Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-04-06
GEN. eco. r. THOMAS.

past twelve months we have lost many of
the brave and true spirits who did so much
to rescue the Republic from treason's tolls.
Raymond, Stanton and now Thomas, each,
in their sphere, illustrious.
The story of Thomas early life is easily
told. He was by birth yirginian, and
connected with one of the most cultivated
families of the State. His father was of
English descent. His mother was of an
ancient Huguenot family. Both were ele-
waited and refined and taught their son
those principles Of honor and patriotism
which have won for him an enduring fame.
In 1886 he entered the Military Academy
at West. Point and graduated in 1910,
twelfth in a class of forty-two. He at once
entered into active service as Second Lieu
tenant in the Third Artillery, and served
with distinction in Florida and Mexico.
He was brevetted Captain for gallantry at
Monterey, and brevetted Major for con-
spicuous bravery at Buena Vista.
We need not here recite his services since
the beginning Of the rebellion, for they are
part-and glorious part, too--of the his
tory of that great war. There is one thing,
however, to be said of Thomas that cannot
be said of his illustrious associates, Grant
and Sherman. Unlike them, he was sur
rounded by influences in 1851 which made
his position one of extreme delicacy. The
people of his native State, amid the wild
storm of passion then sweeping over the
South, were persuaded TO follow South
Carolina into the rebellion. The attach
ments to home and kindred are strong and
their influences were all brought to bear
upon him. But he did not yield. There
were no false notions of State pride or
chivaIry about him. His country had
reared him soldier and he could not be-
tray her trust. He gave up Virginia and
his people and followed his flag.
| In the summer of 1861, he was commits
stoned a Brigadier General of Volunteers,
and given a command in Kentucky. His
| first victory was the earliest triumph of our
\ arms in the West. twas the battle of Mill
Spring, and will ever be remembered by
| the people of East Tennessee. 1t was the
first demonstration given to the proud
chiyalry of Tennessee and the South that
| their boast of " five Southerners to one
Yankee" was cruel, foolish delusion. The
whipped and struggling soldiers from zolli-
Golfers army, as they filled the streets Of
Knoxville, brought the frat tidings of
Thomas victory, and satisfied the South
that the war was not to be a holiday parade.
The modest, gallant, but inexperienced
General, who was the central figure at Mill
Spring, the first decided victory in the
| West, was few years later the consummate,
| veteran commander who planned and di-
rected the final triumph of our Western
army at Nashville, which is now taught to
the cadets at West Point as the most bril-
liant and skillful battles of modern times.
/ From Mill Spring to Nashville his record
is replete with brave deeds and hard ser
vice. Shiloh, Stone River, Chicamauga,
Mission Ridge and Atlanta, are names in
dissolubly connected with Thomas. When
Sherman went marching to the sea-
Gen. Thomas was left to care for Hood.
This part of his military career is of great
interest, for it embraces battles and marches
planned and executed while he was left to
his own resources, and in our Judgment de-
yeloped some of the most striking features
of his character We all know with what
Sictt duAicty iuOYelileiltS were Matcnetl
by the people of the West while Hoods
army was marching towards the Ohio. But
for Cox and Schofield at Franklin, and
Thomas at Nashville, what would have
been the worlds judgment of Sherman's
march to the sea? The decisive victory
at Nashville practically closed the active
service of the great soldier.
As an officer, he was beloved by his
troops, and enjoyed their fullest confidence.
He was always modest and retiring, and as
reticent as his great Commander-in-Chief.
While he made no display of his constant
solicitude for the comfort and lives of his
command, they nevertheless soon learned
these traits of his character, and recipro.
Gated with the greatest affection and deyo-
ton. These feelings Were well illustrated
by their familiar but significant sobriquet
of "Old Pap"
4 But it Is not alone of his military record
we would speak. He rendered very inns
portant service after the war by his firm,
impartial administration OF the reconstruc-
: ton laws. He knew full well the spirit
and temper of the people over whom he
was given authority. The laws of Congress
he believed to be right, and he executed
them faithfully. He realized what many