Bio: William Henry Blake :Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

****************************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical
information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research
and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all
copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format
or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or
organizations desiring to use this material for profit or any form of
presentation, must obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his
legal representative and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with
proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb
Archives to store the file permanently for free access.
http://www.usgwarchives.net.

Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 9, 2001
****************************************************************************

From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893


WILLIAM   HENRY   BLAKE,

William Henry Blake, who still lives in this town, was born in Loudon, May
10, 1842,'son of William T. and Joanna (Roberts) Blake. He came to
Pittsfield when but five or six years of age, and attended school and worked
with his father in the blacksmith shop on Concord street, that stood on the
site of Hartwell's grist-mill. He enlisted in Company F, Twelfth New
Hampshire volunteers, September 5, 1864.

At the Battle of Fredericksburg the regiment marched over the hill and
rested near the river. While crossing the hill many of them were hit, but
down by the river the shells would pass over their heads. Still it was a
rather uncomfortable place for Blake. Looking back about half-way up the
hill he saw a tree that he thought would make a good shelter; so he
skedaddled for that, but had hardly got behind it and congratulated himself
on his fine protection, when a shell struck the tree just above his head
and exploded. He left his hiding-place pretty quick. After crossing the
river he was detailed on the skirmish line which was advanced so far that
when the army fell back the skirmishers were forgotten. Soon he saw the
lieutenant-colonel of the regiment crawling towards them and making motions
for them to fall back; this they did with alacrity and none too soon, for
they were nearly surrounded. They afterwards learned that the colonel had
given them up as lost, and had advised against the lieutenant-colonel going
to their rescue. They at last reached the bridge and hurried over it,
expecting the enemy to fire upon them, but while they were going one way the
rebels were going the other.

At Chancellorsville, Va., on May 3, 1863, was fought one of the bloodiest
battles of the war. When our lines were driven back, Blake was captured,
taken to Richmond, and confined in Libby Prison ; here he remained for
several months with " nothing to do," as he expressed it, " but to pick lice
by day [and there were plenty of them to pick] and to sleep nights," when
the lice and mosquitoes would permit.

One day a squad of men were to be taken out for exchange. The men were
formed to be marched out, and surrounded by the guards; one of the latter
turned to speak to a companion, and Blake slipped into the squad unperceived
and marched out with the others. He was placed aboard a boat and taken to
Annapolis, and put in a hospital. At that time he weighed but ninety-nine
pounds. Here he remained for a long time; his recovery was slow, and it was
found that he would not be able To rejoin his regiment, so he was
transferred to the Veterans' Reserve corps. He was first sent to Washington
and Georgetown, guarding bridges, etc., and then to Elmira, N. Y., guarding
rebel prisoners. Here he remained until the close of the war.

When he entered the army he was very athletic; he would go on the parade
ground, and after turning several handsprings, would walk to his tent on his
hands, much to the amusement of his comrades.