Le Louisianais. [volume] (Convent, La.) 1865-1883, 1868-07-25

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subsequently, upon Il reconstruction OF Gen.
Grants forces, was assigned 10 the F!ltrsnlh
corps, then commanded by General w. Il.
Sherman. While under The comman4of that
brilIian. officer General Blair hsA 6 harss Of
the First brigade of General S,eeRs's division
a, the attack upon The defences in the rear of
Vick>bnry on ',te g, h Of lDecetGber, 1882.
During the assaults MOT Tie works" deneral
Blair greatly distinguished himself for his
bravery betrg tho last to leave the hrights,
although the main army h ID been severely re.
pulsed. General Blair commanded his brigade
in General Sherman's wing of McClernand's
army during The assam, upon and capture Of
Fort Hindnan, on the Arkansas liver, IN the
10Th and 18th Of January, 1868. For the gal,
lantty he displayed al these last mentioned
contests he was promoted to be a major
general Of volunteers, with II commission
dating from November 90, 1862. During the
month of April, 1863, Major General B,air
was placed in command Of a division Of Sher.
mans corps, formerly commanded by General
David Smart, who, in consequence Of his ap
poluimen, not having been confirmed by the
Senate, had resigned the service. AT the head
Of this division he took part in all the opera
lions in the vicinity of Vicksburg and in The
siege, and further established his Character for
bravery.
During the remainder Of the war General
Blair took an active and con picu"ns rai, IN
ncafly |l-lhe great battles Of the West. His
division gained distinction in the attack on
and capture Of jackson, Miss, and on the 81
Of October, 1868, General Sherman appointed
him to the command of the corps formerly
commanded by himself. In his new capacity
he again exhibited many high traits of gcue.
ral>hip, and from the advance Of the Amy
from The Mississippi 10 the terrible battles Of
Missionary Ridge his corps participated wnh
distinguished vaIor and won FIR its commander
considerable reputation. In the early part Of
1864, being DESTROYS of taking his sea, in Con-
gre>s, TO which he had been elected ia 1862.
General Blair presented his resignation 10 Mr..
Lincoln at the request Of thai gentleman, who
urged him 10 be present and aid in the organi-
cation Of the House. Daring ,h. mont, Of
March %folIowin. he re-en,ercd the service and
was placed in command OF the Seventeenth
Army corps. Until the war ended he remained
in the field, serving under General Sherman
in The celebrated campaign to Atlanta an The
sea, and winnin. fresh laurelS as n military
l,,1,r m thn vI.b nc I,i, 1Scs L., tut,
farewell TO his corps at Louisville and retired
10 private life.
AS soon as the war was over aud Genera!
Blair perceived That The people of the South
We're honestly disposed 10 abide the result Of
the conflict in good faith, he urged a liberal
and generous treatment Of The ex rrhc's. Al
first he continued his connection with the re-.
publican patty aud endeayored to change il,
course in his Stale 10 a policy Of conservatism.
The Legislature Of Mi>sonri had passed a law
DISTINGUISHING all who participated in or gave
aid and comfort to the rebellion, and another
law requiring all The citizens of the State TO
take a test oath. Both of these measures were
opposed by General B'air as proscrip,ive and
unconstitutional. lie urged that, The war being
over, there was no need Of any further ricor
towards the men who had engaged in rebellion.
and regarded il as dangerous 10 The peace and
prosperity Of the State to deprive Them Of The
RICH, to vote. With regard to the les. oa,l, he
absolutely refused 10 subscribe to il, and npou
presenting himself at the polls in St. L.ouiS
his vote was refused for III L reason. For this
act he brought a suit before the courts for III.
purpose of testing the cons,iln,iouariiy Of The
law. The case is now before the Supreme
Court Of the United States and is not vet de.
cided. Gradually General Blair severed his
connection with the republican party, after
having been a member of that organization
from lis incipienry. When The present re.
construction laws of Congress were passed he
denounced them as d%esp",ic, revolutionary and
unconstitutional, and declared ,ha, The people
of the Son,h would not be in the wrong if they
resisted their execution.
General BIair's military reputation has
gained him considerable popularity in The
West, and particularly among the la,e Union
soldiers in that section Of The country.
IN. Y. Herald.