During the American Civil War Black was on the Pacific Coast from 1861 to 1864. In June 1861, he assumed command of the Army's Fort Vancouver, relieving future Union general John S. Mason.[6] He was promoted to Colonel in the Sixth California Infantry on February 1, 1863. In February 1864, he was sent to Fort Humboldt with three companies of reinforcements ("C," "E" and "G"), to take command of the Humboldt Military District.
In June 1864 he was sent to West Point to be Commandant of Cadets of the United States Military Academy and an instructor of tactics. He was mustered out of the Sixth California Infantry October 27, 1865; was promoted to Major in the 7th U.S. Infantry on July 25, 1866; and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in the Fourth U.S. Infantry, on October 7, 1868.[7]
Later career
Following his assignment at West Point Black was assigned to 15th U.S. Infantry, on July 1, 1870. From then until 1891, he was on duty with his regiment at posts in the South and West. He conducted courts martial, and commanded troops in Maryland and West Virginia during the railroad troubles in 1877. He was made colonel in the 23rd U.S. Infantry, on February 6, 1882.[7]
He commanded Fort Wayne, Michigan, until May, 1890. He then commanded Fort Sam Houston until January 15, 1891, when he retired from active service, at 64 years of age.
^Contemporary sources report his middle name as Moorehouse.[1][2] Other sources have shortened it to Moore.[3][4]
References
^ ab"Recent Deaths". Army and Naval Journal: Gazette of the Regular and Volunteer Forces. Vol. XXX, no. 51. 1893-08-12. p. 850. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
^ ab"Henry M. Black". Twenty-Fifth Annual Reunion of the Association of the Graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Saginaw, Michigan: Seeman & Peters, Printers and Binders. 1894-06-12. p. 25. Retrieved 2022-07-21.
^ abHunt, Roger D. (2019-09-17). "Biographies: Henry Moore Black". Colonels in Blue--Missouri and the Western States and Territories: A Civil War Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 149. ISBN978-1476675893. Retrieved 2022-07-21.