Mexican War United States Army Officer. An 1833 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he served with the 6th United States Infantry and in the Topographical Engineers during the Seminole Wars in Florida (1838-1839). During the Mexican war he served with Major General Zachary Taylor in Texas, and made a famous drawing of the Alamo depicting it as it looked a few years before it was altered significantly in 1850. He performed exemplary reconnaissance just prior to the Battle of Palo Alto, which the American forces won. In the aftermath of the battle he performed another reconnaissance of Mexican lines, being in the saddle for twenty four full hours. Upon his return he was accidentally shot by his own pistol after he unholstered it. Lingering for a few hours, he died in the field.
Sources indicate that he was first buried where he fell, then moved to Fort Brown. When all the burials at Fort Brown were transferred to Alexandria National Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana in 1909, Lieutenant Blake's remains were supposedly reburied there in a mass grave. However, burial records of Laurel Hill Cemetery definitive record his burial there.
His older brother, George Alexander Hamilton Blake, would see long service in the United States Army, and would be brevetted Brigadier General.
Sources indicate that he was first buried where he fell, then moved to Fort Brown. When all the burials at Fort Brown were transferred to Alexandria National Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana in 1909, Lieutenant Blake's remains were supposedly reburied there in a mass grave. However, burial records of Laurel Hill Cemetery definitive record his burial there.
His older brother, George Alexander Hamilton Blake, would see long service in the United States Army, and would be brevetted Brigadier General.
Mexican War United States Army Officer. An 1833 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, he served with the 6th United States Infantry and in the Topographical Engineers during the Seminole Wars in Florida (1838-1839). During the Mexican war he served with Major General Zachary Taylor in Texas, and made a famous drawing of the Alamo depicting it as it looked a few years before it was altered significantly in 1850. He performed exemplary reconnaissance just prior to the Battle of Palo Alto, which the American forces won. In the aftermath of the battle he performed another reconnaissance of Mexican lines, being in the saddle for twenty four full hours. Upon his return he was accidentally shot by his own pistol after he unholstered it. Lingering for a few hours, he died in the field.
Sources indicate that he was first buried where he fell, then moved to Fort Brown. When all the burials at Fort Brown were transferred to Alexandria National Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana in 1909, Lieutenant Blake's remains were supposedly reburied there in a mass grave. However, burial records of Laurel Hill Cemetery definitive record his burial there.
His older brother, George Alexander Hamilton Blake, would see long service in the United States Army, and would be brevetted Brigadier General.
Sources indicate that he was first buried where he fell, then moved to Fort Brown. When all the burials at Fort Brown were transferred to Alexandria National Cemetery in Pineville, Louisiana in 1909, Lieutenant Blake's remains were supposedly reburied there in a mass grave. However, burial records of Laurel Hill Cemetery definitive record his burial there.
His older brother, George Alexander Hamilton Blake, would see long service in the United States Army, and would be brevetted Brigadier General.
Family Members
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
