Byron Blake – Private, United States Army

BYRON BLAKE, 92, DIES; FOUGHT IN CIVIL WAR
Veteran Once Barred General Sherman from Tent
To Be Buried at Arlington

WASHINGTON, October 12, 1935 – Byron Blake of Milford Centre, Ohio, a Civil War veteran, who told his children how he once barred General Sherman from a supply tent, is dead here.  He was 92 years old.  He died suddenly Thursday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George A. Wisner.

The principal story the veteran brought back from the war was the one about how General Sherman and two staff officers approached a tent where Private Blake was on sentry duty, guarding munitions.

“We wish to enter,” said one of the three.

“No one may enter here,” said Private Blake.

“Not even General Sherman?” he was asked by the eldest of the group.

“Not even General Sherman,” the guard replied.

The three officers left, and not until afterwards did Private Blake learn that he had turned back General Sherman and two staff officers.

His widow said only one member of her husband’s regiment, the Sixty-Sixth Ohio Volunteers, is left, George Lyons of Milford Centre.

Mr. Blake will be buried in Arlington Cemetery.

BLAKE, BYRON
CO. ILLEG., 56TH ILL
DATE OF DEATH: 10/14/1935
BURIED AT: SECTION 13  SITE 152-A
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard