George W. Blair (1840 - 1865)

Born 15 Jun 1840 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Died 1 Apr 1865 at age 24 in Petersburg, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Sgt. George Blair served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 1861
Side: CSA
Regiment(s): 38th Virginia Infantry

The FindAGrave page for George W. Blair notes birth in Pittsylvania, Virginia on June 15, 1840. Death record shows occupation farmer, and parents Samuel and Clarissa Blair. George died in Petersburg, Virginia on April 1, 1865.

The 1850 census of Pittsylvania would be the first record for George, showing him in home of Samuel and Clarissa. This was the second marriage for father Samuel Blair, having married Mary Reynolds in 1810, then after her death, married Clarissa W. Fuller in 1834.

The 1850 record showed a mixture of 3 or 4 children of Mary's, and 6 or more of Clarissa's. Again in 1860 in northern Pittsylvania, George is shown with parents.

When the Civil War began, George enlisted in the CSA in 1861, being in the 38th Virginia Infantry, Company B.

Sgt. Blair was initially listed as missing at Gettysburg. However, he is on the POW list of Fort Delaware, and from there he was sent to Point Lookout in southern Maryland. Concurring with that, per his Findagrave page, George was captured at Gettysburg, later exchanged, but was killed near Petersburg on April 1, 1865. More detail on Findagrave.

Confederate POWs from the Battle of Gettysburg were first sent to Fort McHenry in Baltimore. To be imprisoned at the scene of the rockets red glare had much irony, as George's father Samuel Blair was in the War of 1812. From Fort McHenry, prisoners were either exchanged or sent on another prison, in George Blair's case, Fort Delaware.

Findagrave shows service in the CSA by four of George's brothers/half brothers. Another two Findagrave pages do not mention service for the brothers, but show them in uniform. Records conclude all 7 of Samuel Blair's sons were in the CSA.

1. Luther - Halifax Light Artillery
2. George - 38th Va Inf, Co B, POW Gettysburg, KIA Battle of 5 Forks Apr 1, 1865
3. Suter - 38th Va Inf, Co B; WIA at Gettysburg, died July 15, 1863
4. Arthur - 53rd Va Inf.
5. Samuel 53rd Va Inf.
6. John - 53rd Va Inf.
7. William - Halifax Artillery

Sources

• FamilySearch database, Virginia death record, GEORGE W. BLAIR, 01 Apr 1865, Petersburg, VA
• 1850 census Pittsylvania, Virginia, GEORGE BLAIR
• 1860 census North District, Pittsylvania, Virginia, page 29, GEORGE W.R. BLAIR
• Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, GEORGE W. BLAIR, 1861, Thirty-eighth Infantry
• Find A Grave: Memorial #121294215