Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-03-02
Col. Thomas stamford, of the L. :. Army.

Died, at Cambridge, Nd. . on the Sd inst,
Il ter long and painful illness of four
months, aged sixty six years, Col Thomas
Stamford, colonel Of the third regiment of
United States Infantry.
Col. Stamford was Il native of Vermont,
and entered the army as ensign of the eleventh
infantry in October, 1872, and has since that
period, over forty years, been in constant
and active military duty and ON our Indian
frontier. ile served on the Northern frontier
during the war of 1872 until its close and, =,
on the reduction of the army in 1915, he was
retained in the sixth infantry, and accom-
panied that regiment as the adiutant in 1919
to the Upper Missouri, where llicy established
the first military post in that then wild and
distant region. lie there participated in the
sutierings, privations and disease that so
drcadfully afflicted that command during the
Winter Of lsl9-20, and which proved SO
fatal to both officers and men.
Fever and scurvy broke out, arising from
exposure and insuffciency of food and whole
some provisions and, remote from all succor
or supplies, death silently decimated the
command, those who survived suffering for
years the effects of broken down or enfeebled
constitutions His natural health and
strength of constitution enabled him to pass
and suffering which proved fatal to so many
Of his fellow officers and comeradcs
In the following year he was promoted to
a captainoy in the same regiment, from which
he was transferred in 1888 to the eighth in
! iantry, and served with the latter regiment
| in the Florida war. In 1899 he was promo
ted to the majority of the fourth infantry,
| and accompanied it from jefferson barracks
! to the Red River in lsi4 to form a part OF
| the army of annexation. 1t left the follow
| ing June, lS45, with the third infantry,
under Gen. Taylor, for Corpus Christi, and
landed among the troops which subsequently
constituted, as it was styled, a." our little
army of occupation in Texas" In October
following he was transferred to the fifth in
iantrv, and in March, 1916, marched with
his regiment to the Rio Grande lie then
participated in and distinguished himself in
Palma on the sth & and th OF Of G:o'" ID taa a
latter action he gallantly repelled with his
regiment a large body of Mexican cavalry
and rancheros that were endcayoring to cut
off the train and baggage of our army and
attack it in the rear, The steady and des
tructlve fire of the fifth threw them into con
fusion and put them TO a total routs. Fol
these services he received the brevet of lieu
tenant colonel.
lie was promoted to the hclieutenant-colonel
cy in the eight infantry in January, l>46
and in september following was breyetteC
colonel for gallant conduct in the battles he
fore Monterey. lie proceeded with his regl
mcnt the following Winter to form part o
the army of General Scott to rendezvous a
Lobos Island. On his voyage thence he re
ceiyed a severe injury, which compelled hin
to return to the United States. From thi
injury he never entirely recovered, and IN a
probability it contributed in some measur
TO the fatal results of his disease He, how
ever, was enabled to Join his regiment
Texas after the Mexican war, although su
iering still at the same time from Its effects
, and continued with it up to the time OF Ia
1 promotion TO the colonelcy of the third il
| iantry in 1852,
, Col. 5. was tall and erect in stature, of
commanding mien and department, and
voice whose tones of command could be di
tinctly heard above the din of battle, L
was the true representative of the soldie
, both in person and hearing. Under the e
; terror of the latter he bore n kind and atie
tionate disposition, generous and forgivir
temper, and those ennobling qualities of b.a
, and heart which those who knew hin ca
= Justly appreciate while living and uour
, that he is now no more.-N. Y. Con. Adj