Alexander Hays (July 8, 1819 – May 5, 1864) was a Union Army general in the American Civil War, killed in the Battle of the Wilderness. July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1819 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... 1864 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... The American Civil War was fought in North America from 1861 until 1865 between the United States of America – forces coming mostly from the 23 northern states of the Union – and the newly-formed Confederate States of America, which consisted of 11 southern states that had declared their secession. ... This article is about the Battle of the Wilderness in the American Civil War. ...