Joseph Pope Balch
(August 9, 1822 – December 2, 1872) was an American businessman from
Rhode Island
who served as an officer in the
Union Army
during the early months of the
American Civil War
.
Early life and background
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Balch was an educated man, but decided upon a career in business instead of attending college, first working in his father's drug store at the age of 14 as a clerk, and eventually becoming a partner.
In 1841 he joined a militia unit known as the
Providence Marine Corps of Artillery
, by 1857 Balch had risen to command of Rhode Island's Second Militia brigade.
Civil war
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At the outbreak of the war, he was appointed to the rank of
major
in the
First Rhode Island Detached Militia
, a "90-day" regiment on May 2, 1861.
[1]
Balch succeeded to command of the
regiment
when its previous commander, Colonel
Ambrose Burnside
was promoted to brigadier general and given command of a
brigade
. Balch commanded the 1st Rhode Island at the
First Battle of Bull Run
on July 21, 1861.
Balch was mustered out of the volunteers along with the regiment on August 2, 1861.
[1]
Balch returned to the Rhode Island Militia and commanded the Second Militia Brigade until the close of the war.
Balch was recognized for "coolness, steadiness, and courage under fire" when his appointment by brevet (an honorary promotion) to the grade of
brevet
brigadier general
of volunteers, to rank from March 13, 1865, was confirmed by the
United States Senate
on July 25, 1868.
[2]
Postwar career
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After the war, Balch was a prominent member of Rhode Island society, and had six daughters and a son. He held membership in civic organizations including the Rhode Island Society for the Encouragement of Domestic Industry, and the Providence Franklin society. He died suddenly in his home from an internal hemorrhage in 1872.
He is buried at
Swan Point Cemetery
in Providence.
[3]
See also
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Notes
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References
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- Balch, Galusha Burchard.
Genealogy of the Balch Families in America
. Salem, Massachusetts: E. Putnam. 1897.
- Eicher, John H., and
David J. Eicher
,
Civil War High Commands.
Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001.
ISBN
978-0-8047-3641-1
.
External links
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