Thomas A. Blasdel (His surname is sometimes listed as Blasedale) (January 2, 1843 – October 12, 1932) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg. Blasdel enlisted in the Union army at 19 years old in August, 1862, during the Civil War. He went on to get promoted to Private, and from there to Corporal.
Thomas Annis Blasdel
Born
(1843-01-02)January 2, 1843 Dearborn County, Indiana
Died
October 12, 1932(1932-10-12) (aged 89) Sylvia, Reno County, Kansas
Thomas A. Blasdel was born on January 2, 1843, in Dearborn County, Indiana, United States of America. His parents were named Ferris Enoch Blasdel and Clarissa Annis Blasdel and they too were born in America. Thomas was the second oldest of 9 children; 5 girls and 4 boys. His siblings were: Rhoda, Pamelia, Eleanor, George, Enoch, John, Clara, Raymond, and Rachel.
Careeredit
For most of his military career, Thomas Blasdel served as a Private in Company H, 83rd Indiana Infantry. He is most famous for his contribution during the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi.
On May 22, 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant ordered an assault on the Confederate heights at Vicksburg.[1][2] The plan called for a storming party of volunteers to build a bridge across a moat and plant scaling ladders against the enemy embankment in advance of the main attack. Blasdel was 20 years old at the time and, while he hadn't been in the army for a full year, he volunteered to be a part of this party. The volunteers were well aware that the odds of survival were slim and the mission was called, in nineteenth century vernacular, a "forlorn hope". Only single men were accepted as volunteers and even then, twice as many men as needed came forward and all but 150 men were turned away.
The event started in the morning, not very long after a naval bombardment by the opposing side.[3] The Union soldiers came under enemy fire immediately and were pinned down in the moat they were to cross. Even though there were multiple attacks by the Confederates, the party with Blasdel was able to hold off the opposing side. This went on until night, when both sides retreated because of darkness. Out of the 150 volunteers, around half were killed, which was much better than the men had predicted. 79 of the survivors (including Blasdel) were eventually awarded the Medal of Honor.[4][5]
Blasdel was discharged in June 1865.[6] On August 11, 1894, at the age of 51 and 31 years after the fact, Blasdel received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Siege of Vicksburg.
Later lifeedit
Blasdel married Elizabeth and had a child, Emert. Elizabeth died in 1928 and Thomas on October 12, 1932, in Reno County, Kansas. He is buried in Fairlawn Burial Park, Hutchinson, Kansas.[7]
Medal of Honor citationedit
For gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863.
^"Thomas Annis Blasdel (1843-1932) - Find A Grave Memorial".
Referencesedit
Dyer, Frederick H (1908). A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co. ASIN B01BUFJ76Q.
Grecian, Joseph (1865). History of the Eighty-Third Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry for Three Years with Sherman: Compiled from the Regimental and Company Books, and Other Sources, as Well as from the Writer's Own Observations and Experience. Cincinnati, OH: John F. Uhlhorn, Printer. pp. 163. OCLC 692458250.
War Department, U.S. (1880). The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. OCLC 857196196.
