Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-01-12
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE H.
THOMAS.


added to an already brilliant military rep
utation, is a native of Virginia, and wa,
born in Southampton County. in tha,
State. July 81. 1916. On his father
side he was English and on his mother s
of Huguenot extraction. both being de
scended from families of wealth and res
pectabilty He received good home ed
ucation. and was intending to enter upor
the study Of law. when in 1886. he rcceiv'
ell the appointment of a cadet>hip at the
West Point Military Academy. lie grad
uated FROM the Institution in June 1910
ranking twelve in class OF forty two
His first commission was that of second
lieutenant in the 81 United States Artille-
ry; and in the fall of 1850. he jpined his
regiment in Florida. where he was shortly
after engaged in the war with the Indians
While here he was brevetted first lieuten-
ant--.for gallantry and good conduct"
and was afterward stationed at New Or
leans. Baltimore. Fort Moultrie and
Charleston. From the last named place.
having received his commission as first
lieutenant, he was ordered with his COM
pany to report to General Zachary Taylor
at Corpns Christi, arriving there in July
1916 He was actively engaged in the
war with Mexico, which shortly followed ,
and was brevetted Captain. for gallant
conduct in the several conflicts at Monter-
ey, on the 2lst. 22nd and 23I Of Septem-
Der lS46'' In December he again figured
in the advance, and entered Victoria, Jan
nary. lS47. with Qpitmsn's brigade
February %. 1917. he was brevetted Ma
jor "ior gallant and meritolious conduct
in the battle of Buena Vista" In Au-
gust. lS4S, with his company, he recross-
ei the Rio Grande into Texas. and was
placed in charge of the commissary depot
at Brazos Santiago. Alter enjoying a SIX
months leave of absence. Lienteni mt
Thomas was placed in command of Go.
b. 81 Artillery. and orlel to Florida to
take part in queling another uprising OF
the Indians. I'm 1880 he was ordered to
Bast, n. on garrison duty at Fort indie
;endence. and arrived in January, lS5l.-
In March he was relieved. aud assigned to
duty as Instructor OF artillery and cavalry
at West Point. Here he remained until
the 1858. receiving in the meantime, his
comm ssion as Captain. In 1884 he went
to Fort Yuma, Lower California. in COM
mand of two companies of artillery.
Congress soon after authorized an in
crease in the regular army. and Captain
Thomas was transferred to another branch
OF The service. receiving a commission a
Junior Major in the 2nd Cavalry. He
Joined his regiment at Jefferson Barracks
Missouri. in September. 1860, and pro-
ceeled with it to Texas. where he escorted
he Texas Reserve Indians TO their ne v
home in the Indian Territory. After a
btie: experience on the Indian frontier he
was ordered in April, 1861, to Carlisle, to
remount the , I Cavalry. which had been
di>mounied and ordered ont of Texas by
the treason Of Twiggs. Six of the com
panies were Immediately sent TO Washing
ton with the remaining four, Major Thom-
as was assigned 10 duty in the Department
oil Pennsylvania. April %. Mai.r Thorn
as was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
and May 3. became Colonel of the 9th
Uuited States Cavalry. In the same
month he was assigned to the command OF
a brigade in General Patters on's army. in
Northern Virginia. and aierward held the
same position under General Banks.
On the 18th of August he was promoted
TO the rank of Brigadier General of Volun-
tccrs. and took command Of Camp Dick
Robinson, near Louisville Kentucky. Al
terward in command OF the lst Division
Of the Army Of the Cumberland, he took
part in the brilliant campaign under Gen
cral Buell., which resnted in the defeat of
the rebel army at Mill Spring, where Zol-
licotfar, their commander. was killed =
When Bnell was ordered to cooperate
with the movement of General Grant up
the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.
General Thomas with his division was
sent down the Cumberland TO Nashville.
and thence across the country to the Ten
ne>see; but only portion OF his command
arrived in season to take part in the battle
OF Shiloh following this he was placed
by General iIalleck in command of the
right wing OF the Army OF the Tennessee,
composed Of the divisions of L. w. Sher-
man. s. \. Hurlbut. Mexican and Davies.
Corinth was soon after evacuated. and
Buell. fell back toward Louisville. General
Thomas being designated as second in
command of the entire army.
F,om this time forward the history Of
General Thomas is known to every intel
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