Alexander Hunter

Alexander Hunter (1843- June 30, 1914) was an American soldier for the Confederate States Army, civil servant, and writer best known for the novels Johnny Reb and Billy Yank and The Women of the Debatable Land. Early life Alexander Hunter was born in 1843 and was a member of the Hunter family. He was the son of Bushrod Hunter and Mary Frances Blow. He lived during his youth at the Abingdon plantation in present-day Arlington County, Virginia and studied at private schools until the start of the American Civil War in 1861. Civil War Alexander Hunter became a private in the Confederate Army where he served in Company A of the 17th Virginia Infantry for the first two years of the war. Hunter was captured in 1862 but was exchanged in time to fight at Antietam. He was paroled soon after being captured again on September 17, 1862 at Antietam and went on to participate in the Battle of Chancellorsville. Following Chancellorsville, Hunter joined Company H in the 4th Virginia Cavalry Regiment, also known as the "Black Horse Troop", on the recommendation of General Robert E. Lee. Captured once more, he attempted escape twice and finally returned to his regiment to serve until the Confederate surrender. Wounded twice during the war, Hunter was pardoned by President Andrew Johnson on September 4, 1865.