Dr. Alexander Salley was born in Orangeburg, SC. 26 April 1818. He attended area schools, including Mt. Zion School in Winnsboro then South Carolina College in Columbia, SC. He left the school just before graduation, claiming he did not want to pay extra to graduate. He then attended the South Carolina medical school in Charleston. graduating in the class of 1843. Medical school at that time consisted of two term's 4-5 months long of lectures for two years of which the second year was a repeat of the first year's lectures. After two terms of lectures, students submitted a thesis paper to get a medical degree. Dr. Salley then returned to the Orangeburg area and preceptored with Dr. T.A. Elliott and went into medical practice near the Robert Low swamp area. In 1859, he quit his medical practice due to competion. In 1861, Dr. Salley was a volunteer surgeon at the first battle of Manassas, Virginia. On the formation of Col. Keitt's regiment, the 20^th SCVI he was appointed surgeon. When the regiment was in Charleston on coast defense, he was in charge of one of the hospitals in Mt. Pleasant. In 1864, Col. Kennedy appointed him Kershaw's brigade surgeon. Dr. Sally being loyal to his friends in the 20^th, refused to move his quarters and mess with the brigade staff, choosing instead to remain with the regiment. After the war, Dr. Sally returned to private practice in Orangeburg, SC joining his old preseptor, Dr. Elliott in partnership. In 1866, with out his knowledge the local citizen's of Orangeburg nominated and elected Dr. Salley to the statehouse. In 1872, his son Dr.M.G.Salley joined Dr. Salley in practice. Dr. Salley died in Orangeburg, SC April 1, 1895 He is buried in Sunnyside cemetery.

Tall center monument is Dr..Alexander Salley's of the 20^th SCVI regimental Surgeon Sunnyside Cemetery,Orangeburg, SC