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William Wallace Smith Bliss, originally buried in Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans, is the son-in-law of Zachary Taylor. Bliss fought in the Cherokee War of 1833-1834, taught mathematics at West Point from 1834-1840, served as chief of staff to Gen. Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War and married Taylor’s daughter. He was a renowned linguist, accomplished in numerous languages. The city of New Orleans notified the Army that all monuments in the Girard Street Cemetery must be removed because the land had been condemned to make way for a new building and a highway. In 1955, the remains of Lt. Col. William Wallace Smith Bliss were moved from Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans to Fort Bliss in Texas. |
The William Wallace Bliss Monument in 1926 in Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans is shown to the left. The
picture is from the newspaper The Times Picayune, dated March 7, 1926.The monument and remains were removed to Fort Bliss in Texas in 1955 and can be seen from this link: |
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From the Fort Bliss Web Site: "Both the Fort Bliss National Cemetery and the Fort Bliss Military Reservation were named after William W. S. Bliss. Lieutenant Colonel William Bliss was born in Whitehall, New York on Aug. 17, 1815. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in September 1829. He graduated July 1, 1833, at the age of 17, ranking 9th in a class of 43 graduates. He was considered a prodigy at the Academy where his classmates called him "Perfect Bliss." Later Zachary Taylor’s family gave him the same nickname. He was a scholar and a master of six languages with a reading knowledge of 13 languages. His information ranged from philosophy to poetry to military tactics. His first service after graduation was as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry in engagements against the Cherokee Indians (1833-1834). From 1834-1840 this talented and scholarly young man taught mathematics at the United States Military Academy. His service in the field against the Florida Indians in 1840 -1841, was followed by accompanying General Taylor to the Grand Council of Indian tribes in Oklahoma. He then served as Adjutant General of the 16th military Department until 1845. In August 1845, he became Chief of Staff to General Zachary Taylor, serving with him throughout the military occupation of Texas and the Mexican War. He earned the rank of Brevet Major on May 9, 1846, for the gallant and meritorious conduct during the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Further recognition, and the rank of Brevet Lt. Col., came on Feb. 23, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle of Buena Vista. From 1842 onwards, he was a key member of the staff of "Old Rough and Ready." It was said that with Bliss at his elbow, General Taylor could count on trustworthy information and honest and competent advice.
He married the youngest daughter of Zachary Taylor, Mary Elizabeth, in
December 1848, following the election of Taylor to the Presidency. Mrs.
Bliss took over the duties of official hostess for her mother. |
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