Class of 1838

William Barrett Blair: Born Sep. 25, 1818, Richmond, VA.

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1834, to July 1, 1838, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Second Lieut., 2d Artillery, July 1, 1838.

Served: on the Northern Frontier during Canada Border Disturbances, at Buffalo, N. Y., 1838‑39, — Ft. Niagara, N. Y., 1839, — and Buffalo, N. Y., 1839‑41; in garrison at Ft. Columbus, N. Y., 1841, and Ft.

(First Lieut., 2d Artillery, Nov. 4, 1840, to July 1, 1852)

Mifflin, Pa., 1841‑42; at the Military Academy, as Asst. Professor of Mathematics, Aug. 31, 1842, to Aug. 31, 1843; in garrison at Ft. Mifflin, Pa., 1843‑46; on Recruiting service, 1846; in the War with Mexico, 1846‑48, being engaged on Ordnance duty at Tampico, 1846‑47, — as Commissary of 2d Division, 1847‑48, — in the Battle of Cerro Gordo,

(Bvt. Captain, Apr. 18, 1847,
for Gallant and Meritorious Conduct in the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mex.)

Apr. 18, 1847, — and Battle of Churubusco, Aug. 20, 1847; on leave of absence, 1847‑48; and on Commissary duty at Washington, D. C., Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 1850, — New York city, 1851, — San Antonio, Tex.,

(Captain, Staff — Commissary of Subsistence, Sep. 27, 1850)

1851‑53, — Corpus Christi, Tex., 1853‑55, — San Antonio, Tex., 1855‑59, — Washington, D. C., 1859‑60, — and San Antonio, Tex., 1860‑61.

Resigned, May 14, 1861.

Joined in the Rebellion of 1861‑66 against the United States.​a

Civil History. — Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy and Instructor of Artillery, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Va., Oct. 16, 1865, to Mar. 23, 1883.

Died, Mar. 23, 1883, at Lexington, Va.: Aged 66.

Buried, Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery, Lexington, VA.