Colonel William E. Blaisdell Grouping – Irish Brigade – Killed in Action

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SKU: GRO 112 Categories: , , , , , ,

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Colonel William E. Blaisdell Grouping

Irish Brigade – Killed in Action

An extraordinary and extensively documented collection belonging to Colonel William E. Blaisdell, one of the Union Army’s most respected field officers. The grouping includes four wartime cartes de visite, each signed by Blaisdell, an engraved Constable badge, and his original leather passport book—an exceptionally rare survivor retaining numerous period travel entries. Together, these artifacts chronicle the career of an officer whose service spanned some of the Civil War’s fiercest campaigns.

 

Blaisdell was severely wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862, yet returned to active service. He was wounded again during the Overland Campaign in May 1864 before resuming command. On June 23, 1864, while commanding the Corcoran Legion (Irish Brigade) during the Petersburg Campaign, he was supervising the construction of Union earthworks when he stood atop an exposed embankment to direct the work. A Confederate sharpshooter, firing from a house within the enemy lines, struck him down. Sergeant Gustavus Hutchinson later recalled:

“On June 23 Col. William Blaisdell was killed, being at the time on detached duty in command of the Corcoran Legion, Irish Brigade. While directing the construction of earthworks, he was dismounted, standing upon the raised mound of earth which subsequently became a portion of the main works of the Union army. While thus exposed, he was picked off by a rebel sharpshooter from the window of a house within the enemy’s lines. His negro orderly crawled out under fire and brought his body back, but life was extinct.”

 

In recognition of his courage and distinguished service, Blaisdell was posthumously breveted Brigadier General.

 

With signed wartime photographs, rare personal effects, and outstanding provenance to an officer who sacrificed his life before Petersburg, this is an exceptional Civil War officer’s grouping representing one of the finest opportunities to acquire the personal relics of a Union colonel whose career ended in the line of duty.

 

Inventory Number: GRO 112

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The Colonel William E. Blaisdell Grouping features four sepia portraits, a star medal, and a brown leather booklet with ribbon, all on black backing.
Open wooden case displaying a binder with a biography, vintage photographs, a medal, and a folded document arranged on black velvet.
Four sepia portraits of men in uniforms surround a Texas Ranger badge on a ribbon, with an old leather-bound document at the top.
Four vintage sepia portraits of men in 19th-century military uniforms, each posing formally; handwritten notes are visible beneath each photograph.
Four aged, yellowed cards each display irregularly shaped blue stains, with no text or recognizable images, arranged in a 2x2 grid on a white background.
A bearded man in a Civil War-era military uniform and hat stands indoors, one hand resting on a ledge, with a handwritten note at the bottom of the photo.
Sepia photo of a man in a military uniform standing next to a small table with a hat on it; handwritten text is visible at the bottom of the image.
A faded sepia portrait of a bearded man is centered on aged paper with handwritten text along the bottom edge.
Sepia-toned portrait of a man with a beard in a double-breasted military uniform, with handwritten notes along the bottom edge.
An old leather-bound book, partially open, showing a worn title page dated 1841 and a leather strap with a metal disc attached.
Open book titled “Soldier’s Book for the Army of the United States,” published in 1839, with handwritten notes and an official U.S. emblem on the title page.
Old, stained page titled “Soldier’s Book for the Army of the United States” with handwritten name, regiment, and year 1841, featuring the U.S. Army eagle emblem.
A stamped emblem with a decorative border and the name “WM. BLASDELL.” is visible on an aged, yellowed page.
A worn Army of the United States Soldier’s Book from 1841 with handwritten name and details on the header.
An open enlistment document from 1864 shows handwritten and printed text detailing military service, clothing allotments, and personal description sections.
A form listing physical traits of a person named Mrs. Blaisdell, including eye, hair, and complexion color, and spaces for height in feet and inches, on yellowed paper.
A vintage enlistment document from 1841 for Milton C. Blaisdell, showing handwritten and printed text, including oath of service and personal description fields.
Open antique ledger displaying handwritten notes on the left page titled “Memorandums of Stations,” and a mostly blank right page titled “List of Stoppages.”.
An open antique logbook displays handwritten entries on both pages, listing station memorandums on the left and a list of stoppages on the right.
Open ledger showing handwritten pay account entries for soldiers, listing names, dates, payment periods, and amounts in columns on aged, yellowed paper.
Octagonal metal badge with “Constable Boston” engraved, featuring a raised five-pointed star in the center, attached to a tan leather strap.
Octagonal silver badge with the words “Constable Boston” engraved, attached to a worn brown leather strap or belt.

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