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William Wallace Smith Bliss
Colonel - U. S. Army |
| Born |
August 17, 1815
NY |
| Died |
August 5, 1853
Pascagoula,
MS |
| Cause |
Yellow Fever |
| Age |
38 |
| Education |
U.S.
Military Academy
July 1, 1833, 9th of 43,
graduated at age 17 |
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| Father-in-law |
Zachary Taylor |
| Brother-in-law |
Richard Taylor |
| Brother-in-law |
Jefferson Davis |
| |
| Spouse |
'Betty' Mary Elizabeth Taylor |
| Married |
December 5, 1848
Baton Rouge, LA |
| Children |
None |
| Religion |
Episcopalian |
|
Burial |
Girod Street Cemetery
New Orleans |
| Reinterred |
Fort
Bliss
El Paso, Texas |
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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.
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Above is the William Wallace Bliss Monument in Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans. The
picture is from The Times Picayune, dated March 7, 1926.
The process of removing the memorial was begun by the Army in 1950. After his casket was not found under the above memorial,
speculation began that he might be buried elsewhere.
As Girod Street Cemetery dismantling continued, the Army in 1955, eventually found his remains in a casket that was in a
concrete and brick tomb located four feet beneath a monument in the cemetery.
His remains were removed to Fort Bliss in Texas. He was reinterred after a ceremony at Fort Bliss National Cemetery on
Nov. 22, 1955.
Bliss Monument at Fort Bliss
1956 |
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 'Betty' Elizabeth, in December 1848, following the election of
Taylor to the Presidency. Mrs. Bliss took over the duties of official hostess for her mother.
On July 9, 1850, Colonel Bliss was assigned as Adjutant General of the Western Division of the Army in New Orleans. On
Aug. 5, 1853, he died at Pascagoula, Miss., a victim of Yellow Fever. He was interred in the Protestant Cemetery on
Girod Street in New Orleans.
On Nov. 22, 1955, Colonel Bliss was reinterred in the National Cemetery with full military honors. His burial plot is
located along the entrance driveway of the cemetery and is marked with an upright white marble monument. This monument
was relocated from Girod Street Cemetery in New Orleans."
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