Alexander Scott was the only son (he had two sisters Margaret and Flora) of Alexander and Mary Ann (Day) Scott. He was born in Montreal in 1844, but his parents moved to Burlington, Vermont when he was six years old. His father enlisted in Co. I, Fifth Regiment Vermont Volunteers and died from wounds at Annapolis, MD on Oct 19, 1862. Scott entered service with 10th Vermont Infantry Regiment as a private at Winooski, Vermont on August 2, 1862. He was promoted to corporal and was assigned to the color guard.