Charles W. Blair
Encyclopedia
Charles White Blair was a lawyer
, and Union Army
officer who served in three different regiments during the American Civil War
. He fought primarily in the Trans-Mississippi Theater and was notable during Price's Missouri Raid.
February 5, 1829. He became a lawyer before moving to Kansas
. At the outbreak of the war, he was commissioned a captain in the 2nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment
and fought at the battle of Wilson's Creek
. He resigned in October 1861 but was reappointed as major
of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry
in February 1862. He fought with the 2nd Kansas Cavalry at the first Battle of Newtonia
. Blair commanded Fort Scott
during 1863. In October 1863 he was appointed lieutenant colonel
of the 14th Kansas Cavalry
, his third and final regiment of the war. In November 1863 he was promoted to colonel of that regiment.
during the Camden Expedition
. During this time however, Company E was detached to the Department of Kansas
under Samuel R. Curtis. Blair personally accompanied this detachment to the headquarters of James G. Blunt
's Provisional Cavalry Division of the Army of the Border
. There, he was placed in command of Blunt's 3rd Brigade. This command assignment proved to be a cumbersome arrangement for Blair. The 3rd Brigade was primarily composed of Kansas State Militia regiments of Brigadier General
William H. M. Fishback's command. Fishback resented taking orders from a colonel. The command structure of the 3rd Brigade became a "brigade within a brigade". Fishback was in direct command of the militia regiments attached to the 3rd Brigade while Blair was in overall command of the brigade which also included his own 14th Kansas Cavalry detachment and the 9th Wisconsin Artillery Battery
. When the Union army moved east, the Kansas State Militia units refused to cross over into Missouri claiming they would defend Kansas, not Missouri. Fishback used the opportunity to send one regiment back home without orders. Blunt had Fishback arrested but he was soon released by order of General Curtis. Fishback returned to his militia units within the 3rd Brigade and was instructed to take orders from Blair and General Blunt. This affair caused Blair's brigade to miss the fighting at the second battle of Lexington
. As the Union forces retreated from Independence
, Blair's men constructed earthworks along the Big Blue River
.
Blunt arranged three of his brigades in a line of battle south of Westport with Blair in support. As the battle raged back and forth Curtis arrived at the front with Blair's brigade and directed it into position perpendicular to the Kansas/Missouri state line. Fearful of a being outflanked, Blair initiated a counter-attack. Curtis ordered the rest of the army forward in support of Blair's bold move. The attack bogged down, but at this critical moment Curtis personally led Blair's 9th Wisconsin Battery through a gulch which opened fire on the Confederate flank. This turned the tide of the battle and the Confederates began a retreat. Blair's brigade formed in the center of the Union army as it made a general advance against the faltering Confederate line.
's Union cavalry caught the retreating Confederate forces along Mine Creek
in Kansas. Hampered by their wagon train many Confederates were taken prisoner including two generals. One of these generals was John S. Marmaduke
who formally surrendered to Blair. Blair received a brevet
promotion to brigadier general on February 13, 1865 and was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 11, 1865.
After the war Blair returned to his legal practice. He died at Coronado Beach, California on August 20, 1899.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, and Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
officer who served in three different regiments during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He fought primarily in the Trans-Mississippi Theater and was notable during Price's Missouri Raid.
Early career
Blair was born in Georgetown, OhioGeorgetown, Ohio
Georgetown is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brown County. Georgetown was the childhood home of Ulysses S...
February 5, 1829. He became a lawyer before moving to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. At the outbreak of the war, he was commissioned a captain in the 2nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment
2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry
The 2nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Kansas Infantry was organized at Lawrence, Kansas and mustered in for three months...
and fought at the battle of Wilson's Creek
Battle of Wilson's Creek
The Battle of Wilson's Creek, also known as the Battle of Oak Hills, was fought on August 10, 1861, near Springfield, Missouri, between Union forces and the Missouri State Guard, early in the American Civil War. It was the first major battle of the war west of the Mississippi River and is sometimes...
. He resigned in October 1861 but was reappointed as major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
of the 2nd Kansas Cavalry
2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 2nd Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 2nd Kansas Cavalry was organized at Kansas City, Kansas beginning on November 8, 1861 but its designation was changed to 9th Kansas Infantry on February 4, 1862....
in February 1862. He fought with the 2nd Kansas Cavalry at the first Battle of Newtonia
First Battle of Newtonia
The First Battle of Newtonia was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on September 30, 1862 in Newton County, Missouri.Following the Battle of Pea Ridge in March, most Confederate and Union troops left northwestern Arkansas and southwestern Missouri...
. Blair commanded Fort Scott
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott National Historic Site is a historical area under the control of the United States National Park Service in Bourbon County, Kansas, United States. Named after Mexican-American War General Winfield Scott, during the middle of the 19th century it served as a military base for army action...
during 1863. In October 1863 he was appointed lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the 14th Kansas Cavalry
14th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 14th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Fort Scott and Leavenworth, Kansas in April 1863 as a battalion serving as escort for Major General James G. Blunt...
