George A.H. Blake

George Alexander Hamilton Blake (August 31, 1810 – October 27, 1884) was a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army during the American Indian Wars, the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.

Early Life and career
George Blake was born on August 31, 1810, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as child of English-American musician George E. Blake and  Anna Margaretta Henesiem Blake. When the 2nd U.S. Regiment of Dragoons was raised in 1836, Blake received a civilian appointment and was commissioned into the army with the rank of First Lieutenant. Stationed in Florida he took part in the 2nd Seminole War, including the action at Fort Mellon and the Battle of Jupiter Inlet. Blake was promoted to Captain in 1839 and continued his service in Florida till 1841 when his command was transferred to Texas.

Mexican-American War and Ante-Bellum
In 1846 Blakes' regiment, originally commanded by David E. Twiggs, participated in the Mexico City Campaign under command of Edwin V. Sumner. Grouped in the Brigade of Dragoon Brigade under Col. William S. Harney the regiment and Captain Blake participated i.A. in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Puebla Contreras, Molina del Rey, Chapultepec and the Battle for Mexico City. At war's end Blake, highly commented by his superiors, received a brevet promotion to Major for ''gallant and meritorious conduct in the affair at St. Augustine, Mexico, August 17, 1847.

Transferred to the 1st U.S. Dragoons he was promoted to full Major on July 23, 1850. Assigned to the Western Frontier, he and a mixed command of cavalry and infantry established Fort Massachussetts in the New Mexico Territory, which became the first permanent U.S. post in the state of Colorado. In 1857 he commanded the detachment of dragoons that accompanied Lieutenant Edward Fitzgerald Beale and the U.S. Camel Corps on their Arizona Expedition.