Joseph Pope Balch

Infobox Military Person
name= Joseph Pope Balch
born= birth date|1822|8|9
died= death date and age|1872|12|2|1822|8|9
placeofbirth= Providence, Rhode Island
placeofdeath= Providence, Rhode Island
placeofburial=


caption= 1861 photograph of Joseph Pope Balch
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America Union
branch= United States Army Union Army
serviceyears= 1861-1865
rank= Brevet Brigadier General
commands=
unit=
battles= American Civil War *First Battle of Bull Run
awards=
laterwork= Merchant

Joseph Pope Blach (August 9, 1822 – December 2, 1872) was an American businessman from Rhode Island who served as a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Early life and background

Balch was an educated man, but decided upon a career in business instead of attending college, first working in his father's drug store at the age of 14 as a clerk, and eventually becoming a partner.

In 1841 he joined a militia unit known as the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, by 1857 Balch had risen to command of Rhode Island's Second Militia brigade.

Civil war

At the outbreak of the war, he was appointed to the rank of major in the First Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Balch succeeded to command of the regiment when its previous commander, Colonel Ambrose Burnside was promoted to command of a brigade. At the First Battle of Bull Run Balch was recognized for "coolness, steadiness, and courage under fire", and promoted by brevet to Brigadier General of the volunteers.

When the regiment was disbanded, Balch returned to the militia and commanded the Second Militia brigade until the close of the war.

Postbellum career

After the war, Balch was a prominent member of Rhode Island society, and had six daughters and a son. He held membership in civic organizations including the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, and the Providence Franklin society. He died suddenly in his home from an internal hemorrhage in 1872.

ee also

* List of American Civil War generals

References

* Balch, Galusha Burchard. "Genealogy of the Balch Families in America". Salem, Massachusetts: E. Putnam. 1897.

Notes

External links

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=XMI4AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA16-PA9&lpg=RA16-PA9&dq=%22joseph+p+balch%22&source=web&ots=zRsN2cz1HX&sig=pmMiKKx7vGSkA5ADPX8qRR4dd_k Adjutant General's Report of the Rhode Island Militia, 1862]
*findagrave|7339631 Retrieved on 2008-03-20

Persondata
NAME= Balch, Joseph Pope
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Union Army general
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=