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George Lafayette Beal
Gen-GLBeal
Colonel George L. Beal of the 29th Maine Infantry
Born (1825-05-21)May 21, 1825
Died December 11, 1896(1896-12-11) (aged 71)
Place of birth Norway, Maine
Place of death Norway, Maine
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service 1861 - 1866
Rank Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
Commands held 10th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
29th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
Battles/wars
Other work
  • Pension Agent
  • State Treasurer of Maine

George Lafayette Beal (May 21, 1825 – December 11, 1896) was an American politician from the state of Maine who served in the Union forces during the American Civil War.

Early life and background[]

Beal was born in Norway, Maine. His father was one of the founders of the town. Beal studied at the Westbrook Seminary and was very interested military affairs, eventually being elected Captain of the local militia unit known as the Norway Light Infantry, a position he held at the beginning of the war. He was employed as an agent of the Canadian Express Company.

Civil War[]

Beal was the first man in Oxford County to enlist, and his militia unit became Company "G" of the First Maine Infantry Regiment, a three-month unit. At the end of his enlistment, he re-enlisted and was commissioned colonel of the 10th Maine Infantry. The unit was engaged during Stonewall Jackson's valley campaign in 1862 where he was commended for its service covering the retreat of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks' army, and later at Second Bull Run, and Antietam, where Beal was severely wounded. In May 1863, Beal re-enlisted yet again and became colonel of the 29th Maine Infantry, in XIX Corps, and took part in the Red River Campaign and Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley campaign in 1864 as a brigade commander. For gallant service at the Battle of Cedar Creek, he was promoted to Brigadier General of the Volunteers. His brigade had been first to advance and break the enemy's lines during the turning point of the battle.

He was assigned to duty in North Carolina in 1865. Following the war, he was promoted to major general and assigned command of the eastern district of South Carolina, and then was mustered out in January 1866.

Postbellum career[]

Beal became active in politics and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated General Grant for President in 1868 and was also a Presidential elector from Maine. In 1872 he was appointed as a Pension Agent at Portland, Maine, and was also active in the Grand Army of the Republic.

In 1880, he became Adjutant General of the state militia, and served until 1885. In 1888, he was elected State Treasurer as a Republican and served until 1894. He died in 1896 from heart disease.

See also[]

References[]

  • Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rogue, Louisiana: LSU Press. 1964. ISBN 0-8071-0822-7.
  • Welsh, Jack D. Medical Histories of Union Generals. Columbus, Ohio: Kent State University Press. 1996. ISBN 0-87338-853-4.

External links[]

Political offices
Preceded by
Edwin C. Burleigh
Maine State Treasurer
1888-1894
Succeeded by
F. Marion Simpson
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at George Lafayette Beal and the edit history here.
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