The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-23


Few distinguished Union generals are
more gratefully and enthusiastically admired
than Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, who is now in
command of the military department of Ten
nessee and Kentucky. Persons who enjoy
his acquaintance declare that there is some
thing in his character which reminds them of
Washington as he is presented to us by histo-
rians The Washington correspondent of the
Worcester Spy in recent letter gives the
following interesting "reminiscences of this
fine old soldier:
Passing Wizards yesterday met porty
and dignihed looking man, who, though in
citizens dress, recognized as Gen. Geo. H.
Thomas. His figure is one that most per-
sons would turn round and look after, for il
impresses one as that OF a marked man and
strong character.
Afterwards, while / was standing on
Newspaper Row." ON Fourteenth Street, the
General crossed the street. A group of gem
tlemen standing in front of the Tribune Of
flee discussed his merits.
One who had held high position on the
staff of General Steele, remarked that Thom-
as was the coolest man undtr any circum-
stances he had ever seen. He saw an exhibi-
tion of his simperturpabilityw when Hoods move
ment on Nashville was in progress. About
the time of the battle of Franklin, a staff Off
Ger who had gained some very important in
formation, rode with headlong pace with it to
General Thomas. and hastily rushing INTO the
Generals office, communicated it to him.
The General listened impassively and never
said word when the aide finished, but bow
ing his head, went on with his writing. The
officer looked confused and hurt at the ap-
parent GOODNESS, and, was about to retire.
when General Thomas looked up and said /:
captain the matter has been attended to |;
my informal on is older than yours"
Another one OF the group whom did not
know, and who was probably a Southerner,
as he stated he was in the Rebel lines during
most OF the war, declared that when the Sc
cession movement begun, Gen. (then Maor)
Thomas, was stationed in Texas, and that it
was generally believed he would 60 with the
South. This belief had, probably, no other
foundation than the fact that he was a Vir-
ginian.
The following incident was related: The
Virginia legislature bad presented to Thomas,
for galantry IN the Mexican war, handsome
| sword OF honor. That sword was left in the
care of his sisters living IN the State of Vir-
| ginia. Such was the state of excitement
there, that those ladies sent the sword to
| Governor Leteher on its becoming known
| that their distinguished brother had remain
| ed fai hiul TO his government and flag. To
this day the General has not recovered his
| sword.
Let ME tell an incident coming under my
own observation, while on duty in Tennessee,
| One day an old colored man went to the Gen
| eraPs headquarters to present some COM
plaint An orderly began to order him away,
doing it too in rude tones which attracted the
Generals attention as he sat in an inner Of
tpp. The aliufant faI 20
into the cause of the disorder, and When the
orderly stated it, General Thomas directed
the old negro to be admitted, severely repri-
manding the soldier, at the same time direct
ing him never to exclude a man because he
was poor or black, but first ascertain that the
General could be seen or not. He then lis
tened patiently to the prolix complaint OF the
old man, and when it was ended sent him to
Gen. Fisk, the Freedmen's Bureau Assistant
Commissioner, for redress.
1t is fact well known in Tennessee that
Gen. Thomas has in his administration dealt
justlywith the freedmen and loyal people gem
orally. He would never allow any wrong
done them to go unpdn;shed if he had the
| power.
Capt. John Ruhm, editor of the Daily Re.
| publican, (English,j and of the Evening
Stats Zeitung, (German), published at Nash
vile, told me that when, couple OF years
| since, BOARD TO encourage emigration was
organized there, Gen. Thomas allowed his
name to be used as a member. The secreta-
| ry, who had been in the rebel army, Ia doc.
tor believe,) prepared an appeal, in which
some unfavorable reference was made to the
colored people. Gen. Thomas, ON its being
read, at once objected to this passage, and an
nounced that be should retire if any such pol
| icy was to be encouraged
| 1t is s i'd that the General declares his in
teDtion to vote at the coming Presidential
election. He has followed the traditions OF
the old regular army officers in not having
before voted during his whole term OF SER
| vice.