Joseph Bloomfield Leake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Bloomfield Leake
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| Born | April 1, 1828 Deerfield, New Jersey |
| Died | June 1, 1918 (aged 90) Chicago, Illinois |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance |  United States of AmericaUnion |
| Service/ |
 United States ArmyUnion Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel Brevet Brigadier General |
| Unit | 20th Iowa Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War |
| Other work | U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois |
Joseph Bloomfield Leake (born April 1, 1828 – died June 1, 1918) was a lawyer and a state senator from Iowa. He joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. He became a Brevet Brigadier General before the war ended. After the war, he worked as the U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.
Contents
Joseph Leake's Life Story
Early Life and Career
Leake was born in Deerfield, New Jersey. He later moved to Cincinnati, Ohio. He finished college at Miami University in 1846. After that, he studied law. He became a lawyer in 1850 and started his own law practice in Davenport, Iowa. Leake was chosen to be part of the Iowa Senate. He served there during the war session of 1861.
Military Service in the Civil War
Leake left his job in the state senate to join the army. He became a captain of Company G in the 20th Iowa Infantry. He was made a Lieutenant Colonel when his regiment was formed. This happened at Camp Kirkwood in Clinton, Iowa.
He led his regiment in several important battles. These included Prairie Grove, Vicksburg, and Port Hudson. On September 29, 1863, Leake was hurt and captured by the Confederates. This happened during a fight called the Battle of Stirling's Plantation in Louisiana.
He was held as a prisoner of war (POW) at Camp Ford in Texas. Leake was the highest-ranking Union officer there. He made sure the other Union POWs were looked after.
Leake was set free in July 1864 as part of a prisoner exchange. Soldiers from the 19th Iowa Infantry gave him a new sword. This replaced the one he lost when he was captured. He went back to his regiment. He helped capture Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan near Mobile, Alabama.
On March 13, 1865, he was given the special rank of brevet brigadier general. The next month, Leake led his regiment during the Battle of Fort Blakely in Alabama.
Later Life and Death
After the war, Leake went back to Davenport, Iowa. He was again elected to the Iowa Senate. In 1871, he moved to Chicago. There, he was chosen to be the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
On September 21, 1887, he was elected as the lawyer for the Chicago Board of Education. He was also a member of important veteran groups. These included the Ulysses S. Grant Post #28 of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also led the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States from 1894 to 1895.
Leake was married two times. His first wife was Cordellia Scott. He married his second wife, Mary P. Hill, on December 9, 1865. He did not have any children. Joseph Leake died in Chicago. He was buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport.
