Company C, 11th Infantry, in both
engagements of the operation, Hormigueros (August 10,
1898) and at Los Marias (August 13, 1898). He was cited,
once in each engagement, for gallantry by General Schwan.
Lieutenant
Alexander remained in Porto Rico until August, 1900, as
disbursing officer of the United States Provisional Court
for the Department of Porto Rico, at which time he
returned to the United States with his company (then
Company D, 11th Infantry). On October 2, 1899, he became
a captain.
In February, 1901,
with the 11th Infantry, he was ordered to the Philippine
Islands, and stationed at Carigara, Island of Leyte. From
then on to 1908 he served with this regiment through its
numerous changes of station. Most notable of his service
in the Philippine insurrection was in 1901-02 against the
hostile bands on the Islands of Samar and Leyte. During
one of these actions he was wounded by a bolo. On January
2, 1902, he was cited by Brigadier-General Jacob H. Smith
"For courage, skill and perseverance in
action."
In 1903 the
regiment was stationed in Manila and returned in 1904 to
the United States, Fort D. A. Russell, Wyoming. In
October, 1906, the regiment was ordered to Cuba as part
of the Army of Occupation.
In 1908 be became a
student officer in the Army School of the Line,
graduating in 1909, and in 1910 graduated from the Army
Staff College; after which he was assigned as
inspector-instructor of the National Guard of Maryland,
remaining on this duty until 1913.
In 1913 he was
assigned to the 17th Infantry, and commanded a battalion
when the regiment was sent to the Mexican border, serving
at Eagle Pass until April 20, 1916. At this time the 17th
Infantry was ordered to Mexico as part of the United
States Punitive Expedition. Although a major, through
lack of senior officers he commanded the regiment. On
July 1st he was promoted lieutenant-colonel. The troops
of the 17th Infantry succeeded in destroying Candelario
Cervantes, one of the principal lieutenants of Francisco
Villa, for which it was commended by General Pershing-
one of the few citations of that time.
Returning to the
United States in February, 1917, with the Punitive
Expedition, Colonel Alexander was detailed on special
work, mustering and inspecting National Guard troops,
rejoining his regiment some months later at Fort
Oglethorpe.
On August 26, 1917,
he was made permanent colonel, Regular Army, and on
November 2d was ordered to France, upon his arrival being
assigned Inspector General of Lines of Communication. He
remained on that duty until the 12th of February, when,
becoming a brigadier-general, he was placed in command of
the 41st (Ist Depot) Division. On the third of August,
1918, he was assigned to the command of the 63d Infantry
Brigade, joining the next day, and was in the second
Battle of the Marne. He remained with this brigade until
the 26th of August when, having become a major-general,
he was given the command of the 77th Division.
He joined the 77th
Division on the 27th of August and commanded it through
its campaigns and the armistice. On the 9th of November,
two days before the cessation of hostilities, he was
slightly wounded by the fragment of a shell that landed
in front of his headquarters in Raucourt.
In the front line
General Alexander was a familiar figure to the Doughboys.
He always visited the front line during the fighting and
would encourage the men verbally as well as by his
presence. On March 7th last he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, the citation reading as
follows:
"For
extraordinary heroism in action near Grand Pre, France,
October 11, 1918. During the advance in the Argonne
Forest and at a time when his forces were fatigued by the
stress of battle and a long period of active front line
service, Major-General Alexander visited the units in the
front line, cheering and encouraging them to greater
efforts. Unmindful of the severe fire to which he was
subjected he continued until he had inspected each group.
His utter disregard of danger and inspiring example
resulted in the crossing of the Aire and the capture of
Grand Pre and St. Juvin."