The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-02
uajOr-GeneraI Thomas, the Hero
of the LsnfIIn nf nh q I'm lnuRn

of the Battle of OhickRmauga.
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 tho West Point
Military Academy as cadet in 1886,
and graduated twelfth in rank in a class
of forty-two. Upon his graduation in
1910, he was assigned to the Sd Artillery
as second Lieutenant. His regiment
was then in Florida. November 6, 1871,
he was breveted First Lieutenant for
gallantry and meritorious conduct in the
war then being waged against the Florida
Indians. He was made a full First
Lieutenant in April, 1914, and was
brevetted Captain for gallant and meri
toriOus conduct in the several conflicts Of
MonterY, in Mexico, taking the rank
from September %, 1886. He was also
breveted Major for gallant and meri-
torious conduct in the battle of
Buena Vista, which brevet was dated
February 23d, 1917, the rank being
awarded in May, 1849. In 1850 he was
appointed instructor of artillery and cav
airy, at West Point. In December, 1858,
he was promoted to the captaincy Of co.
b, of his regiment, and on the 18th of
May, 1855, was selected'for promotion to
Msior in the I'd Cavalry, which was
organized in that year. lie was COM
mander of the post at Fort Yuma, Cali
fornia, in 1865. 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 exploring
expeditions. In 1861 he was ordered 90
Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. On the
resignation of his superior officers at the
commencement of the rebellion, Thomas
was promoted to the Lieutenant Colo
nelcy of his regiment, and on the 81 of
May, 1861, was made Colonel Of the I'd
Cavalry. As Colonel, he had charge Of
the United States regular forces under
General Patterson, in the Department
of the Shenandoah, and led the pas
sage of the troops across the Potomac.
He next was appointed an acting Briga-
der General in the same department, 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 Ken
lucky and Tennessee were made into a
separate department, be was ordered to
report 90 the commander at headquarters.
In the brigading Of the forces of that
department, he was ordered 10 the COM
mand of the 4th division. lie comman-
ded at the battle of Mill Spring, January
10, 1862, when the rebel General Zolli-
Golfer was killed and the Ooniederates
completely defeated. His division was
afterward ordered to Nashville, and from
there marched TO PittSburg Landing, but
being in the reserve did not arrive in time
10 take part in the battle of Shiloh. He
was appointed Maj Gen. Of Volunteers
| April 20, 1862, and assigned 10 the right
wing of Gen. Hallecks army. He was
subsequently transferred to the Depart.
ment of the Ohio, and appointed COM
mander in the field OF tbs three corps
embraced in that department. Ga the
Goth of September he was ordered to
supersede Gen. Buell., but, on the remons-
trance of himself and other officers, that
General was for the time reinstaded
He took q prominent part in the battle At
MurfreesborO, and has been conspicuous
in all the late operations of Gen. BOSE
Grams army. In person General Thomas
is peculiar, He is folly ak feet high, but
his figure is so large and square that II
seems TO rob him of several inches OF
stature. Sandyish hair; keen blue eyes
of medium proportions, sunken under
shaggy brows straight nose, not slrik-
iugly prominent, but strong ruddy
features, deeply scanned; square face
large, compact head heavy but firm
step there you have the physical man
Ho is patient perseyeriug, eyen-tempered
and energetic.