William Belknap was involved in may battles during the Mexican War and brevetted to colonel for gallantry in Gen. Zachary Taylor's Rio Grande Campaign. He was inspector general at the Battle of Monterrey, became a lieutenant colonel September 26, 1847 and brevetted to brigadier general on February 23, 1847, for service at the Battle of Buena Vista.
After the war he commanded Fort Gibson in Oklahoma, then Indian Territory, from 1848 to 1850.
He died of dysentery on November 10, 1851 while searching for a location for a military post to protect California-bound settlers and Texas emigrants.
He was also the father of William W. Beknap who became a Union general during the Civil War and was later Secretary of War under President U.S. grant from 1869 to 1876.
--Brock-Perry
2012 marks the 200th anniversary of America's "Forgotten War," the War of 1812 that took place over three years, 1812 to 1815.
Battle of New Orleans.
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