New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-30
OBITUARY..
N,1oR-GEN. GEORGE II. THOMAS.

s,s 49, ,aother Elizabeth Rochelle wss Of old
tyernt family. The blood Of an heroic ancestry thus
Inc 70 him by maternal descent and nobly has his life
nonored the connection. His parents genuine mem
hers OF the old first families of Virginia, and their po
sition socially all that could be desired
our subject received boyhood fsir education ana
aferward commenced the study OF law al tne same une
performing the duties of Deputy CLERK under ms uncle
James Rochelle then County Clerk In 1885, through the
influence OF family friends he appointed to cadet
ship at West Point, where he graduated III Io'o
twelfth in rank OF a class numbering AZ. He was
immediately assigned TO Second Leutenaney in theI sd
Artillery served Florida for year and was Dfe'eted
First Lieutenant for gallant conduct He was promoted
First Lieutenant April &c. 1874 In lS45 tne preo'o1
vmptoms of the coming Mexican storm led 70 the con
- ton Of troops with Taylor at Corpus Christi,
md IN him Lieut. Thomas with his company, reported IN
,be month OF Jnly. Subsequently, when Gen. Taylor
Moved from Corpus Christi TO the Rio Grande Lieut.
,rnou,as,s company connection with other detach-
,,opts was left in garrison OF Fort Brown. opposite
Nataroros and at the battle OF Resaca de la Palma,
when the routed forces OF the Mexcan sought escape by
eight across the Rio Grande near the Fort Lieut. Thomas
poured in upon them destructive fire. thus contributing
greatly to the decIsyeness Of Gen. Taylors victory
Lieut. Thomas played conspicuous part in the battle
~ Monterey Sept 49, 1896 and for distinguished gal
lautrv sbreveted Captain. His company having been
selected as portion OF division with which Cen lay-
lor IN accordance with the orders Of Gen Scott. pro-
posed occupying the territory he had conquered Lieut.
Thomas had the hODOr OF participating III Aiat
traordnary battle at Buena Vista where the American
forces though outnumbered in the ratio OF six to one
obtained a glorious victory. On this occasion Thonas
conducted himself in a manner which won Tor nun the
highest commentator Of his chief and he receiver 'ne
bTevet rank Of MAJOR
At the close Of the Mexican war Tbomasook charge TOT
time Of the Commissary depot at Brazos Santiago and
then received six months furlough. In June ls4s he
-eojped his Company Fort Adams. Newport r. L. ana
proceeded Immediately thence TO Florida where he re-
NAMED until the close Of the year 1850 In March lS3
be was assigned to West instructor Of artillery
and cavalry the duties Of which position he credaby
discharged for three years. Although breveted Major
his real rank that of Frsteutenant until Dec a.
1858, when he vas.promoted TO fun Captainey After
three years spent instructor al West Point Thomas
eerved Lower California. and subsequently, from May
1856 November, 1860 on duty IN Texas the greater
par Of the time in command Of regiment, having re-
ceivcd the appointment Of Major IN 1855. In the
summer Of 1860 he engaged in an expedition OF I'M
portance designed TO explore the head waters OF the
Red and Canadian Rivers In this expedition he had
frequent skirmishes with Indians and enc occasion
was slightly wounded in the face. IL November 1862 he
received short leave OF absence and when he returned
TO duty clouds OF which had been for time
looming up the Southern horizon almost ready
20 break. Major Thomas SOutherner, but one OF
the noble few who loved the whole country better than
part and when in April 1861 the storm broke upon the
land the bombardment Of Sumter he remained true TO
lis country and convictions. He ordered TO Carlisle
Barracks Pennsy TO organize ms regiment which
had been dsmounted and ordered out Of Texas by the
traorous Twiggs. In the month he appointed
Lieutenant and week after this appointment was
made Colonel Of the I'd Cavalry In August, 1861 he
transferred TO the 5h Cavalry and assigned the
mand Of brigade under Gen. Patterson in the Army OF
Northern Virginia In the same month he made
Brgadier General Of volunteers and ordered TO Ken
lucky, where he took command Of Camp Dick Robinson,
organized the troops there, and established Camp Wild
the EOutl-eaSt, 10 linderiug
The advance Of Zolicofcr through Cumberland Gap.
Zocoffer at the close Of 1861. held position the
Cumberland near the head OF navigation with force
q about 5000 men. lie was subsequently joined
and superseded IN command by Gen. George
B. Crittenden, fearing general attack
rom the Union forces IN Kentucky, resolved TO
forcsall 1t by a sudden movement. Gen Thomas, who
had Just been organizing at Lebanon the first division Of
the Army OF the Cumberland, ordered by Gen Buell.
take command III the quarter threatened by Crten
den, and moved as far Lebanon Cross Roads where
the Rebel General ATTEMPTED 10 surprise him. The at
tempt GbOrtve; Thomas had taken the precaution
send strong pickes Of infantry roads leading
coward the enemy, and, the midnight Of Jan 49, they
encountered the advance of CTttendens army, and
firing in good order reported to Gen. Thomas, who
made ready for the coming attack. II was upon
the early morning Of the 10th that the Rebels
made their charge and the battle ragged
desperately for two hours IN which time so close was the
combat muskets Of the opposing forces often
dred through the same fence The battle was decided
by charge Of the eth OHIO the right flank OF the
Rebels, supported by heavy fire in front Gen Zoll
Golfer shot dead and his body left on the field. The
Rebels killed. and large number were wounded
captured This the action Of importance IN
which Gen Thomas commanded, aud his care aud good
eueralship made brilliant victory Shortly after the
battle OF I0gans Cross Roads BrgGeD. Grant with his
forces appeared upon the Cumberland, and the fail OF
Forts Henry aud Donelson followed, after which Gen.
Thomas moved through Kentucky TO occupy Nashville
Car 8
reserve force the battle OF Shiloh, April and lo62
and consequently engaged at that time. On the
18th April, that year be confirmed haor-Gen-
ral Of Volunteers and his Division transferred to the
Army OF the Tennessee, the right wing OF which, made
up Of FIVE Divisions placed under his command.
Having taken part with that In The siege Of COrDh,
he the 10th OF June transferred 10 his old army,
that Of the Ohio and in September placed in
mand NJ Nashville. lie subsequently second in
nand under Buell., and held that position in the
expulsion OF Bragg's forces from Kentucky. and
u November 1862 when Rosocrans took charge Of the
Army Of the Cumberland. Gen. Thomas gwen com
and Of the center consisting Of five divisions. He dsn
gushed himself In that series Of contests Stone River
between the 3ls OF December 1901 and January 1863
consequence Of which Bragg and his army fed from
MurfreesbOro and in the subsequent strategic move
lnents through Middle Tennessee which compelled the
Rebels first take refuge IN Chattanooga and then
abandon it. Thomas played a prominent part At the
stte OF Chickamauga Sept 90 1865 Gen. Thomas saved
Gen ROsecrans hopeless defeat and the Army Of the
Cumberland from destruction. When the left wing OF the
Union Army scattered and flying and EOsecrans
gave up day lost Thomas the night stood stouty
on the sides Of the mountain gap and repused with great
slaughter the repeated attacks made upon him by
i,ragg's forces The charm OF broken for
Rosecraus III this battle here that he made his
srst serious mistake. He defeated; but Thomas
Hcd his own the hero Of the day. checking the
sdyauce OF Bragg and saving the position Of Chattanooga