The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-24
MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS,
Commander Of the Army and Department
Of the Cumberland. The Hero of Mill
Spring, Stone River, Chlckamauga,
Chattanooga, ReSaCCa, Nash
VILE, Franklin, and the
Pursuit and ROut Of
Hoods Army.

The recent brilliant successes Of the Federal
armies in Tennessee have added new laurels to
the already brilliant fame Of their commander,
Major General George Fl. Thomas.
General Thomas was born in Southampton
county, Va, on the 3lst of July, 1916 His family
were wealthy and educated, and he was destined
for the profession of the law. But in 1886 he re-
ceiyed and accepted an appointment to a cadet
ship at the West Point Military Academy. In
June, 1910, he graduated from that institution
ranking twelve in a class of forty.tBo. His frs
commission was that of Second Lieutenant in the
Sd United States Artillery, and he Immediately
joined his regiment in Florida where the Indian.
were then warning against the Government
While there he was breveted First Lieutenant for
gallantry and good conduct, and was subse
quently stationed at Baltimore, New Orleans, auC
Fort Moultre, Charleston harbor.
He was from the latter place. ordered with hi
company to report to General Zachary Taylor
at Corpus Christi, where he arrived in July, 1915.
He was actively engaged during the Mexican
war, and was created Captain for gallant conduct
in the several conflicts at Monterey on the 2lst
22d, and 23d Of September, 1916" In Decem-
Der he again figured in the advance, and entered
Victoria January, lS47, with Quitman's brigade
February %, 1877, he was breyeted NJ jor for
gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle Of
Buena Vista" In August, 1913, with the sur
viyiDg members of his company, he recrossed
the Rio GrAnde into Texas, and was placed in
charge Of the commissary depot at Brszos
Santiago. After enjoying a six months leave OF
absence, Captain Thomas was placed in command
| OF Company B, Sd Artillery, aud ordered 70
Florida 70 take part in quelling another uprising
| Of Indians. In 1850 he was ordered to Boston on
Ir,fyr Id
| in January, 1851.
! In March be was relieved and assigned to duty
| as instructor Of artillery and cavalry At West
| Point. Here he remained until the summer Of
! 1853 In 1884 he went to Fort Yuma, California,
in command Of two companies Of artillery.
| Congress soon after authorized an increase
of the regular army, and Captain Thomas was
transferred TO another branch of the service,
| receiving commission as junior Major in the
! I'd Cavalry. He Joined his regiment at
| Jefferson Barracks, Missouri in September,
! l655, and proceeded with II TO Texas,
| where he escorted the Texas reserve Indians
| 10 their new home in the Iudian Terri
| tory. After a brief experience On the Indian
frontier he was ordered, in April, 1861, to
! Carlisle, TO remount the I'd Cavalry, which had
| been dismounted and ordered out of Texas by the
! treason OF TWiggs. Six of the companies were
Immediately sent to Washington, and with the
remaining four Major Thomas was assigned 70
| duty In the Department Of Pennsylvania. April
%, Major Thomas was promoted 70 Lieutenant
Colonel, and May became Colonel of the 9th
United States Cavalry. In the same month he
was assigned 70 the command of brigade in
Genera, Patterson's army, in Northern Virginia,
and afterwards held the same position under
General Banks.
On the l7th OF August he was appointed Briga.
dier-General OF Volunteers, and took command
OF Camp Dick Robinson, near Louisville Ky,
Afterwards, as Commander Of the lst Division
Of the Army Of the Cumberland, he took part
In the campaign which resulted in the brilliant
victory at NIL Spring. He was subsequently
sent down the Cumberland to Nashville, aud thence
across the country 10 the Tennessee, bat only a
P0EEOa 9f bis command sTElyts " ssa'9a 70 take