A native of Fort Hamilton, New York and a member of a family prominent in law, politics, religion, and academia, Blatchford attended Williston Seminary and Claverack College, and was an 1882 graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

At the start of his career, Blatchford served with his regiment on the western frontier, including postings to Dakota Territory, Kansas, and Arizona.

His unsatisfactory performance in this role led to his return to the United States, where he commanded the 158th Depot Brigade.

[2] He was educated at Williston Seminary in Massachusetts and Claverack College in New York, and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with the class of 1882.

[1] Following two tours of duty in Puerto Rico, he served in the Philippines from 1901 to 1904, taking part in the Philippine–American War in both field and garrison assignments[5] with the 28th, 11th, and 6th Regiments.

[3] Blatchford's regiment, a part of the 8th Brigade under Brigadier General John J. Pershing, included 700 enlisted men and 30 commissioned officers.

[7] The regiment was later stationed at Nogales, Arizona, where Blatchford made arrangements for Pershing's August 29, 1914 peace conference with Mexican generals Pancho Villa and Álvaro Obregón.

[1] He sailed for France in July 1917 to observe trench warfare and Allied training methods, and on July 25 he was appointed commanding general of the Line of Communications, part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF), the commander of which was Pershing, an old friend and now a major general.

[1] Blatchford failed to organize a functioning line of communication in France, resulting in inadequate transport of supplies to U.S.

[1][13] To spare his feelings and reputation, Pershing, now a full general, told him he was needed to train a combat unit and then lead it to France to take part in the fighting.