John J.P. Blinn

John Blinn helped lead Terre Haute into Civil War
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Born John J.P. Blinn in Terre Haute, John received his early education at local schools and carried newspapers for the "Prairie City."He was attending Wabash College at Crawfordsville when the Civil War broke out.

Having excelled in military drill at college, John assisted in raising a company and went into Camp Vigo, north of Terre Haute on the old fairgrounds.They were mustered into Company F, 14th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, the first three-year regiment organized in Vigo County.He was made adjutant of the regiment and served in that capacity until 1862.He then was commissioned captain and assistant adjutant general, serving on the brigade staff of Gen.
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During one of the battles, Blinn chased that rebel officer almost up to his own line.The rebel dropped his cord in his haste to get to safety and Blinn picked it up and quickly returned to his own line, waving it triumphantly over his head.

The other sword was the one he carried through each of the 13 battles in which he participated.It was at his side when he dropped at Gettysburg.
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John Blinn"

On July 3, 1863, John fell mortally wounded in the second day's battle at Gettysburg while repulsing the charge of Pickett's Corps.His mother journeyed by train to be by his side, to nurse and sustain him.He died several days later at the field hospital at the age of 22.His body was returned to Terre Haute where he was buried in the City of Whispering Trees at Woodlawn Cemetery.In 1885, he was honored by the citizens in Prairieton when they named their Grand Army of the Republic Post the GAR Blinn Post 394.