George B. Cosby

George Blake Cosby (January 19, 1830 – June 29, 1909) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. He was an 1852 graduate of the United States Military Academy and served in the United States Army until May 10, 1861. After the war, he farmed in California, worked as a sutler in Oregon and held several government positions.

Early life George Blake Cosby was born on January 19, 1830, in Louisville, Kentucky. He graduated 17th of 43 in the 1852 class of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Cosby transferred to the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment on March 3, 1855. Cosby resigned on May 10, 1861, to join the Confederate Army. and given command of a cavalry brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana.

In February 1864, Cosby and his brigade were assigned to the Department of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee until September 1864, when they were assigned to the Department of West Virginia and East Tennessee until the end of the war. Cosby was paroled in Kentucky in May 1865.

General Cosby died by suicide on June 29, 1909, in Oakland, California, allegedly due to continuing pain from his old war wounds. George Blake Cosby was buried at City Cemetery in Sacramento.