Alexander Cheves Haskell (September 22, 1839 – April 13, 1910) was a Colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War and a Democratic politician in Reconstruction era South Carolina.
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Early life
Haskell was born in Abbeville County and raised in Columbia, where he graduated second in his class from South Carolina College and was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, right before the start of the American Civil War.
Civil War
He enthusiastically volunteered for service in the Confederate Army and was mustered in the First Regiment of the South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, serving as an Assistant Adjutant General for Maxcy Gregg. En route to Virginia in September 1861 for action in the Eastern Theater, Haskell married Rebecca Coles Singleton in Charlottesville. She died on June 26, 1862, after the birth of a daughter six days earlier.
The First South Carolina Regiment initially saw significant action in 1862 at the Seven Days Battles and would play a major role in the Second Battle of Bull Run by repulsing six Union assaults. On May 27, 1864, Martin Gary promoted Haskell to Colonel and placed him in charge of the 7th SC Cavalry in the brigade formerly commanded by Wade Hampton III.