The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-25
OBITUARY..



Thomas was received in this city Satur-
day afternoon. General Thomas has been
an ailing man for many years, his in
firmities dating back to the closing days
of the Civil War in which he took SO con-
spiouous part
It is superfuous to mention General
Thomas's military record, known TO all
men; it is needless to say anything
about his ancestry in the city his an
osstors have illustrated and where his
kinspeople dwell today honored amid
troops Of friends.
Henry Thomas was one of those boys,
fresh from collegiate life, VINO rallied to
the defence of the Union at the nrst
call to arms. just graduated from Am
herst, and entering upon tine study OF the
law he responded to his country's call
when Lincoln appealed to the patriotism
and manhood of the North. Enlist1ng
in that grand old fighting regiment, the
Fifth Maine. as private, he came out
of the conflics with the straps of
MAJOR general upon his shapely should
ers. He had the courage to take corn
mand of colorod regiment when the
negro was almost as much a subject OF
ridicule at the North as at the South,
and he conducted these swarthy and
stalwart fellows through many hard
fought battle, For his meritorious SER
vices he was given a commission In the
regular army, and remained in the ser
vice until placed on the retired list. At
ter that he went to the newly-created
Territory of Oklahoma and was one of
the makers of that new land.
General Thomas was 50 years old. He
was born in this city and graduated at
Amherst college in 1859 and WAS later
admitted to the bar.
General Thomas enlisted as private
In the Bifth Maine Volunteers in 1861
and was captain in that regiment from
June to August, when he was given the
same rank Ia the 18th regular infantry.
He was present at the first battle OF
Bull Run and was appointed colonel OF
the Second U. s. colored regiment In
February, 1868, and engaged in the
actions at Bristol station, iRappahannock
station and Mine Run. Va. He then or
ganized the 10Th U. s. colored regiment
and became its colonel December 1858.
In February 1864 he was in command
at Camp Birney, Md. and he led
brigade in the Ninth Corps Army of the
Potomac from May to November 1864 be-
ing engaged in the battles of the Wilder
ness, Spotsylvania and other important
engagements.
He was made brigadier general OF vol
unteers November 80, 1864, and Trans
ferred to the Army of the James. He
led brigade and division in the 25th
Corps of that army and temporarily COM
manded the corps.
During the war he received the brev1ts
of major for gallant service at Spotsyl-
yania; lieutenant colonel for services at
Peters burg; and colonel, brigadisr gen.
eral and major general for services dur
ing the war.
He was honorably mus tered ont OF the
volunteer service in 1865, but remained
in the United States army as paymaster
with the rank Of major for many years.
The immediate cause of General Thorn
ass death was pneumonia, though he has
been on q sick bed since Septem Der. A
week ago Satu rday his brother. Hon.
W. W. Thomas, heard of his dangerous
illness and FASTENED to his bedside,
reaching Oklahoma last Monday.
The funeral took place in Oklahoma
Yesterday and tina body will be brought
to Portland for interment the coming
Wednesday.