Born July 21, 1826 in Trenton, Maine, James Blunt moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he earned a degree from Starling Medical College in 1849. In 1856, he moved to Greeley, Kansas, and established a medical practice. While in Greeley, Blunt became an ardent abolitionist, aided John Brown in assisting slaves to escape to Canada, and became active in Kansas politics.

Blunt’s military career began when he was commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the 3rd Kansas Infantry, part of Senator James Lane’s “Kansas Brigade.” Promoted to brigadier general, Blunt commanded the Department of Kansas from May through September 1862. He was reassigned to command of the 1st Division of the Army on the Frontier that October, and on November 28, 1862, he defeated the forces of Confederate General John Marmaduke at Cane Hill, Arkansas. On December 7, 1862, he came to the aid of Union forces at Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and fought the Confederate army of General Thomas Hindman to a draw.

Blunt saw further action, defeating Confederate forces at the Battle of Honey Springs, Indian Territory in July 1863. He was nearly killed when his escort was massacred by William Quantrill at Baxter Springs, Kansas that October. Blunt redeemed himself by helping defeat General Sterling Price’s army at the Battle of Westport, Missouri in October 1864. He ended the war as a major general of volunteers.

Following the war, Blunt returned to Kansas and resumed his medical practice. In 1869 he moved to Washington, D. C., where he became a solicitor of claims. Blunt and several others were charged by the Department of Justice with conspiracy to defraud the Cherokee Indians, but the case was dropped. Blunt was committed to a hospital for the mentally insane and died on July 27, 1881. He is buried in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Carte-de-Visite by Addis & Noel, Leavenworth, Kan.

Image Courtesy Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield; WICR 31930