Page "William Eugene Blackstone" Paragraph 2

Blackstone was born in Adams, New York and became an evangelical Christian when he was 11 during revival meetings at a local Methodist church.

He enlisted for military service during the American Civil War but was not accepted due to " frailness of body ".

Instead he joined the United States Christian Commission ( similar to the modern Red Cross ) and was stationed much of the time at General Ulysses S. Grant's headquarters as coordinator of medical services for injured combatants .< ref name =" mideastoutpost. com ">