George Lafayette Beal
Encyclopedia
George Lafayette Beal was an American
politician
from the state of Maine
who served in the Union forces
during the American Civil War
.
. His father was one of the founders of the town. Beal studied at the Westbrook Seminary and was very interested military affairs, eventually being elected Captain of the local militia unit known as the Norway Light Infantry, a position he held at the beginning of the war. He was employed as an agent of the Canadian Express Company
.
to enlist, and his militia unit became Company "G" of the First Maine Infantry Regiment
, a three-month unit. At the end of his enlistment, he re-enlisted and was commissioned colonel
of the 10th Maine Infantry
. The unit was engaged during Stonewall Jackson
's valley campaign in 1862 where he was commended for its service covering the retreat of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks' army, and later at Second Bull Run, and Antietam, where Beal was severely wounded.
In May 1863, Beal re-enlisted yet again and became colonel of the 29th Maine Infantry
, in XIX Corps, and took part in the Red River Campaign
and Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley
campaign in 1864 as a brigade commander. For gallant service at the Battle of Cedar Creek
, he was promoted to Brigadier General
of the Volunteers. His brigade had been first to advance and break the enemy's lines during the turning point of the battle.
He was assigned to duty in North Carolina
in 1865. Following the war, he was promoted to major general
and assigned command of the eastern district of South Carolina, and then was mustered out in January 1866.
, and was also active in the Grand Army of the Republic
.
In 1880, he became Adjutant General of the state militia, and served until 1885. In 1888, he was elected State Treasurer
as a Republican
and served until 1894. He died in 1896 from heart disease.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
who served in the Union forces
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life and background
Beal was born in Norway, MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. His father was one of the founders of the town. Beal studied at the Westbrook Seminary and was very interested military affairs, eventually being elected Captain of the local militia unit known as the Norway Light Infantry, a position he held at the beginning of the war. He was employed as an agent of the Canadian Express Company
Canadian Express
Canadian Express was a Canadian variety television series which aired on CBC Television between September 22, 1977 and September 12, 1980. The show was hosted by Ryan's Fancy in St...
.
Civil War
Beal was the first man in Oxford CountyOxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
to enlist, and his militia unit became Company "G" of the First Maine Infantry Regiment
1st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 1st Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:Abraham Lincoln's first call for volunteers in April, 1861 required Maine to raise one regiment of infantry...
, a three-month unit. At the end of his enlistment, he re-enlisted and was commissioned colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
of the 10th Maine Infantry
10th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 10th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered in for two years of service in Portland, Maine on October 4, 1861. It was mustered out on May 8, 1863. A fraction of the regiment consisted of three year enlistees, who formed the three-company 10th Maine Infantry Battalion...
. The unit was engaged during Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
's valley campaign in 1862 where he was commended for its service covering the retreat of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks' army, and later at Second Bull Run, and Antietam, where Beal was severely wounded.
In May 1863, Beal re-enlisted yet again and became colonel of the 29th Maine Infantry
29th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 29th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 29th Maine Infantry was organized in Augusta, Maine and mustered in December 17, 1863 for three years' service under the command of Colonel George Lafayette...
, in XIX Corps, and took part in the Red River Campaign
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign or Red River Expedition consisted of a series of battles fought along the Red River in Louisiana during the American Civil War from March 10 to May 22, 1864. The campaign was a Union initiative, fought between approximately 30,000 Union troops under the command of Maj. Gen....
and Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
campaign in 1864 as a brigade commander. For gallant service at the Battle of Cedar Creek
Battle of Cedar Creek
The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, October 19, 1864, was one of the final, and most decisive, battles in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 during the American Civil War. The final Confederate invasion of the North, led by Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early, was effectively ended...
, he was promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of the Volunteers. His brigade had been first to advance and break the enemy's lines during the turning point of the battle.
He was assigned to duty in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1865. Following the war, he was promoted to major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
and assigned command of the eastern district of South Carolina, and then was mustered out in January 1866.
Postbellum career
Beal became active in politics and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated General Grant for President in 1868 and was also a Presidential elector from Maine. In 1872 he was appointed as a Pension Agent at Portland, MainePortland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, and was also active in the Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
.
In 1880, he became Adjutant General of the state militia, and served until 1885. In 1888, he was elected State Treasurer
State Treasurer
In the state governments of the United States, 49 of the 50 states have the executive position of treasurer. Texas abolished the position of Texas State Treasurer in 1996....
as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and served until 1894. He died in 1896 from heart disease.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals