George A.H. Blake

For other people named George Blake, see George Blake.
George A.H. Blake
Born August 31, 1810
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died October 27, 1884 (aged 74)
Washington, D.C.
Buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery
Allegiance United States
Union
Service/branch United States Army
Union Army
Years of service 1836-1870
Rank Colonel, USA
Brevet Major General, USA
Unit 2nd U.S. Dragoons
1st U.S. Dragoons
Commands held 1st U.S. Cavalry
2nd Brigade, Cavalry Reserve
Battles/wars

Second Seminole War

Mexican–American War

American Indian Wars
American Civil War

Relations George E. Blake (father)
George A. Blake (son)

George Alexander Hamilton Blake (August 31, 1810 – October 27, 1884) was a cavalry officer in the United States Army during the American Indian Wars, the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War.

Early Life and career

George Blake was born on August 31, 1810, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as child of English-American musician George E. Blake and Anna Margaretta Henesiem Blake. When the 2nd U.S. Regiment of Dragoons was raised in 1836, Blake received a civilian appointment and was commissioned into the army with the rank of First Lieutenant. Stationed in Florida he took part in the Second Seminole War, including the action at Fort Mellon and the Battle of Jupiter Inlet. Blake was promoted to Captain in 1839 and continued his service in Florida till 1841 when his command was transferred to Texas.[1]

Mexican–American War and Ante-Bellum

In 1846 Blakes' regiment, originally commanded by David E. Twiggs, participated in the Battle for Mexico City under command of Edwin Vose Sumner. Grouped in the Brigade of Dragoon Brigade under Col. William S. Harney the regiment and Captain Blake participated i.A. in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Puebla Contreras, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec and the Battle for Mexico City. At war's end Blake, highly commented by his superiors, received a brevet promotion to Major for gallant and meritorious conduct in the affair at St. Augustine, Mexico, August 17, 1847.

Transferred to the 1st U.S. Dragoons he was promoted to full Major on July 23, 1850. Assigned to the Western Frontier, he and a mixed command of cavalry and infantry established Fort Massachusetts in the New Mexico Territory, which became the first permanent U.S. post in the state of Colorado. In 1857 he commanded the detachment of dragoons that accompanied Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale and the United States Camel Corps on their Arizona Expedition.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Henry, Guy V. (1873). Military record of civilian appointments in the United States Army. Vol. 1. New York: Carleton. pp. 138–139.

External links