The Biographical Dictionary of America/Balch, George Beall

BALCH, George Beall, naval officer, was born in Tennessee, Jan. 3, 1821. He was taken to Alabama by his parents, and in 1837 was appointed a midshipman for that state. He served on the Cyane, and studied at the Philadelphia naval school, and in June, 1843, was promoted passed midshipman, and stationed at the naval observatory until the opening of the Mexican war in 1845, when he was attached to the squadron under Commodore Conner, and was actively employed in most of the naval engagements of the war. He served in the Mosquito fleet, and participated in the taking of Vera Cruz. From 1848-50 he served in the Mediterranean squadron and at the naval observatory. Washington. In 1850 he was promoted to a lieutenancy, and was attached to the Pacific squadron and occupied in cruising in foreign and United States waters. In 1860, while in command of the Sabine, he rescued nearly four hundred men from the sinking U. S. transport Governor, and in December, 1861, volunteered to lead the party which captured Tybee Island. He was promoted commander, July 16, 1863, and did gallant and efficient service on various occasions; notably upon the Black river, in repelling an attack by two Confederate forts in which his ship, the Pawnee, was struck forty-six times, and in an engagement with the Confederate forts on the Stono river and later on Tagoda creek, S. C., when he silenced the batteries and drove the Confederates from their breastworks. He was promoted captain July 26, 1886; was made commodore in 1872, and in 1878 was promoted rear-admiral. He was stationed at the navy yard at Washington from 1865 to 1868, commanded the flag-ship Albany during 1868 to 1869; employed on various shore services from 1870 to 1878; superintendent of the naval academy from 1879 to 1881, and commander of the Pacific squadron from 1881 until 1883, when he was placed on the retired list.