Show GEN W W BLACKMAR HEAD OF G A R DIES SUDDENLY W W blackmar of massachusetts commander in chief of the G died july 17 in idaho COMMANDER WAS ON TOUR death ended gen blackmarr Black mars vis t to grand army posts gen W W blackmar commander in chief of the G A R s to intestinal nephritis the general arrived at balse idaho on july 10 on a tour during which he intended to visit grand army posts throughout the northwest he was ill when he arrived and gradually failed the seriousness of his condition was kept from the public at the request of bis wife gen W W blackmar was born in july 1841 in pennsylvania his father was a clergyman and moved to bos ton when he was a small boy he went through the brimmer school of boston and the bridgewater normal school he was fitting for college at exeter N H when the war broke out he discarded his books and took up a saber he enlisted as a private in the fifteenth pennsylvania cavalry and was promoted agh all the noncommissioned grades until he be came orderly sergeant of his corn pany he was then promoted to a lieuten ancy and transferred to the first west virginia veteran canair one of custers famous regiments he was promoted to a captaincy on the field at five forks by gen custer after he had taken the colors across a deep gully under a heavy fire of the enemy the brigade rallied around the colors and continued to fight to a successful termination he was detailed as adjutant general of his brigade and afterwards made provost marshal of the division in which capacity he served to the end of the war being present at lee s der at appomattox among the bat ties in which he took part were antle tain stone river chickamauga chat the shenandoah valley cam the battles around richmond and petersburg sailor s creek I 1 ive forks appomattox courthouse and many others throughout three administrations those of givs long talbott and rice he was judge advocate general of mas at the last national en of the G A R he was elected commander in chief |