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HENRY R BLANCHARD was born August 23, 1839 in Putnam County, Ill, where he has been engaged in teaming and mining. He enlisted August 28 1863 in the 1st California Volunteers, and served as a private under Colonel Whipple; then was honorably mustered out of service at Camp Lincoln, CA. June 9, 1865. Comrade Blanchard is a member of WHL Wallace Post, GAR of Santa Cruz Cal where he resides.

Historical Data Systems Civil War Research Database

Henry Roswell Blanchard was enrolled in the unit at Yreka, CA on August 28, 1863. He was mustered out with his company at Fort Lincoln Calif on June 09, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 4, p. 414

California 1st Battalion Mountaineers (3 Years)
First Battalion Mountaineers. -- Lieut.-Col., Stephen G. Whipple Majors., William S. R. Taylor, Charles W. Long.

This battalion was raised during the year 1863 under a special call by Gen. Wright commanding the department of the Pacific, for service against the Indians in Humboldt County and the northwestern portions of the state. It was recruited in the counties of Humboldt, Trinity, Mendocino and Siskiyou and was mustered into the U. S. service from May 30, 1863, to March 16, 1864, for three years.

Cos. A, B, C, and E, were mustered in at Fort Humboldt, D at Fort Gaston, Humboldt County, and F at San Francisco. Though the battalion was raised for special service, as soon as it was organized, it was put upon the same footing as other volunteers. The Indians in the northwestern part of the state had taken advantage of the war to indulge in serious outbreaks against the settlers of the region; pillaging, murdering and robbing.

The battalion was mounted and served throughout its term in the Humboldt District, performing excellent service and reducing the Indians to thorough subjection. It lost a considerable number of men in its numerous skirmishes with the Indians and was mustered out from April 25 to June 15 1865.

Santa Cruz Sentinel (October 1, 1889)

Henry Blanchard informs us that Johnnie Collamore, the boy that claimed to have run away from Blanchard's place because of ill treatment, has not been at his place for over a year, that the boy ran away from Mr. Agerters house in Doyle Gulch. [This article is significant not only because of Blanchard but also Collamore, I believe the pauper son of Union vet Richard Collamore and its reference to Simon Agerter who, along with Blanchard was active in the GAR).

Mountain Echo (December 5, 1903)

Death of Henry R. Blanchard

But a short interval apart were Mr. and Mrs. Henry R. Blanchard in their journey into the unknown world beyond the gates of death.

Last week we chronicled the death of Mrs. Blanchard and the serious illness of her husband, Mr. Blanchard. The former died on November 23rd and the latter passed away on Wednesday of this week, or a little over nine days afterward. Mr. Blanchard was a hard working man and was taken sick about two weeks ago at his cabin on Ben Lomond mountain where he was engaged in cutting wood. His Illness was pneumonia and it steadily worsened until death came to his relief at about 11:40 A.M Wednesday.

Date of Birth: 1839-08-23

Date of Death: 1903-02-12

County: Santa Cruz

Cemetery/City of Burial: Boulder Creek Cemetery

Occupation: Lumberman

Height: 5'10

Complexion: Dk

Eye Color: Bl

Hair Color: Dk

Last City: Santa Cruz

Native of: IL

Enlisted: 1863/08/28

Discharged: 1865/06/09

Military Unit: CA_ 1 Mtn_ Co F

Rank: Pvt

Military Notes: E-Eureka_ D-Ft.Lncln CA

GAR#: W32

Available records used to obtain information:
Cemetery records
Santa Cruz County death records
Military records
Santa Cruz and Monterey newspapers
Voter Records

CW Reference: W&R 1896 Roster