<prompt> Qedela le nkulumo elandelayo: Njengoba ayezalelwe eNew York, uBelknap waphothula ePrinceton University ngo-1848, wafunda umthetho nommeli waseGeorgetown, futhi wamukelwa njengommeli ngo-1851. Wathuthela e-Iowa, lapho enza khona umthetho ngokubambisana noRalph P. Lowe. UBelknap wangena kwezepolitiki njengoDemocrat futhi wakhonza isikhathi esisodwa eNdlu Yabamele yase-Iowa. Lapho kugqashuka iMpi Yombango YaseMelika ngo-1861, uBelknap wajoyina i-Union Army. Indoda ende, eqinile, uBelknap wayengumholi wempi yaseNyakatho futhi engumqashi. Umakadebona we-Iowa Militia owayethole isikhundla sokuba ngukaputeni, wathunywa njengomphathi e-15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Wabamba iqhaza emisebenzini eminingi, kuhlanganise  <response>: UShiloh noKorinth, bakhonza njengomphathi weqembu, webrigade, wesigaba, kanye ne-corps, futhi bakhonza ezikhundleni eziphezulu zabasebenzi. Ekupheleni kwempi, uBelknap waphakanyiselwa esikhundleni sokuba yi-brigadier general yamavolontiya futhi wathola isikhundla sokuba yi-major general. 