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G. L. Beal
(1825 - 1896)
Home State: Maine
Command Billet: Commanding Regiment
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 10th Maine Infantry
Before Antietam
His father Ezra was a prominent and successful architect, builder and businessman in Norway and Portland Maine. In April 1861 he joined the 1st Maine, a 3-month unit, as Captain. He was then appointed Colonel of the 10th Maine, and they left Portland on 6 October 1861 for Federal service.
On the Campaign
He was wounded at Antietam on the morning of the 17th in command of his Regiment. His Lieutenant Colonel, James S. Fillebrown, wrote the after action report, and says: "Colonel Beal received a shot, after his horse was twice wounded, in the legs, passing through one and entering the other slightly."
The rest of the War
He commanded the 1st Brig/1st Division in the 20th Corps at Gettysburg. After most of the 10th Maine mustered out of service May 7 and 8, 1863, he recruited and organized the new 29th Maine at Augusta. It was formed from 13 November 1863 to January 1864, and Beal was it's first Colonel. It's Companies A and D were transferred from the old 10th Maine.
He was appointed Brigadier General on 30 November 1864, and was mustered out of the service on 15 January 1866.
After the War
Although his father had hopes that he would take over the Beal Hotel, George instead became involved in politics at Augusta. He also remained in Maine National Guard/Militia Service for some time after the War (at least through 1874). He participated in the 1886 Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR - veteran's group) in San Fransico, as Past Dept. Commander. He was Maine State Treasurer from 1888 - 94.
References & notes
Source: Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography, edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. Six volumes, New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1887-1889.
Thanks to Larry Glatz for finding the General's burial place and telling us about it. He informs that there was formally an historic marker on the spot, since stolen; it's replacement a 'back burner' project of the Norway Historical Society (232 Main Street, Norway, Maine 04268, 207.743.7377 if you'd like to help).
Birth
5/21/1825; Norway, ME
Death
12/11/1896; Norway, ME; burial in Norway Pine Grove Cemetery, South Paris, ME