Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-07-21
DEATH or GEN. FRANK p.
M BLAIR, JR.


by his family and a few Intimate friends.
lie has been in n prccarious state for
some months, but under "blood trans
fhsing treatment" had began TO grow
stronger, and was generally supposed
to be steadily improving During tho
past few days he has taken frequent
rides, and yesterday walked down
stairs His death came suddenly, and
will bc painful surprise to his many
friends, who had confident hopes Of his
recovery.
General Blair was son of the ven
cradle Francis i. Blair, one of the
leading politicians and journalists Of
the days Of Andrew Jackson. lie was
born in Lexington, Ky, on the 10Th Of
February, 1921, and was therefore only
in his fifty-seventh year at the time Of
his death. In his twentieth year he
graduated at Princeton college, and
removed TO st. Louis, Missouri, and
there began the study of law, In which
profession he made rapid progress. In
1916, being then in his istwenty-fifth year,
he made journey TO the Rocky
Mountains, with party Of trappers,
for the improvement of his health,
which had failed somewhat, owing to
close pursuit of his duties, and on the
breaking out of the Mexican war,
Blair joined the force under Kearney
and the gallant Doniphan in New
Mexico, and served as private soldier
until 1847, when be returned to St
Louis, and resumed tho practice Of his
profession.
In 184S, like his father, he gave his
support to the free soil party, and in a
speech delivered at the court house in
St. Louis, contended against the ex.
tension Of slavery into the territories
of the nation. In 1852 he was elected
from st, Louis county, Missouri, to the
Legislature as an avowed free soiler
and he was reelected in 1854, though
Thomas II. Benton, the congressional
candidate of the free soilers, was beat
on. In 1856, Mr.. Blair was returned
to Congress from the st. Louis district
over Mr.. Kennett, who had defeated
Col Benton two years before. In 1851
he delivered an elaborate speech in the
House of Representatives in favor o.
colonizing the black population of the
United States in South America. Al
this time he was also the editor Of the
st. Louis Democrat, then radical Re
publican paper. He continued to hold
a seat in Congress until the outbreak
of the rebellion, and at that date was
chairman of the committee of military
affairs.
In 1860, General Blair made a speech
in Brooklyn,in favor of Mr.. Lincoln foi
the Presidency, and also delivered al
address in New York, in June, 1861
in favor Of strong war measures. He
was very energetic in raising troops il
Missouri, cnlisting the First regiment
of Missouri Volunteers, and acted al
its Colonel, although he did not hold {
commission as such. A difficulty sooI
arose between him and General Free
mont, the commander of the depart
ment, and he was placed under arrest
This arbitrary measure aroused grea
deal Of excitement, and he was released
from arrest in September, 1861, by
President Lincoln's express order.
Col. Blair was commissioned brig
adler general by President Lincoln
lie divided his services between Con
gress and the army, to the great dis
gust of his latter political associates
who had tried hard TO have him eithe
deprived of his seat in Congress or o
bis commission in the army. III
served with average credit in some o
the earlier campaigns Of Grant AM
Sherman, commanded division o
M'Phcrson's corps in May, 1862, an,
was appointed Major General late il
the same year, resigning his seat il
the Thirty-elghth Congress TO devot
his entire time to the command, bu
| BY the action of the House subsequent
ly the seat was assigned to his con
tcstant.
Some of the events in his militar,
career are deserving Of fuller notice
On the 22d of May, 1862, he command
ed a division in the attack on Vicks
burg, the division embracing th
: brigades Of Ewing, Smith and Kirb,
Smith. He led the attack in persor
five batteries concentrating their gun
on the rebel position. The attack wa
/ terrific, and was repulsed. As th
head of the column passed over thu
parapet dense fire Of musketry swep
away all its leading files. The rear 0
the column attempted to rush on bu
were driven back, and the supporting
division was too far off TO give hin
any assistance. Blair's division ais
participated in the capture of Vick:
burg,an did some ofthc heaviest fight
ing done by Sberman's army, and il
said that General Grant at that tim
declared that Blair was the best vo
untecr general in the northern army
In the great march of Sherman to Ga
sea, Gen. Blair commanded the lit
army corps, the finest corps of tn
whole army. He crossed the Ogeochc
near Barton, and captured the frs
prisoners. His divisions laid pontoon
across the river and the two wing
were thus united before Savannah
From Savannah the Fourteenth corp
was taken by water to Pocotaligc
whence II threatened Charleston, Will
Slocum, with the Twentieth corps an
Kilpatrick's cavalry, marched up tn
Augusta to Sister Ferry, thrcatenin
an advance on Savannah at Tulli
hatchic. Blair waded through
swamp three miles wide with waite
four feet deep, the weather being bite
cold Here the Seventeenth had al
other fight, and lost n number of killc
and wounded, but drove the rebels b,
hind the Edisto at Branchville. TIL
army then directed its march o.
Orangeburg. Here the Scventeent
carried the bridge over the Sout
Edisto by a gallant dash, Blair leadin
his men, as usual, up to the battery
mouth, which was covered by para
, pet of cotton and earth extending o
far as could be seen. Blair thre,
, Smiths division in front, while hi
other division crossed below and cal
iied the bridge after hard fight. !
half dozen of Blair's corps were th
| G,.of 10 ontos Hnlu,,h,a and tho Cava,