Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Gilchrist Patton, U.S.V.

Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Gilchrist Patton was born at Indian Stream, New Hampshire, on March 8, 1836, and is the son of William and Mary (Johnson) Patton. His mother's family were prominent participants in the Revolutionary War, espousing the side of England. His father was born at Dumfries, Scotland, and came to this country in 1813, locating in Vermont, where he married, and shortly after moved to New Hampshire. He took an active part in the Patriot War of 1837, and his family, who lived near the border-line, were driven from their home as refugees, fleeing to Lockport, New York, where he found them after his discharge from the service.

When but seven years old Colonel Patton was sent to work in the printing-office of The Lockport Courier, and worked there a number of years.

At the age of seventeen he went to Troy, New York, and entered the carriage establishment of Lown & Horton as apprentice to the trade of carriage-trimming. He continued in the employ of this company until 1858, moving from there to Schenectady, New York, where he engaged in the carriage business for himself, and remained there until the breaking out of the late war.

Colonel Patton enlisted as a private in Company C, Second New York, or Black-Horse Cavalry; mustered in August, 1861, and promoted to sergeant; promoted to second lieutenant September, 1861; first lieutenant October 2, 1861, and was on duty with his regiment at Arlington, Virginia, until December, 1861, when his regiment was assigned to Cavalry Brigade, McDowell's division, Army of the Potomac, in defence of Washington until March 31, 1862, at which time he was mustered out of service with his regiment.

August 2; Bottom's Bridge, August 27-29; Baltimore Cross-Roads, August 27; Charles City Court-House, December 9; Cavalry Brigade, Second Division, Eighteenth Corps, January, 1864; Bottom's Bridge, February 6-9; Carrollton's Store, March 13; Drewry's Bluff, May 12-16; Clove Hill Junction, May 14; Bottom Church, May 17; Cold Harbor, May 31 June 12; West Point, June 5; Deep Bottom, June 23-27; Surrey Court-House, July 11; Fort Powhatan, September 16; Third Brigade, Kautz's cavalry, Department of Virginia and North Carolina; Jones's Creek, December 21; siege of Petersburg, Virginia, January, February, March. 1865; White House, March 19, 1865; raid into North Carolina to cut railroad communications between Generals Lee and Johnston, April, 1865; at Fredericksburg till July, and at various times was in command of the Second Brigade, Kautz's cavalry division. Mustered out July 10, 1865.

Immediately after the close of the war Colonel Patton became interested in the manufacture of hollow-ware at Troy, New York. He continued in this business at Troy until 1874, when he moved to Columbus and Started the Patton Manufacturing Company, and in 1886 he formed a branch concern at Jeffersonville, Indiana, under the same name. He is the proprietor of both institutions, which are the largest manufacturers of hollow-ware in the world.

Colonel Patton was chairman of and had charge of the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic held at Columbus, Ohio, in 1888. He is a member of the Loyal Legion of the United States and Wells Post, No. 451, Department of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic.

He was married in October, 1855, to Mary E. Way. Mrs. Patton died December 4, 1886. They had two children, Ida Patton Tracy and Allan V. R. Patton.

Related Links:

• Civil War Records
• Civil War Microfilm at the National Archives
• Patton Surname
• Picture of Patton House

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