James G. Blunt

Infobox Military Person
name=James G. Blunt
born= birth date|1826|7|21
died= death date and age|1881|7|27|1826|7|21
placeofbirth=Trenton, Maine
placeofdeath=Washington, D.C.
placeofburial= Leavenworth, Kansas


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears=1861–1865
rank=Major General
commands= Army of the Frontier / District of Kansas
unit=
battles=American Civil War
*First Battle of Newtonia *Battle of Old Fort Wayne *Battle of Cane Hill *Battle of Prairie Grove *Battle of Honey Springs *Battle of Westport *Second Battle of Newtonia
awards=
laterwork=

James Gillpatrick [ [http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1932/32_3_blunt.htm General Blunt's Account of His Civil War Experiences] ] (or Gilpatrick) [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 15] Blunt (July 21, 1826 – July 27, 1881) was a physician and abolitionist who rose to Union major general during the American Civil War.

Early life & career

Blunt was born in Trenton, Maine to John Blunt and Sally Gilpatrick Blunt [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 15] Blunt stayed on the farm until he was 14. He may have spent some time at the Ellsworth Military Academy in Ellsworth, Maine. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 16] He became a sailor on a merchant vessel when he was 15, and attained the rank of captain at 20.

In 1845 he moved to Columbus, Ohio, and enrolled in Starling Medical College. His uncle, Dr. Rufus Gilpatrick was one of the instructors. Graduating in February, 1849, he moved to New Madison, Ohio and on January 15, 1850 married Nancy G. Putman. He practiced medicine and took an active role in county politics as a member of the Republican Party. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 17]

In 1856 Blunt relocated to Anderson County, Kansas, following his uncle who had moved there several years earlier. He soon became involved in the conflict known as Bleeding Kansas. During a confrontation with the pro-slavery territorial government in 1857, Blunt joinded a force including Jim Lane and abolitionist John Brown. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, pages 19-21]

Blunt was a key member of the Wyandotte constitutional convention that framed the Kansas state constitution in 1859, and served as chair of the committee on militia. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, pages 25, 26]

Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Blunt was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Kansas Volunteer regiment, a part of James Lane's Kansas Brigade. In April 1862, Blunt was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and given command of the Department and Army of Kansas. His forces were defeated in the First Battle of Newtonia, and the Army of Kansas was incorporated into the Army of the Frontier as the 1st Division. Blunt led his division of Cherokee and Kansas volunteers to victory at the Battle of Old Fort Wayne. In December 1862, Blunt's division was joined by the 2nd Division under Francis J. Herron. The combined forces met Confederates under Thomas C. Hindman at the Battle of Prairie Grove. While tactically a draw, the battle was a strategic victory for the Union.

Blunt was appointed major general of volunteers on March 16, 1863. [Warner, Ezra, "Generals in Blue", LSU Press, 2002, page 38] He was the only officer from Kansas to achieve that rank during the war. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 11]

Blunt was appointed to command the District of the Frontier. He campaigned for control of the Indian Territory and won a victory at the Battle of Honey Springs, bringing much of the Indian Territory into Union control. In October of 1863, while moving his headquarters from Fort Scott to Fort Smith a Confederate force under William C. Quantrill approached. Quantrill's Raiders routed and killed over 80 of Blunt's 100 escorts, including his adjutant Major Henry Curtis, son of Major General Samuel Curtis. These actions led to his removal from command of the District of the Frontier. In 1864, Blunt was able to redeem himself. Confederate Maj. Gen. Sterling Price began an invasion of Missouri and Blunt took command of the 1st Division of Army of the Border. He and the cavalry under Alfred Pleasonton fought delaying actions until Samuel R. Curtis brought the full strength of the army together and inflicted a defeat on Price at the Battle of Westport. Blunt's division inflicted the final defeat to Price at the Second Battle of Newtonia. Blunt commanded the District of South Kansas when the war ended.

Post war life & death

After the war, he settled in Leavenworth, Kansas and resumed his medical practice, but he also was admitted to the Kansas bar as a lawyer. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1869 where he practiced his new profession. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 218]

Blunt's behaviour became erratic in 1879 and he was committed to an asylum. He died two years later with the cause of death given as "softening of the brain." His body was returned to Leavenworth and is buried in the Mount Muncie Cemetery. [Collins, Robert, "General James G. Blunt: Tarnished Glory", Pelican Publishing, 2005, page 220-222]

References

[http://www.kancoll.org/khq/1932/32_3_blunt.htm General Blunt's Account of His Civil War Experiences] at the [http://www.kancoll.org/khq/ Kansas Historical Quarterly online] , May, 1932 (Vol. 1, No. 3), pages 211 to 265 (accessed October 27, 2007)

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Persondata
NAME= Blunt, James G.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Union Army General
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
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