Sanford, George B. (George Bliss), 1842-1908

Col. George Bliss Sanford was born in New Haven, Conn., Jun. 28, 1842, the son of William Earle Sanford and Margaret Cranney Sanford, of an old New Haven family. After being appointed second lieutenant he was sent to Missouri, where he fought through the Wilson Creek campaign under Gen. Nathaniel Lyon. In 1862, Col. Sanford, with his regiment, was with the Army of the Potomac and engaged in the Peninsular and Antietam campaigns. Later he was attached to the staff of Gen. Wesley Merritt in command of the first division U.S. Cavalry, and was in that service during 1863 and the early part of 1864. In the spring of 1864 he rejoined his regiment and was engaged in the battles of Cold Harbor, the Wilderness and in the James River campaign. Later he was appointed to the staff of Gen. Alfred Torbert, who cammanded Ulysses Grant's cavalry corps, and he was engaged in the valley campaign and remained with Torbert till the close of the war, when he rejoined his regiment, which was acting as escort to Gen. Sheridan at New Orleans. He then went to California and later to Fort McDowell in Arizona. He was in the Sioux campaign in 1876 when Custer was killed. In 1884 Col. Sanford was ordered to the Military School of Applied Science at Fort Leavenworth and later to Washington as a member of a board to devise a new system of tactics for the United States Army. Col. Sanford married Gertrude Minturn, daughter of Jonas Minturn, formerly of Bristol, R.I. After retiring from active service in 1892, Col. Sanford came to Litchfield. Col. Sanford died at the New York Hospital, New York City, on July 13, 1908.

From the description of George B. Sanford manuscript, ca. 1893 or 1894. (Litchfield Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 717428050

George B. Sanford, US Army cavalry officer, was born at New Haven, Connecticut on June 28, 1842. He attended Yale University until he accepted a commission as second lieutenant in the 1st Dragoons (Later 1st Cavalry) on April 26, 1861. During the Civil War, he fought in the battles at Antietam and the Wilderness. He arrived in Arizona in 1866 and served as commanding officer at Fort McDowell, Arizona. In 1892, he retired from the army and eventually relocated with his family to Litchfield, Connecticut. Sanford passed away in New York City on July 13, 1908.

From the guide to the George B. Sanford Collection, 1861-1908, (Bulk 1866-1871)., (Arizona State University Libraries Arizona Collection)