Jarvis Blinn facts for kids

Captain Jarvis E. Blinn (born July 28, 1836 – died September 17, 1862) was a brave officer during the American Civil War. He served as a Captain for Company B in the 14th Connecticut Regiment Infantry. Sadly, he was the very first officer from his regiment to die in the war, shot during a major battle.

Jarvis Blinn's Journey to War

Jarvis Blinn was born in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, on July 28, 1836. When he was about 17 years old, in 1853, he moved to New Haven, Connecticut. There, he found work in the field of rulemaking.

In July 1862, the state of Connecticut was asked to provide more soldiers for the Civil War. Jarvis Blinn answered this call to serve his country. On August 8, he joined Company B of the 14th Connecticut Regiment Infantry. This company was forming in New Britain at the time.

Just a week later, on August 15, Jarvis Blinn was chosen and officially made a Captain. The 14th Regiment gathered at Camp Foote in Hartford, Connecticut. They were officially ready for service on August 23.

Marching Towards Battle

On August 25, 1862, Captain Blinn and the 14th Regiment left their camp. They marched through town with music and cheers. Then, they headed to New York by steamship. Company B, Blinn's company, traveled on ships like the "Dudley Buck" or the "City of Hartford."

The steamship journey took them down the Connecticut River and into Long Island Sound. They arrived in New York on the morning of August 26. After a quick meal, the regiment boarded another ship, the "Kill von Kull." This ship took them up the Elizabeth River to Elizabethport.

From there, Captain Blinn and his regiment boarded a train. They traveled to Baltimore and then on to Washington, D.C.. They finally arrived at the barracks in Washington D.C. on the morning of August 27.

The 14th Regiment became part of a larger group called the 2nd Brigade. This brigade was part of the 3rd Division, which belonged to the Second Army Corps. On September 7, the regiment began marching again. They passed through Rockville, Maryland. By September 11, they reached Clarksburg, Maryland. Two days later, on September 13, they arrived at Frederick City, Maryland.

The regiment reached the site of the Battle of South Mountain on September 14, but the fighting had already ended. However, their journey continued. Captain Blinn and his regiment would soon face a major battle: the Battle of Antietam. This famous battle took place on September 17, 1862.

A Hero's Sacrifice at Antietam

The Battle of Antietam was one of the bloodiest single-day battles in American history. During this fierce fight, Captain Blinn's company had moved to a position very close to the enemy. They were then given an order to fall back, meaning to retreat to a safer spot.

As this order was given, Captain Blinn was tragically shot directly through the heart. He cried out, "I am a dead man!" and passed away immediately. He was the first officer from the 14th Regiment to lose his life in the war.

Captain Blinn's body was returned home to New Britain. His funeral service was held at Center Church on October 14. A special speech was given by Reverend Goodell. After this service, the funeral procession traveled to Blinn's hometown of Rocky Hill. Another service was held there at the Congregational Church. Captain Jarvis Blinn was then laid to rest with special honors at Center Cemetery.