William E. Blaisdell
Encyclopedia
William E. Blaisdell was an enlisted man in the Regular Army of the United States prior to and during the Mexican-American War. After Mexican War, he returned to civilian life as an inspector in the Boston
Customs House
. At the commencement of the Civil War
he was offered the rank of captain in the Regular Army but instead chose to serve in the Volunteer Army, accepting the rank of lieutenant colonel
with the 11th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
. He was eventually promoted to colonel
and the command of the 11th Massachusetts. By the summer of 1864, he was in temporary command of the Corcoran Legion. He was killed during the Siege of Petersburg
on June 23, 1864 and posthumously received the honorary grade of brevet
brigadier general
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Customs House
Custom House
A custom house or customs house was a building housing the offices for the government officials who processed the paperwork for the import and export of goods into and out of a country. Customs officials also collected customs duty on imported goods....
. At the commencement of the 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...
he was offered the rank of captain in the Regular Army but instead chose to serve in the Volunteer Army, accepting the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
with the 11th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
11th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The 11th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union army during the American Civil War. Organized in Boston in May 1861, the 11th Massachusetts was made up mostly of men from Boston, but also from Charlestown and Dorchester...
. He was eventually promoted to 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...
and the command of the 11th Massachusetts. By the summer of 1864, he was in temporary command of the Corcoran Legion. He was killed during the Siege of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
The Richmond–Petersburg Campaign was a series of battles around Petersburg, Virginia, fought from June 9, 1864, to March 25, 1865, during the American Civil War...
on June 23, 1864 and posthumously received the honorary grade of brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
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...
See also
- List of Massachusetts generals in the American Civil War
- Massachusetts in the American Civil War