Alexander Bielaski facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Bielaski
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| Born | August 1, 1811 Minsk Governorate, Russian Empire |
| Died | November 7, 1861 (aged 50) near Belmont, Missouri, U.S. |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Kingdom of Poland United States |
| Branch | Army of Poland Union Army |
| Rank | Captain |
| Battles/wars | November Uprising
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| Spouse(s) | Mary Ann Carey |
| Children | Oscar Bielaski |
| Relations | A. Bruce Bielaski (grandson) Ruth Shipley (granddaughter) |
Alexander Bielaski (born August 1, 1811 – died November 7, 1861) was a brave engineer and soldier. He was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Bielaski was killed in action at the Battle of Belmont.
He was born in the Russian Empire. As a young man, he fought in the November Uprising in 1831. This was a Polish revolt against Russian rule. After being badly wounded, he moved to the United States in 1832. Here, he worked as an engineer and surveyor. He helped build railroads like the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Bielaski became good friends with Abraham Lincoln. When the American Civil War started in 1861, Lincoln asked him to join the Union Army. Bielaski became an aide to General John Alexander McClernand. He died while bravely leading soldiers in a charge at the Battle of Belmont.
Contents
Early Life and Moving to America
Alexander Bielaski was born on August 1, 1811. He was born in the Minsk Governorate of the Russian Empire. This area is now part of modern-day Belarus. He trained to be a topographical engineer in Russia. This means he learned to map and survey land.
In 1831, Bielaski joined the November Uprising. This was a big revolt by Poles against the Russian Empire. He served in the Polish army. During the Battle of Grochów, he was shot in the mouth. This injury was very serious and changed his appearance. After he recovered, Bielaski moved to Paris, France. Then, in 1832, he immigrated to the United States.
He arrived in the United States in Portland, Maine. At first, he did not speak English. He knew some French, but he quickly learned English. He started working in the railroad industry. He was a surveyor and engineer for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1835, he went to Florida for surveying work. Then, in 1837, he moved to Springfield, Illinois.
Life in Illinois and Friendship with Lincoln
In Springfield, Alexander Bielaski became friends with Abraham Lincoln. He helped survey the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1841, he became a United States citizen.
In 1842, he married Mary Ann Carey, who lived in Springfield. Later that year, he moved to Mexico City for 18 months. He worked there as an engineer. He even turned down an offer to become a Mexican citizen.
After returning to Illinois, he farmed for two years. In 1845, he got a job with the General Land Office. This job took him to Washington, D.C.. He was promoted to a high-paying position by 1853.
When Abraham Lincoln became president, he and Bielaski remained close. Lincoln would often visit Bielaski at his home. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Lincoln offered Bielaski a job as a captain in the Union Army. Bielaski was worried about his family at first. But Lincoln convinced him to join. He became an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to General John Alexander McClernand.
Fighting in the Civil War
As General McClernand's aide, Bielaski was concerned about the weapons the Union soldiers had. Many soldiers had old flintlock muskets. These were changed to use percussion caps, which were a bit newer. Bielaski thought that Union cavalry (soldiers on horseback) should use lances. He had seen French and Austrian armies, and even the Cossacks, use them effectively.
Early in the war, the Confederate army controlled two important towns. These were Columbus, Kentucky, and Belmont, Missouri. They were on opposite sides of the Mississippi River. This gave the Confederates control of the river. Union General Ulysses S. Grant wanted to stop them. On November 6, 1861, Grant loaded his soldiers onto boats. He learned that the Confederates were planning an attack. So, Grant ordered his troops to attack the Confederate camp in Belmont first.
On November 7, the Union troops landed near Belmont. They began to move towards the Confederates. The Confederate forces were led by General Gideon Pillow.
General McClernand sent the 27th Illinois Infantry Regiment on a different path. This group was led by Colonel Napoleon Bonaparte Buford. Bielaski went with them. As they marched, Colonel Buford realized they could attack the Confederates from behind. Bielaski likely agreed with this plan. The 27th Illinois Infantry got very close to the Confederate camp. The trees around the camp had been cut down to create obstacles called abatis. Bielaski had helped make decisions about which roads to take.
The 27th Illinois Infantry then charged the Confederate line. The Confederates fired back, causing some confusion. But Bielaski quickly rallied the men. He was shot in the hand. His horse was also wounded, so he had to get off. He picked up a musket and fired several shots. Then, he grabbed the regiment's battle flag and led the charge forward. Carrying the flag made him an easy target. He was killed during the attack. Some say he was shot in the head, while others say a cannonball killed him.
Union Colonel John A. Logan wrote that "a braver man never fell on the field of battle." General McClernand also praised Bielaski's bravery. Grant's men did capture the Confederate camp at first. But the Confederates received more soldiers and fought back. The Union soldiers were forced to retreat.
Bielaski was first buried in a mass grave. In 1864, his body was moved to the Mound City National Cemetery in Illinois. His grave marker says "Unknown Soldier, killed at the Battle of Belmont."
Family Life
Alexander Bielaski had a son named Oscar Bielaski. Oscar was one of the first Polish-Americans to play professional baseball.
Through another son, Alexander, Bielaski was the grandfather of A. Bruce Bielaski. A. Bruce Bielaski became the director of what is now the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 1912 to 1919.
Bielaski's granddaughter, Ruth Shipley, was A. Bruce's sister. She worked for the United States Department of State for 27 years. She was in charge of the passport division.
Sources
- Wytrwał, Joseph A. (1957). "Lincoln's Friend: Captain A. Bielaski". Polish American Studies 14 (3/4): 65–67. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20147452.pdf. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
