The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-04-04
MdJOR-GENERAL GEORGE H.
THOMAS DECREASED

sensation throughout the country. He was
regarded with respect and affection
throughout the entire country. as we'll At the
South ms at the North. The deceased was
born in Southampton county, Va, in 1920,
and was therefore only in his hftieth year
!. when cut down by death. He graduated
from the military academyin 1910, and en-
tered the army as second lieutenant of the
artillery. In ls4l, he was brevetted first
lieutenan, for gallant service in the Florida
war, and was promoted to full rank in 1874.
For Monterey be was brevettstl captain, in
ls4e, and the following year received the
brevet Of major, for Buena Vista. From
1850 to 1865 he was in, .ructor Of cavalry
and artillery ut West Point, and in 1853
was promoted 10 captain in his regiment
In 1855. he was made major Of the second
regiment of cavalry, and held this rank at
! the outbreak of the late war. At that time
hi. regiment was in Texas, and he was
North upon leave Of absence. BY agree
ment between Gen. Twiggs and the Texas
authorities the regiment was disarmed
and ordered out of the State. Major
Thomas was directed to take command of
it upon arrival in New York, conduct il to
Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, and fit it
for active service. This duty he performed,
remaining at Carlisle until late in May,
1861, during which time he was promoted
to be lieutenant colonel of his regiment
vice r. 4. Lee, resigned, and colonel, rice
Albert Sidney johnson, resigned. June I,
1861, he reported for duty to Major General
Patterson, and was assigned TO the COM
mand Of the first brigade Of the army Of
Pennsylvania, which he led in the affair
at Hoge's Run, in Patterson's advance
on Martinsburgh, Va. August II, 1861,
he was appointed brigadier general of
volunteers. relieved from duty with the
army Of the Shenandoah, and ordered to
report to General Anderson, commanding
the apartment Of the Cumberland. He
was assigned TO the command Of Camp
Dick Robinson, Kentut ky. where he organ.
lied seve, al regiments Of Tennessee and
Kentucky troops. Here his command had
some little skirmishing with the enemy,
under Zollicoffer. November II, 1861
he was ordered to move his command to
Lebanon, Kentucky, and November 3Oth
wac assigned TO the command Of the frs.
division Of the army Of the Ohio. With
this command, January 10, 1862, he
fought the brilliant little battle Of Mill
Springs, In which he completely defeated
a superior force Of the enemy, under Gen.
Zollicofer, who was killed. This was
about the first decided success Of our arms
during the war, and brought the gallant
Thomas at once into prominence April
rs, 1852, he was appointed major general
Of volunteers. He was transferred, with
his command, to the army of the Tonnes
see, and was assigned Ia the command Of
the right wing Of the army before Corinth,
consisting Of Ave divisions, one Of which
was commanded by w. T. Sherman, now
the general Of our armies. With this
force he participated in the battle Of Cor
NTH. During August, 1862. he again
commanded the fret division Of the army
Of the Ohio, under Gen. Buell., and Sept
! was assigned TO the command Of Nash.
willie, garrisoned by his own division, and
those Of Generals Negley and Palmer
Sept. 20, he was offered the command
of the army Of the Ohio, but declined, and
was announced rs second in command on
the following day, and commanded the
right wing in the battle OF Perryylle. !
when General Rosecrsns relieved General !
Buell., Thomas was put in command of the
entire division Of the army, then designa-
ted M the army Of Cumberland, with !
i've divisions under him, and with this
command he bore a most prominent part
in the bloody battles Of Murft eesboro and
Stone river, in Jasusry, 1863. On the 9th
Of January his command was designated as
the Fourteenth army corps. He held this
command during the summer OF is63,
fighting IL in the terrible con-
aict known as the battle of Chickamaugs. !
Oct. 10, 1863, he relieved Gen. Rosecrans
in the command Of the army OF the Cum
berland, consisting of four corps and three
cavalry divisions, with which he conducted
the operations about Chattanooga up to
May, 1864, the battles Of Missionary Ridge |
and Lookout Mountain being incidents of |
the campaign, which resulted in driving
the enemy from Chattanooga, and opening
important lines Of roads. In may, 1864,
he took the 6eld in command Of the army
Of the Cumberland, with which he partici.
pated in the operations before Atlanta,
which resulted in the overthrow of the
rebel army in the West, and Sherman's
march to the sea. When Sherman cut
loose, Gen. Thomas was left in command
Of the military division Of the Mississippi,
and thoroughly wiped out tho rebel Gen.
eral Hood, closing his active military
career with this brilliant achievement.
He WAS made brigadicr general in
4. n.A n