Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-23
Col. Thomas Stamford, of the
u. s. Army.

Died, at Cambridge Md, on the Sd inst.
after a long and painful illness of four
months, aged sixty years, Col. Thomas
Stamford colonel of the third regiment Of
United States Infantry.
Col Stamford was n native Of Vermont.
and entered the army as ensign of the
eleventh infantry IN October, 1912, and has
since that period over forty years, been IN
constant and active military duty and on
our Indian frontier. lie served on the
Northern frontier during the war Of 1912
until its close and, on the reduction Of the
army in 1915, he was retained in the sixth
infantry and accompanied that regiment az
the adiulunt IN 1919 to the Upper Missouri
where they established the first military post
IN that then wild and distant region lie
there participated in the suiierings. prvations
and disease that 80 drcadfully afflicted that
command during tie Winter of 1919 20
and which proved so fatal to both officers
and men.
Fever and scurvy broke out, arising from
exposure aud insuiiicicncy of food aud
wholesome provisions and, remote from al
succoT or supplies, death silently decinn,ed
the command, those who survived suffering
for years the effects Of broken down or
enteebled constitutions. Ills natural health
and strength OF constitution, enabled hin to
pass through those manifold scenes Of
pryaton and suffering which proved fatal to
so many of his fellow officers and comrades
In the following year he was promoted to
a caPtalncy in the same regiment, from
which he was transferred in 1885 to the
eighth infantry, and served with the after
regiment in the Florida war. In iS39 he
t,I e fb.
infantry, and accompanied 1t from Jefferson
barracks to the Red River m lS44 to form a
part of the army Of annexation. It left the
following June. 1915, with the third
inian.ry, under Gen. Taylor, for Corpus
Christi, and landed among the troops which
subsequently constituted. as 1t was STYLED,
"our little army OF occupation in Texas ~
In October following he was transferred TO
the fifth infantry, and IN March 1915,
matched with his regiment to the RIO
Grande. lie then participated in and
distinguished himself in the battle Of Pnlo
Alto and Resaca de Ia Palma on the Sh and
9th of May. In he latter action he CALAMITY
repealed with his regiment a large body of
Mexican caval and rancheros that were
endeayorIng to cut off the train and baggage
OF our army and attack It IN the rear. The
steady aud destructive fire of The fifth threw
IL en- into confusion aud put them to total
route. For these services he received the
brevct of Iieniehant colonel
lie was promoted TO the Lieutenant -colpu
clcy IA the clght infantry IN January. 1910 [
and IN September following was brevetted
colonel for gallant conduct ia the battles
before Monterey. He proceeded with his
regiment the following Winter to form part
OF the army OF General Scott to rendezvous
at Lobos Island, On his voyage thence he
received severe injury, which compelled
him to return TO the United States. From
this injury he never entirely recovered, and
in all probability il contributed IN sohe
measure to the fatal results OF his disease --
Tie, however, was enabled 10 JON his regi-
ment in Texas after the Mrxican war,
although suffering still at the same time from
It's effects, and continued with It up TO the /
lime of hls promotion to tic cOonelcy of the
thrd infantry IN 1902.
Col. ). was tall and erect in stature, of
commanding mien aud department, and
voice whose tones OF command could be
distinctly heard above the din Of battle lie
was ihs true representative Of the soldier,
both IN person and bearing. Under the
exterior OF the latter he bore a kind and
niieclonatc disposition, generous aud
iorgwlng temper, and those ounobhug
1ualllics of head aud heart which those vino
knew hlm eau justly appreciate while living
and mourn that he 70 now no morc-.E !.
Com .44u.