Blunt, James Gilpatrick

Blunt, James Gilpatrick, 1826–81, American physician and Union general in the Civil War, b. Hancock co., Maine. He practiced medicine in Ohio and later in Kansas, where he became associated with John Brown in antislavery activity. Blunt served in the Union forces throughout the war and was made a brigadier general in 1862. The border region of Kansas, Missouri, and Arkansas was the principal scene of his activity. He was victorious at Old Fort Wayne (Oct., 1862) and at Cane Hill (Nov., 1862). With Gen. F. J. Herron, he drove back T. C. Hindman at Prairie Grove (Dec., 1862). In 1864, Blunt was instrumental in repulsing Sterling Price's raid in Missouri.