The Washington times., 1904-08-18
.BLACKMAR HEAD
OF THE G. A. R.
Next Years Meeting Will
BE in Denver.
AREER OF NEW COMMANDER
on in Pennsylvania, Enlisted at Be-
ginning and Served to End
of Civil War.

BOSTON. Aug 1s-Gen. ". w Black
mar. Of Massachusetts. was today Unan-
imously elected commander-ln-chisf of
the Grand Army Of the Republic for the
ensuing year
Denver has been selected as the place
OF holding the next encampment.
Inc first business this morning was
the election of officers.
Col. John {. Shots and Col. A. c.
Blackwell, both of New York. withdrew
before q ballot was taken. and Gen.
Nllmon ". BldCkmar, past department
commander Of Massachusetts, was
elected by reclamation commander-in-
chief for the ensuing year.
John p. King, Of Maryland. was elect
ed senior vice chief.
George a. Cook, OF Colorado, was placed
IN nomination. but withdrew. George
W Patten, of Tennessee. was elected
junior vice commander-in-chief.
The Rev. J. II. Bradford. of Wash
chief. and Warren King. Of Indiana.
was chosen surgeon general.
Gen. Wilmon W. Blackmar was born
July p. 1S41. in Bristol. Pa. the son Of
a Massachusetts clergyman, and his
mother was born in Andover. n IL
When the civil war began he was fitting
for college He at once enlisted as a
private in the Fifteenth PehnSylN-n mis-
Cavalry. He was promoted corporal AT
Anuetam, and later was given the
stripes Of a sergeant and the diamond Of
a first sergeant He was then offered
commission as lieutenant in the First
Virginia Cavalry
Lieutenant Blackmar joined his new
regiment in Martinsburg, Va Just as IL
was starting on raid with General
Averill through the mountains OF West
NirG MIA. on this raid he attracted the
attention of his brlgadier general who
paced MIN on his Staff as provost mar
shall Later he was provost marshal
and assistant adjutant general on the
STAFF Of Gen. William II. Powell and Gen.
Henry Capehart. These officers COM
manded brigades and divisions under
Custer and Sheridan.
Bravery at Winchester.
At one time General Powell was at
tackled by a superior force near Win
chester, Va. After eleven days hard
fighting he found himself nearly sur
rounded and out Of ammunition. He had
TO fall back, although every foot Of
ground was stubbornly contested Cen
eral Early's whole army was advancing
Lieutenant Blackmar volunteer TO cut
his way through the lines for re-en-
forcements and ammunition. The official
records OF the civil war refer to this
incident
The young lieutenant was given a
captalncy by General Custer on the
held OF Five Forks For gallantry on
the same field Of battle he received the
Congressional medal Of honor. General
Capehart. IN speaking Of this young
cavalry officer. said. Lieut.. W. w
Blackmar, who was transferred from
the cavalry in the Southwest and com
missioned in the First West Virginia
Cavalry was promoted by General Gus
ter on the field of Five Forks for bril-
liant personal daring During the en-
tire engagement he rode in the front
rank In the thicketst Of the fight and
without a superior for ability
Served Through War.
General Blackmar remained in the
service until the end of the war. He
was engaged in twenty-five actions. in
Guiding Antietam. Chickamauga. Chat
tanooga, Hunters raid. Lynchburg.