The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-04-06
General Thomas.


When preparing an article, which
appeared on Monday, commenting on
n Radical proposition to run General
George H. Thomas for President in
1872, we little thought We should 30
soon be called upon to chronicle the
death of the brave and noble hearted
veteran. A dispatch from San Fran
cisco, of the 28th, says that General
Thomas died there at 8 p. NJ. of that
day, from the effects of an epileptic
fit. The deceased was no carpet
knight" He was a model soldier
bred from youth up 10 the calling of
arms, gifted with a superb judgment,
and the GOODNESS, bravery and modesty
of any knight of old. Gen. Thomas
was born in Southampton county, Va,
July 81, 1916. His father was of
English, and his mother of uuguenot
descent. In 1886 he entered West
Point, graduating twelfth in q class of
forty-fve, June Goth, 1910. Soon af-
ter he was commissioned a Second
Lieutenant in the Third Artillery,
with which he served with such gal
lantry in the Florida war, as to secure
a First Lieutenantis brevet. At the
breaking out of the Mexican war, We
find him, with his company, in Texas,
under Taylor, n full Lieutenant He
was IN Fort Brown while it was be
sieged by the Mexicans, and did good
service. Subsequently, for gallantry
at Monterey, he was bre7 eted Captain,
and his conduct was so admirable at
Buena Vista, that q Majors brevet
followed. He remained on duty in
Mexico till August, 1848, when he
crossed into Texas-one Of the last
10 leave, as he was one Of the first to
enter, Mexican territory. In 1891
no was assigned to duty at West Point
a. instructor of artillery and cavalry,
and retained that position till May,
1854, having in the meanwhile been
promoted-December Oath, 1855
TO Captain in the Third Artillery
Afterwards he was ordered to Califor-
MIA, where he was appointed Junior
Major of the Second Cavalry, in 1885.
In the far West he saw several years
of Indian and typographical service
In an expedition to the head waters OF
the Conchas, in 1860, he had a Skin
mish with q band of predatory Indians
and was wounded in the face. In
April, 1861, he Was ordered to a
Isle Barracks to remount his regiment.
Subsequently, the latter was divided,
and Thomas. with four companies, was
ordered to report to his commander at
Greencastle, Pennsylvania. He was
made a Colonel in May, 1861. From
May till June, he commanded the first
brigade of Patterson's army in North
ern Virgini. and afterwards served
under Banks. In August, 1861, he
was appointed a Brigadier General of
Volunteers, and ordered to join Cen
eral Anderson, commanding the De-
partment of the Cumberland-being
assigned to the command of Camp
Dick Robinson. A series of skillful
movements set on foot by General
Thomas, brought on the battle of Wild
Cat, with Z~ollicoffer, which resulted
in the ~latter's defeat. This victory
was soon after followed by another at
Mill Spring. The hero of these &C
tions was made a Major General in
1862. In MAY his division was
transferred to the Army of the Ten
nessee, and Thomas wa assigned by
General Haiieek TO the command of
The right wing Of that army. June
9th, he was transferred to the Army
d. the Ohio, and was o made sec
,nd in command thereof. When Gen
eral Rosecrans assumed the supreme
command the name of the army was
changed to that of the Army OF the
Cumberland, and General Thomas
Vas placed in command of the Four
Army Corps and stationed in
he centre. General Thomas behay-
or in the terrible battles of Stone
River, called out the highest encomi-
inns from General Rosecrans. When
Hood advanced into Tennessee, and
Thomas awaited his approach in the
,ntrenchments of Nashville, he was
criticised by those who saw in his plans
lack of energy; and it has since trans
bred that Grant had even decided up /
N his removal from command; but
uddenly, Just at the right moment, =,
,ur army at Nashville rushed upon the
'nemy, and almost annihilatod him.
Then the praises of General Thomas
.ang from every mouth. At the time
If his death the latter was in command
If the Department of the Pacific. Re-
.ently he visited Alaska, in q profess-
onal capacity, and made a report on
he country to the War Department,
which was far from hattering. We
.hink 1t safe to say that no army officer
lad SO completely won the affection of
he whole country, and the sorrow at
ais death will be universal and heart
Dealer. =;