View source for Alexander Brown

Alexander Brown, from Aberdeen, Scotland was born on 19 February 1844 (according to his tombstone, but was baptized in St. Nicholas Parish, Aberdeen on 19 November 1828). He had hazel eyes, black hair, dark complexion, 5′ 8 1/2″ tall.

However, based on correspondence received from a collateral descendent of the sergeant from Company G, it seems that he may have been somewhat longer in the tooth than the official records suggest.

Alexander Brown probably emigrated to America with his parents, John Brown (1802-84) and Margaret McKenzie Brown (1804-72), and other members of the family in 1856.

A family member told the story of her ‘Uncle Alex’ visiting them in De Pere, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1876 while on leave before rejoining the [[7th Cavalry]] in Bismarck, Dakota Territory. Company G, which had been on Reconstruction duty in [[Shreveport, Louisiana]] left that city on [[19 April 1876]], arrived at [[St. Paul, Minnesota]] on the [[23 April 1876]], resumed its journey on [[28 April 1876]], and arrived in Bismarck two days later, [[25 April 1876]]. There are no records of Alexander being granted leave, or being absent without permission, during this period, but it possible that he might have made the 550-mile round trip from St. Paul to De Pere in the five-day window referred to above or (pure supposition) that Lt [[Donald McIntosh]] turned a blind eye and allowed Brown to visit his relatives and rejoin his company in camp near [[Fort Abraham Lincoln]].

He died on [[7 April 1884]].

Brown’s true age remains uncertain.