Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-18
COMMANDER IN CHIEF BLACK.
MAR CALLED TO HIS LONG
HOME.
w AS ON WESTERN TOUR
General HIackmar Has Been Danger
ously nj at Boise, Idaho, for Some
Days But the Fact Was Not Made
Public Because Of His Wlfe's Re.
quest.

A'oiSo, luduO, w ~
mon w. Blackmar, comm ander-in-chief
of the G.. A. R., Died Sunday Of intes-
tinal nephritis. Mrs. Blackmar was
with the general during his illness.
His body will be embalmed and taken
to the home of his family In Boston.
General Blackmar arrived here July
10 on a5tour, during which he intended
to visit Grand Army posts throughout
the northwest. He was i'll when he
arrived and gradually failed. The
seriousness of his condition was kept
from the public at the request Of his
wife.
Left School for War.
General Blackmar was elected COM
mander-in-chief os the G. A. r. at the
last national encampment held in Bos-
ton in August, 1904. He was born at
Bristol, Pa, July 25, 1841. His father
was a clergyman and when the family
went to Boston Wilmon was a small
boy. There the lad waa educated at
the Brimmer school, afterward going
! to the Bridgewater Normal, and when
1.-THE civil war broke out he was fitting
for college. He enlisted as private
/, in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry
and with the regiment was at Antietam,
Stone River, Chattanooga Chicamau-
qua, Lookout Mountain and Missionary
Ridge. He was promoted and finally
made lieutenant and transferred to
the First West Virginia Veteran Cav
airy, one of Clusters famous regiments.
1t was while holding this position,
and when only "a years. Of age, that he
performed the act which made him
ID ~ ca pcN,
i try over, Near Five Forks, April /,
1855, he was ordered to form new
line at CRITICAL stage of action, while
the men were being pressed back. He
carried out this instruction, and then,
without orders, advanced the line call.
ing upon the color bearer to follow.
The call was repeated, the line ad.
lvanced, the charge was made and the
enemy routed. This audacious and
). brave action was witnessed by Custer
4 captaincy.
Present at Surrender.
:. General Blackmar remained at the
front until the close of the war and
was present at the surrender Of Gen
eral Lee at Appamattox. Among his
priced possessions was the chair in
which General Grant sat while making
out and signing the articles of capitu
lation.
After the close of the war Genera
Blackmar. was graduated from Har
ward. For ten years he was advocate
. general of Massachusetts. He was the
!. first commander Of Post 113, G. A. R.
of Boston, and was a prominent mem
}. ber OF the Loyal Legion.
; Vice Commander In Charge.
Boston, July 17.-General Blackmal
will be succeeded as head Of the G. A
R.. by John r.. King, of Washington
senior vice commander.
Two weeks ago the commander II
5 chief broke down and was ordered tt
his bed in his summer home at Hing
ham by his physicians. At the tim,
). his indisposition, however, was re
garded as slight. On July Genera
!. Blackmar's condition had apparently
{ improved, and it was decided to pei
nit him to continue his visits to west
ern departments, which he had begu
early in the year.
Assistant Adjutant General E. f
d Sulllings will leave Boston tomorrow
assist Mrs Blackmar in arranging 70
: the funeral, which probably will b
= held in this cit.
1