Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1863-10-14
MaiOr-General Thomas,
THE HERO OF THE BATTLE OF cH1CKAMAUe

THE HERO OF THE BATTLE OF CHICKAlIAUGA
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE HENRY
THOMAS is an officer of the United States
Army, and a native of Virginia, about
fOrty-four years of age. He entered the
West Point Military Academy as a cadet
in 1886, and graduated twelfth in rand
in a class of forty-two. Upon his grad
uation in 1910, he was assigned to the
Sd Artillery as a Second Lieutenant His
regiment was then in Florida. Novem-
Der 6, 1841, he was brevetted First Lieu
tenant for gallantry and meritorious con
duct in the war then being waged against
the Florida Indians. He was made a
full First Lieutenant in April, 1874, and
was brevetted a Captain for gallant and
meritorious conduct in the several con-
ficts of Monterey, in Mexico, taking that
rank from September %, 1916. He
was also Brevetted Major for gallant and
meritorious conduct in the battle of Bue-
ma Vista, which brevet was dated Febru-
ary %, 1847, the rank being awarded in
May, 1648. In 1850 he was appointed
instructor of artillery and cavalry, at
West Point. In December, 1853, he
was promoted to the Captaincy of Com
pany B, Of his regiment, and on the 18th
of May, 1856, was selected for promotion
to Major in the I'd Cavalry, which was
organized in that year He was COM
mander of the post at Fort Yuma, Cali
fornia, in 1855. From 1856 to 1860, he
was on duty in Texas, commanding his
regiment for the last three years of that
time, against the Indians, and in explor-
ing expeditions. In 1861, he was order
ed to Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
On the resignation of his superior ofic-
ers, at the commencement of the rebell-
ion, Thomas was promoted to the Lieu
tenant-C Colonelcy of his regiment, and on
the Sd, OF May, 1861, was made Colonel
of the I'd Cavalry. As Colonel, he had
charge of the United States regular for
ces under General Patterson, in the De-
partment of the Shenandoah, and led the
passage of the troops across the Poto-
mac. He was next appointed an acting
Brigadier-General in the same depart
ment, in which capacity he served under
General Banks. On the 18th of August,
1861, he was promoted to the rank of
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, and
when Kentucky and Tennessee were made
into a separate department, he was order
ed to report to the Commander at the
headquarters. In the brigading Of tie
forces of that department he was ordered
to the command of the 4th Division. He
commanded at the battle of Mill Spring,
January 10, 1862, when the rebel Gen
eral Zollicoffer was killed and the Con-
foderates completely defeated. His di-
vision was afterward ordered to Nash
vile, and from there marched to Pitts.
burg Landing, but being in the reserve,
did not arrive in time to take part in the
battle of Shiloh. He was appointed Ma
jor- General of V VoIunteers, April 20, 1862,
and assigned to the right wing of Gener-
al Halleck's army He was subsequent
ly transferred to the Department of the
Ohio, and appointed commander in the
field of the three corps embraced in that
department. On the 10th of September
he was ordered to supersede General Bu-
ell, but, on the remonstrance of himself
and other officers, that General was for
the time reinstated. He took a promi-
nent part in the battle of Murfreesboro,
and has been conspicuous in all the later
operations of General Rosecrans' army.
In person General Thomas is peculiar.
He is fully six feet high, but his figure
is so large and square that it seems to
rob him of several inches of stature. San
dyish hair: keen blue eyes of medium
proportions, sunken under shaggy brows;
straight nose, not strikingly prominent
but strong; ruddy features, deeply seam.
ed; square face; large, compact head
heavy but firm step; there you have the
physical man. He is patient, persever.
ing, even-tempered and energetic. Gen,
IeraI Rosecrans is said to entertain for hin
an exalted esteem.