North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-07-08
Frank r. Blair, Jr,

Fr0Mk r. Blair, Or.
The Democratic nominee for Vice Pres
ident, the son of Francis p. Blair, ST., the
veteran statesman and Journalist, was
born in Lexington, KY, on the 9th of
February, 1921. After completing his
education at Princeton college, he applied
himself to the study of law in his native
town, and after being admitted to the bar,
removed to st. Louis, and commenced
practice in lS43. During the war with
Mexico. he served as II lieutenant of vol
unteers. After the peace, he returned to
st. Louis and resumed the practice of his
profession. Entering into politics with
the zeal characteristic Of his nature and
patriotic temperament, he became identi-
fed with the so called Stree soir' party,
by supporting Mr.. Van Buren, for the
presidency on the Boston platform. He
was elected to the legislature of Missouri
in 1852 as a delegate from st. Louis, and
was reelected in 1854. Upon the expira-
ton OF his second term, in 1856. he was
chosen to represent the st. Louis district
in Congress, and was successfully r~e-elect-
ed in the years 1858, 1860, 1862. From
the spring Of 1861 until he left his seat in
Congress, he was chairman Of the commit
tee on military affairs in the house.
Upon the breaking out of the rebellion,
Mr.. Blair raised the first regiment of Miss
ouri volunteers and on the It'll of August,
having, in the meantime, attended the
special session of Congress; he was ap-
pointed a brigadier general of volunteers.
The brigade OF which he first assumed
command was raised by his own efforts
among the citizens of Missouri. He was
promoted to the rank of a major general
in November of the following year.
Gen. Blair's military record-while in
command of a brigade at Chickasaw bayou
and Arkansas Post of Sherman's old
division of the 18th army corps in the
siege oe Vicksburg and the capture of
Jackson, Mississippi of the 18th corps in
its marching from Iuka to Chattanooga,
and thence to Knoxville, including the
battle of Mission Ridge and Of the 18th
army corps in the ever memorable Atlanta
campaign-is familiar to all who followed
the events, or have made themselves ac-
quainted with the history of the great re-
bellion.
When IKE army of the Tennessee went
into winter quarters at Huntsville, in 1868,
General Blair, at the personal request of
President Lincoln, returned to Washing
ton and resumed his place in congress-
At the opening of active operations, he
FASTENED back to the army, and was as
signed to the command Of the 18th army
corps, in place of General Mcpherson,
who la succee1edG General Sherman atthe
head of the army of the Tennessee.
General Blair, as will be seen, is a rep
resentative of the citizen-soldiery of the
nation. He is one of the very few volun-
teer officers, uneducated in the regular
school, who has risen by his merits from
the rank of a Lieutenant of Infantry to
that of a Major General, and whose per.
formances as a soldier fully justified the
wisdom Of his promotion. In war or in
politics, in the field or in the forum, Frank
p. Blair has ever proved, by the test oil
the most thorough practice, a success
Ills nomination to the second place on the
democratic ticket is worthily -bestowed
honor to the statesmanly abilities as wei
as to the soldierly merits of the man.