"BLASDEL, THOMAS A." Congressional Medal of Honor Society. CMOHS. 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
"Thomas Annis Blasdel". THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE VICTORIA & GEORGE CROSS. VCOnline. 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
External linksedit
"Thomas A. Blasdel". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
Vicksburg Medal of Honor Recipients
December 15, 2023
thomas, blasdel, surname, sometimes, listed, blasedale, january, 1843, october, 1932, union, army, soldier, during, american, civil, received, medal, honor, gallantry, during, 1863, siege, vicksburg, blasdel, enlisted, union, army, years, august, 1862, during,. Thomas A Blasdel His surname is sometimes listed as Blasedale January 2 1843 October 12 1932 was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the 1863 Siege of Vicksburg Blasdel enlisted in the Union army at 19 years old in August 1862 during the Civil War He went on to get promoted to Private and from there to Corporal Thomas Annis BlasdelBorn 1843 01 02 January 2 1843Dearborn County IndianaDiedOctober 12 1932 1932 10 12 aged 89 Sylvia Reno County KansasPlace of burialFair Lawn Cemetery Hutchinson KansasAllegianceUnited States of AmericaUnionService wbr branch United States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1862 1865RankCorporalUnit83rd Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry Company HBattles warsAmerican Civil War Siege of VicksburgAwardsMedal of Honor Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life 4 Medal of Honor citation 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksEarly life editThomas A Blasdel was born on January 2 1843 in Dearborn County Indiana United States of America His parents were named Ferris Enoch Blasdel and Clarissa Annis Blasdel and they too were born in America Thomas was the second oldest of 9 children 5 girls and 4 boys His siblings were Rhoda Pamelia Eleanor George Enoch John Clara Raymond and Rachel Career editFor most of his military career Thomas Blasdel served as a Private in Company H 83rd Indiana Infantry He is most famous for his contribution during the Siege of Vicksburg Mississippi On May 22 1863 General Ulysses S Grant ordered an assault on the Confederate heights at Vicksburg 1 2 The plan called for a storming party of volunteers to build a bridge across a moat and plant scaling ladders against the enemy embankment in advance of the main attack Blasdel was 20 years old at the time and while he hadn t been in the army for a full year he volunteered to be a part of this party The volunteers were well aware that the odds of survival were slim and the mission was called in nineteenth century vernacular a forlorn hope Only single men were accepted as volunteers and even then twice as many men as needed came forward and all but 150 men were turned away The event started in the morning not very long after a naval bombardment by the opposing side 3 The Union soldiers came under enemy fire immediately and were pinned down in the moat they were to cross Even though there were multiple attacks by the Confederates the party with Blasdel was able to hold off the opposing side This went on until night when both sides retreated because of darkness Out of the 150 volunteers around half were killed which was much better than the men had predicted 79 of the survivors including Blasdel were eventually awarded the Medal of Honor 4 5 Blasdel was discharged in June 1865 6 On August 11 1894 at the age of 51 and 31 years after the fact Blasdel received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Siege of Vicksburg Later life editBlasdel married Elizabeth and had a child Emert Elizabeth died in 1928 and Thomas on October 12 1932 in Reno County Kansas He is buried in Fairlawn Burial Park Hutchinson Kansas 7 Medal of Honor citation editFor gallantry in the charge of the volunteer storming party on 22 May 1863 See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portal nbsp United States portal nbsp Pennsylvania portalList of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients A F Battle of Vicksburg 83rd Regiment Indiana Volunteer InfantryNotes edit War Department 1880 p 87 Dyer 1908 p 428 Grecian 1865 p 31 CMOHS 2014 VCOnline 2020 Indiana Digital Archives Thomas Annis Blasdel 1843 1932 Find A Grave Memorial References editDyer Frederick H 1908 A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion Des Moines IA Dyer Pub Co ASIN B01BUFJ76Q Grecian Joseph 1865 History of the Eighty Third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry for Three Years with Sherman Compiled from the Regimental and Company Books and Other Sources as Well as from the Writer s Own Observations and Experience Cincinnati OH John F Uhlhorn Printer pp 163 OCLC 692458250 War Department U S 1880 The War of the Rebellion A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies Washington DC U S Government Printing Office OCLC 857196196 BLASDEL THOMAS A Congressional Medal of Honor Society CMOHS 2014 Retrieved 19 August 2014 Thomas Annis Blasdel THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO THE VICTORIA amp GEORGE CROSS VCOnline 2020 Retrieved 2 May 2020 External links edit Thomas A Blasdel Claim to Fame Medal of Honor recipients Find a Grave Retrieved 11 December 2014 A Forlorn Hope Vicksburg Medal of Honor Recipients Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas A Blasdel amp oldid 1131312806, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
