Norway’s George Beal The enlisted man’s general

Western Maine Norway’s George Beal

The enlisted man’s general by Charles Francis T he State of Maine produced some of the most outstanding general staff officers who, besides distinguishing themselves during the Civil War, went on to notable postwar careers. Joshua Chamberlain was a four-term governor of Maine, who later, through force of character alone, defused the temper of an angry mob which threatened to occupy the capitol building. As military governor of Mississippi, Adelbert Ames made that state the role model for Reconstruction. Oliver Otis Howard founded Howard University, the first university for freed slaves in the country. And, of course, Neal Dow was largely responsible for the temperance movement which produced the first statewide prohibition law in the United States, the Maine Law.

There is another distinguished Maine Civil War general who, while his name is largely forgotten today, was better known and more loved by Maine war veterans than any of those named above. He was George L. Beal of Norway. In fact, Beal was often referred to as the enlisted man’s general because he did more for Maine war veterans than anyone else in the state.

George Lafayette Beal was born in Norway on May 21, 1825. While still in his teen years, he worked on the Norway Oxford Observer as did Hannibal Hamlin, vice president during Lincoln’s first term, and Artemus Ward, the country’s first great humorist. He also worked as a bookbinder. His great love was the military, however, and he always listed his pre-war professions as bookbinder and militia officer, even though the latter was non-paying.

Throughout the colonial period and down through the War of 1812, almost every Maine town of any consequence had a militia company which drilled regularly. However, as the War of 1812 receded into the past and the nation entered into what is called the “Era of Good Feelings,” militia drills became fewer and fewer so that by the late 1840s there were only a few active companies left in the state. George Beal’s involvement in Norway’s militia company, in which he held the rank of captain, is therefore rather unique.

The Norway Light Infantry was

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one of the very first militia companies to answer Lincoln’s earliest call for volunteers. It, along with nine other Maine companies, most of which were from Portland, made up the 1st Maine Infantry Regiment. The most notable thing about the 1st Maine, which was a three-month company, is that a significant number of its members, including George Beal, actually signed up for longer periods.

The 1st Maine was stationed in Washington as a defense measure and saw no action. It was mustered out on August 6, 1861.

In October of 1861, George Beal and a large number of the old 1st Maine became part of the 10th Maine. Captain Beal was now Colonel Beal, the regimental commander. The 10th Maine was a two-year regiment. Among other battles, it took part in the Second Battle of Bull Run and the bloody fighting at Antietam.

When the 10th Maine’s tour of duty

was over, George Beal immediately began recruiting for a new regiment. It would become the 29th Maine. By now Beal had become one of the most popular regimental commanders in the Union army. So much so that two whole companies of the old 10th Maine signed on for three more years to form the nucleus of the 29th.

The 29th Maine was assigned to the XIX Corps of the Army of the Shenandoah. George Beal would not be its commanding officer for long, however. He would be promoted to Brigadier-General and brigade commander in the XIX Corps. At the close of the war, Beal was a Major-General serving directly under Philip Sheridan.

Returning to Maine, Beal was made Maine State Adjutant General. In this position he oversaw the records of all the Maine men who had served in the War Between the States. He also actively lobbied the legislature for veterans benefits and was involved in the founding of the Bath Military and Naval Orphans Asylum in Bath, which was established to care for children orphaned during the war.

Beal was also involved in establishing the Maine Department of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR). He was its first commander and, as such, was the preeminent spokesman in the state for veterans.

George Beal also served as Treasurer of the State of Maine, a position he held from 1888 to 1895. However, the real love of the bookbinder and militia officer from Norway was for the military and all those who had served in the military.

General George Beal died on December 11, 1896. Eulogies, which appeared in newspapers all across the state, always referred to the work he had done on behalf of veterans. General Beal was truly the enlisted man’s general. Discover Maine

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