at the second battle of Lexington. As the Union forces retreated from Independence, Blair's men constructed earthworks along the Big Blue River. Westport At the battle of the Big Blue River Blair's brigade was attached to the Kansas Militia Division under General George Deitzler. The militia units in general fared poorly in their first real engagement and retreated with the rest of the Union army into Westport. Blunt arranged three of his brigades in a line of battle south of Westport with Blair in support. As the battle raged back and forth Curtis arrived at the front with Blair's brigade and directed it into position perpendicular to the Kansas/Missouri state line. Fearful of a being outflanked, Blair initiated a counter-attack. Curtis ordered the rest of the army forward in support of Blair's bold move. The attack bogged down, but at this critical moment Curtis personally led Blair's 9th Wisconsin Battery through a gulch which opened fire on the Confederate flank. This turned the tide of the battle and the Confederates began a retreat. Blair's brigade formed in the center of the Union army as it made a general advance against the faltering Confederate line. Mine Creek and Post War Career The sense of urgency gone with the victory at Westport, most of the Kansas Militia units returned home. A few units in Blair's brigade remained in the field and took part in the pursuit of Confederates. Alfred Pleasonton's Union cavalry caught the retreating Confederate forces along Mine Creek in Kansas. Hampered by their wagon train many Confederates were taken prisoner including two generals. One of these generals was John S. Marmaduke who formally surrendered to Blair. Blair received a brevet promotion to brigadier general on February 13, 1865 and was mustered out of the volunteer service on August 11, 1865. After the war Blair returned to his legal practice. He died at Coronado Beach, California on August 20, 1899. Notes References Howard N. Monnett: Action Before Westport, 1864. Westport Historical Society, 1995 (1964) Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. . 1829 births 1899 deaths Union Army generals People of Kansas in the American Civil War People from Georgetown, Ohio