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Civil War Soldiers - Belknap

Belknap, William W., brigadier-general, U.S. Army, was born in Newburgh, N. Y., Sept. 22, 1829. In 1848 he was graduated from Princeton university, afterwards studied law, and in 1851 moved to Keokuk, Ia., to practice his profession. While residing there he was elected, in 1857 as a Democrat, to the state legislature. When the Civil war broke out he joined the Union forces as major of the 15th Iowa volunteers, fought at Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg, and distinguished himself during Sherman's Atlanta campaign. He was promoted to brigadier-general on July 30, 1864, and on March 13, 1865, was given the brevet rank of major-general of volunteers. After the war he was collector of internal revenue from 1865 to 1869, when he was appointed secretary of war. He held this office during the entire administration of Gen. Grant until March 7, 1876, when, on account of charges of official corruption, he resigned. He was impeached on charges of accepting bribes, but, as his resignation took effect before the trial was actually begun, the proceedings were dropped for lack of jurisdiction. He died in 1890.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
 


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