The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-30
Death o. General Thorn as.

lie was born in the county OF southampton, VIZ
ginis, on the lst Of July. 1916 He graduated At
West Point in 1870, in the sarne class with Gen.
SnERnAs, and became Second Lieutenant In the
Third Artillery. Previous 20 The rebellion he
served in Florida, Mexico, California, aud Texas
and when the war broke out he was Major Of
cavalry. lie soon became Bngadier-GenerL OF
volunteers, and was sent TO Kentucky, where
he won the first important battle Of tie war OF Mill
Spring, gu the 10th Of january, 1882. lie scrvedHt
Shiloh, Corinth Pcrryville, Gnd Chickamauga, and
was promoted 10 command the Army ofthe Cum
berland in October, 1868. In the grcG. battle cf
Chattanooga his troops bore a leading part; the
celebrated IN. nul' ou Missionary Ridge was made
by three Of his divisions.
During the campaign which ended with the
capture of Atlanta in September, 1854. he CONF
mnnded one Of the combined armies under Gen.
SHERMAN. When the march 10 the sea was uu-
dcrtNken, Gen. TnoMAs was sent back to Nash
vile 10 reorgsuze the fragments Of troops that
were scattered throughout the department, aud
concentrate them against Iloop, WHO had shcTn
his intention 10 invade Tennessee. The campaign
Which was marked by the battle Of Franklin, md
eliminated in the battle Of Nashville was entire
ly plannedrnd directed by Tnoxts. During this
campaign Gen. GRASr was repeatedly dissatisfied
with the sowncss Of hi movements, and on the
eve of the battle of Nashville made au order re.
moving him. But the order was not sent forward
from the War Department, aud THoM ass dcci-
sve victory on the same day soon justified the
wi.dom OF his action, and put an end to all
though, OF relieving him Of lis command. In
deed one OF the characteristic feature. of his
career is,ha, he wes never defeated in battle.
After the termination Of the war THoyAs as
assigned by President IorSsoS, with whom he
was fa,or;;e, 10 command the district Including
Georgia, Florida, ana Alabama. His conduc, in
this office was such as 60 satisfy the Radical Re-
rublicans rather than President JonNsoS; but it
Is TO the honor Of Mr. JcuNscS that he did not ON
that account become ali,natcd ffom this srca,
and faithful officer.
When the law creating the rank n General WIS
passed, Mr.. JonSsoS was disposed to confer /,
upon THOMAS rather than GEASr; but this desire
encountered nothing but opposition on the part Of
TroMAs, aud /, was abandoned accordingly.
THOMAS was next transferred TO the command u
Tennessee aud Kentucky, where he remained,
with hi- headquarters al Louisville. Shortly after
the Inauguration of President GRASr, he
was sent 10 San Francisco to take command OF
the Pacific coast, This ollce he held At iL- .,...-
of his death.
Gen. THOMAS was q man Of solid Judgment,
great dignity, and disiuicrestedncss Of cLarac-
ter; faithful to his duty under all circumstances ;
without ambition beyond his professions; en-
dowcd with the purc-t sentiments Of patriotism
and honor a true friend, and noble-heartcd
gentleman. His intelligence WIS comprehensive
| and substantial, but not rspil nor brilliant. As
an officer, his plans formed with dcl.beration
| and executed with steadncsS. He was prudent
without timidity, brave without raShnes,, impctu.
Gus in action without bravado. His iirnncss Dor.
dcred on ots,inacy and the convictions OF Li- mind
| were not easily shaken. lie was endowed with
e. eat elegance ~ manners and exercised a deli
cate in the performance Of every social duty.
With all his dignity, there wa not the |, at
hsughtincss in lbs composition; his Kindness Of
| heart was as prompt toward common soldier "a
toward the most distinguished Of his colleagues.
His men loved him they had been in the fire
with him, and knew lie could be depended upon.
One Of the mos; affecting scenes that We ever
witnessed was early in the morning OF September
~ 1868. THonAs had jus, marched into CAsit4.
nooga from the Chickamuaga battlefield. las
troops were engaged in throwing M
breostwoTks, in anticipation of the approach
Of BBAGG's army. THOMAS was riding
around the Lines where they were al
work digging; and as be came in front of one Il
Br,sNAs's brcadcs, which had been with him il
the hottest Of il two days hrfore, a rgcant
sprnGing upon pile Of timber, I'D OF, 10 hi.
comrades, Three cheers for old Pap TnoN,s'
The puuciilious dignity of tie man might hav,
| II L., al;
just passed through the fires of death together
and US the cheers Of the men Iang out upon TIA,
morning cir, TnoNN raised his hat aud nc
knowledged their compliment with a feeling h,
would have manifested IN the presence Of no othe
body Of men.
His affections were warm, and his attachrncut
stable. His love Of truth and Justice WI, rootc,
in the subsoil of his nature. No man WIS free
from seltlsbness. He had horr,r OF everyt.!pl
that looked ike INTRIGUE. and repeatedly refuse,
the chief command because his confidence an
regard for the officer whom it was propose
that he should replace would not now him t
accept the offer. After the battle Of Pcrrv,ill
Mr.. SrANroS de-irrd that he should succce
BUELL. but he declined afrr the battle ,
ChckMnuugs he ght ut once have had the plac
| OF koSftEANS, Dnt u" NOud nut; aud he wa
finally assigned 90 ,hc chief place in the Army
the Cumberland by positive order which lei
; him no option,
OF the battles in which Gen. THOMAS was
prominent actor, Chiclamauca was the one
which he rendered the grcGtc-, services. II
commanded the eft wing Of the nrn and durin
the Gr5; days fighting the rebels -,tacked hi
: corps very fcrccE aud IN great force, Al
council of war held during Ne at stSStuccnt nigh
1HoNls sat with RosrcnAss, CrIIrrspEN, hrCoot
aud some Of the subordinate Generals round
table IN q wretchcd hovcl which rived a. III
general headquarters, His physicr 'atiSue wi
70 great that lie could only keep SELF awal
WI n required to speak, and "a soon as lie Ina
delivered hi. opinion he would fall asleep agar
That opinion Sas invariably the Same. In r
sponse to every question put to hhn by Gci
r kosEcRAEs, TUoMAs Mould arouse himself sun
/. GENTLY to sN,, " In my Judgment, the left win
/ should be strengthened" and in moment |
Il \ II