, his third and final regiment of the war. In November 1863 he was promoted to colonel of that regiment.
Command of the 3rd Brigade
Throughout 1864 the 14th Kansas Cavalry was attached to the VII Corps and fought under Frederick SteeleFrederick Steele
Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
during the Camden Expedition
Camden Expedition
The Camden Expedition was a military campaign in southern and central Arkansas during the American Civil War. It involved Union forces stationed at Little Rock and Fort Smith under the command of Major General Frederick Steele...
. During this time however, Company E was detached to the Department of Kansas
Department of Kansas
The Department of Kansas was a Union Army command department in the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the American Civil War. This department existed in three different forms during the war.-1861:...
under Samuel R. Curtis. Blair personally accompanied this detachment to the headquarters of James G. Blunt
James G. Blunt
James Gillpatrick Blunt was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.-Early life & career:...
's Provisional Cavalry Division of the Army of the Border
Army of the Border
The Army of the Border was a Union army during the American Civil War. It was created from units in the Department of Kansas to oppose Sterling Price's Raid in 1864. Samuel R. Curtis was in command of the army throughout its duration.Major General James G...
. There, he was placed in command of Blunt's 3rd Brigade. This command assignment proved to be a cumbersome arrangement for Blair. The 3rd Brigade was primarily composed of Kansas State Militia regiments of Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
William H. M. Fishback's command. Fishback resented taking orders from a colonel. The command structure of the 3rd Brigade became a "brigade within a brigade". Fishback was in direct command of the militia regiments attached to the 3rd Brigade while Blair was in overall command of the brigade which also included his own 14th Kansas Cavalry detachment and the 9th Wisconsin Artillery Battery
9th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery
The 9th Independent Battery Wisconsin Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was often referred to as "Lyons' Pinery Battery".-Service:...
. When the Union army moved east, the Kansas State Militia units refused to cross over into Missouri claiming they would defend Kansas, not Missouri. Fishback used the opportunity to send one regiment back home without orders. Blunt had Fishback arrested but he was soon released by order of General Curtis. Fishback returned to his militia units within the 3rd Brigade and was instructed to take orders from Blair and General Blunt. This affair caused Blair's brigade to miss the fighting at the second battle of Lexington
Battle of Lexington II
The Second Battle of Lexington was a minor skirmish during the American Civil War, taking place on October 19, 1864, in Lexington, the county seat of Lafayette County, Missouri. It formed a part of Confederate Maj. Gen...
. As the Union forces retreated from Independence
Second Battle of Independence
The Second Battle of Independence was a minor engagement of the American Civil War October 21–22, 1864 centered in Independence, Missouri, with some of the fiercest fighting taking place at the present-day United Nations Peace Plaza; the "Harry Truman" Railroad Depot; George Caleb Bingham's...
, Blair's men constructed earthworks along the Big Blue River
Blue River (Missouri)
The Blue River is a stream that flows through Johnson County, Kansas and Jackson County, Missouri in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The river rises in Johnson County near the border of the states of Kansas and Missouri...
.
Westport
At the battle of the Big Blue River Blair's brigade was attached to the Kansas Militia Division under General George Deitzler. The militia units in general fared poorly in their first real engagement and retreated with the rest of the Union army into Westport.Blunt arranged three of his brigades in a line of battle south of Westport with Blair in support. As the battle raged back and forth Curtis arrived at the front with Blair's brigade and directed it into position perpendicular to the Kansas/Missouri state line. Fearful of a being outflanked, Blair initiated a counter-attack. Curtis ordered the rest of the army forward in support of Blair's bold move. The attack bogged down, but at this critical moment Curtis personally led Blair's 9th Wisconsin Battery through a gulch which opened fire on the Confederate flank. This turned the tide of the battle and the Confederates began a retreat. Blair's brigade formed in the center of the Union army as it made a general advance against the faltering Confederate line.
Mine Creek and Post War Career
The sense of urgency gone with the victory at Westport, most of the Kansas Militia units returned home. A few units in Blair's brigade remained in the field and took part in the pursuit of Confederates. Alfred PleasontonAlfred Pleasonton
Alfred Pleasonton was a United States Army officer and General of Union cavalry during the American Civil War. He commanded the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac during the Gettysburg Campaign, including the largest predominantly cavalry battle of the war, Brandy Station...
's Union cavalry caught the retreating Confederate forces along Mine Creek
Battle of Mine Creek
The Battle of Mine Creek, also known as the Battle of the Osage, was a battle that occurred on October 25, 1864 in Kansas as part of Price's Raid during the American Civil War...
in Kansas. Hampered by their wagon train many Confederates were taken prisoner including two generals. One of these generals was John S. Marmaduke
John S. Marmaduke
John Sappington Marmaduke was a career military man and a West Point graduate. He is known for his service as a Confederate Major general during the American Civil War...
who formally surrendered to Blair. Blair received a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to brigadier general on February 13, 1865 and was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 11, 1865.
After the war Blair returned to his legal practice. He died at Coronado Beach, California on August 20, 1899.