HOVEY, Alvin Peterson, soldier, born in Posey county, Indiana, 6 September, 1821. He was educated in the Mount Vernon common schools, studied law, was admitted to the bar of Mount Vernon in 1843, and practised with success, he was a delegate to the Constitutional convention of Indiana in 1850. In 1851 he became circuit judge of the 3d judicial circuit of Indiana, which office he held until 1854, when he was made judge of the supreme court of Indiana. From 1856 till 1858 he served as United States district attorney for Indiana. During the civil war he entered the national service as colonel of the 24th Indiana volunteers, in July, 1861. He was promoted brigadier-general of volunteers on 28 April, 1862, and brevetted major-general for meritorious and distinguished services in July, 1864. He was in command of the eastern district of Arkansas in 1863, and of the district of Indiana in 1864-'.5. General Grant, in his official report, awards to General Hovey the honor of the key battle of the Vicksburg campaign, that of Champion's Hill. General Hovey resigned in October, 1865, and was appointed minister to Peru, which office he resigned in 1870. He was elected to congress as a Republican in 1886.