Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-17


Blackmar Gen. King becomes comma nder-
in-chief of the G.. A. r., and will preside
at the annual encampmeut at. Denver In
September next.
Gen. Blackmar died as result of an at
tack of intestinal nephritls. He has not
been in good health for several months past
and about three weeks ago was very i'll at
his summer home at bingham, Mass His
condition improved to such an extent, how
ever. that his physicians believed he could
resume a tour of inspection of the western
departments of the G.. A. R. he had COM
menccd last winter and was forced 10 aban-
don ii in the spring because of his physical
condition. The fact that Gen. Blackmar's
health was falling was not made public, as
it was believed the trouble from Which he
suffered would be remedied by a few months
of absolute rest and careful treatment. At
the time of his departure for the. west
about ten days ago. the fact that his con-
| dition was not what it ought tor be was
communicated to a few members of his
official staff with injunctions that 1t should
not be made generally known. Mrs. Black
mar accompanied her husband and when
the party reached Boise the general was
ill that he was forced to take: to his bed.
He grew weaker and failed to respond to
treatment and it soon became evident that
he could not survive, Death came yester-
day Mrs. Blackmar was with her husband
when Ire di8sd. AS-SoOn'as possible the adj
iutant general of the c.. \. r. was notified,
and a dispatch was sept this morning to
Gen. King of this city, the senior vice COM
mander-in-chief, who now becomes COM
mander-in-c chief
Gen. Blackmar's Career.
Gen. Wilmon Whilidon BIackmar was a
son of the late Rev. Joseph Blackmar of
Bristol Pa He was born in New Jersey,
July %, 1871. while his mother was visiting
relatives in that state. His father and
Of
While the general was child the family
removed to Boston. Mass, where Gen.
Blackmar attended school. first at the Brim-
mer School, later at the Brdgewater Nor
mai School. He was fitting for college at
the Phillips Academy at Exeter n. H.,
when the civil war came on. Gen. Black
mar enlisted in the 18th Pennsylvania Cav
airy at the outbreak of the war, and
served with that regiment through heavy
fighting until the formation of the lst West
Virginia Cavalry. I'm which regiment he was
made lieutenant. He rose to the rank Of
captain, and was on the staff of Gen. Gus
ter, and afterward that of Gen. j. S.
Schoonmaker of Pennsylvania. Gen. Black
made a brilliant record as a soldier.
He participated in twenty-five pitched
battles, including the early battles with the
Army of the Potomac. up to Antietam and
the fights during the Chicamauga cam
paign. He was with Sheridan during the
Valley compaign and at the battle of Five
Forks. at a critical stage OF the engage
ment lea Il charge without waiting Tor or
ders therefore. and so affected the gen
eral result that he voted a medal of
honor. During this engagement he carried
the colors of his regiment across the field
under a heavy fire. He promoted on
the field and served with Gen Custer on the
latters staff to the end of the war. Gen.
Blackmar was in the memorable Apo
mattox campaign. and was one of those
connected with the final negotiations for
the surrender of Lee.
In the G. A R.
After the war Gen. Blackmar returned to
his home in Boston and entered upon the
practice of law. He was very successful in
business and amassed a large fortune. For
ten years he served as judge advocate gem
eral on the staff of the governor of Massa-
chusetts. He became a member of the G.
A r. soon after its formation and was as
ISOLATED with kinsley Post No. 1l3 of the
department of Massachusetts. During the
PAST twenty years he has held many high
ana important positions in the G. A. r. He
served as post commander, department com
mander, judge advocate general member of
the national council and comma nder-in-
chief He was elected to that office last
year in Boston at the annual encampment
of the organization.
Gen Blackmar was in Washington last
February at the annual encampment of the
department of the Potomac. He was the
guest of honor at a dinner given al the New
Willard during the course of the encamp-
ment and made an eloquent speech for the
@. A. r. He was well known here and was
very popular In G.. A. r. circles generally
During his term of Office he had attempted
to visit and inspect every department of
the order In the country. He was q mem
Der of the Medal of Honor Legion and was
a candidate for the position of commander
of that organization. 1t Is regarded as a
peculiar coincidence that during his term
of office as commander-in- chief of the G. A.
Il. he appointed Gen. ]. M. Schoonmaker as
his chief of staff. Gen. Blackmar as a
young officer. served on Gen. Schoonmaker's
STAFF during the war.
Commanders-in-Chi Who Have Died.
In the thirty-eight years of its existence
the Grand Army of the Republic has had
but thirty-three commanders-in-chief in
Guiding Gen. Blackmar. who has just been
mustered out" OF this number seventeen
are now dead All those who served in this
capacity from the organization of the Grand
Army of the Republic in 1896 till 1879 are
dead. They numbered but seven, as five
of them served two terms each-Hurlburt,
Burnside Deyens Hartranft and Robinson
and one. Gen. Logan, served three terms.
Gen. b. F. Stephenson. the first comman-
der-ln-chief, served only a few months. Gen
John Palmer of New York, who was COM
mander- in-chief when the Grand Army of
the Republic came to Washington in 1882.
died only few months ago. There are
now only sixteen past commanders-in-chief