<prompt> Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Akazvarwa muNew York, Belknap akapedza kudzidza paPrinceton University muna 1848, akadzidza mutemo negweta reGeorgetown, uye akapasa bhara muna 1851. Akatamira kuIowa, kwaakadzidzira mutemo pamwe chete naRalph P. Lowe. Belknap akapinda mune zvematongerwo enyika seDemocrat uye akashanda imwe nguva muIowa House of Representatives. Apo Hondo yeVanhu veAmerica yakatanga muna 1861, Belknap akabatana neHondo yeUnion. Murume murefu ane muviri wakasimba, Belknap akanga ari mutungamiriri weUnion Army nomutsvaki. Aimbova murwi weIowa Militia uyo akanga awana chinzvimbo chekaputeni, akapiwa basa semukuru mu15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Akatora rutivi muzvirongwa zvakawanda, kusanganisira  <response>: Shiloh naKorinde, vakashumira semutungamiriri wehondo, brigade, chikamu, uye mutungamiriri, uye vakashumira munzvimbo dzepamusoro dzevashandi. Pakupera kwehondo, Belknap akanga akwidziridzwa kuva brigadier general wevazvipiri uye akagamuchira kukwidziridzwa kwechikwata kuva mukuru mukuru. 