James Gillpatrick Blunt (July 21, 1826 –
July 27, 1881) was a sailor, physician and Union general during the American Civil War.
Blunt was born in Trenton, Maine. He became a sailor on a merchant vessel when he was
15, and attained the rank of captain at 20. He moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he was graduated from medical school. He practiced medicine until he moved to
Kansas. He was a member of the convention that framed the state constitution.
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. For his victory, he was appointed
major general of volunteers. 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 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.
After the war, he settled in Leavenworth, Kansas and resumed his medical
practice. He died in Washington, D.C.
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