The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-10

when the Prince OF Wales, now Edward
VII, visited that post Shortly after this.
when Prince Arthur OF Connaught visited
there, Lieut. Thornett was among those
invited 10 dine with the royal guest.
At that dinner he sat between the daugh-
ter Of the Governor General and the
Speaker OF the House Of Commons.
He Enters Union Army.
Lieutenant ThOrnett. however was more
anxious for active service than for the
easy life OF military routine and social
diversion which ne was leading, and when
the American consul informed him that
he could secure a commission i'm the Unit
ed States army he sent in his papers and
sold his commission He went to New
! York armed with letters from prominent
American residents in Montreal 10 Cen
eral Phil Kearney and others of influence
In army circles. and meeting Col Viele
In that city. was offered and accepted the
post Of adjutant in that officers regiment
with the rank Of captain. This force was
known as the Union Guards But Capt
Thornett was not destined 10 see
service In this command. for in "A few
days he was made captain OF cavalry by
! telegraph from the War Department. and
I
| forming at Hartford. Conn. which. with
another troop commanded by a Captain
Mallory. formed the First squadron. Con
nectcut Cavalry. These troops were sent
TO Camp Scarsdale and placed under COM
mand Of Gen. Niele, who had been pro-
NOTED 70 that rank. Here Capt. Thornett
/ performed the duties OF adjutant 20 Viele,
until his squadron was merged in the
/ Harris Light Cavalry and ordered 10
Washington.
Trick OF Volunteer Engineer.
Reaching Harrisburg. It was found that
further progress was barred. owing to
the inability Of the railroad to find an
| engineer who would take a Federal train
\ through Maryland, One Of the troopers.
] however. volunteered 10 perform the ser
vice but proved 20 be a Southern SYM
pathizer. and. detaehing the engine. left
/ the train and its occupants stalled on the
! track at COckeysville. Md. after derailing
the cars. In the wreck thus caused two
men were killed and several wounded and
several horses were also killed. One OF
the men killed. a Sergt Lyon, was a
nephew OF Gen. Lyon. who was the first
1 Union general killed IN the war. Col
afterward Gen. Fitzpatrick. was on the
4
nett when the wreck occurred
The trip, however, was resumed when
another engine and a new engineer had
been secured, and reaching WASHINGTON.
/ Capt ThOrnett's force camped along the
| BladenSburg road Here the horses were
received and Capt Thornett, owing 70 his
experience. was made Inspector OF horses
FOR the regiment, and prevented the con-
tractors from palming of several that
were unfit for the arduous service for
which they were intended While in camp
the Harris Light Cavalry and nine other
regiments We're inspected by Gen Nc
Clellan. after which ThOrnetts regiment
was ordered across the Potomac to Ar
lington Heights. where IL encarqped near
the Lee mansion
/ Wounded I'm Civil War.
Capt Thornett. in addition to serving in
the Harris Light Cavalry. was captain In
the Seventh L s. Cavalry. and the Sec
ond New York Cavalry He was present
during the seven days fighting befor,
Richmond, and fought CALAMITY in severa
other battles, on one occasion saving q
troop Of cavalry from annililatiOn by
carrying orders under fire. He was 3,
badly wounded AZ the battle OF Whit,
Oak swamp. in 1852, as 20 be compelled
20 leave the service. and then took VI
his residence in Washington. where b,
has since lived
Capt. ThOrnett's misunderstanding witt
his wife. which led him 70 take up sol
diering as profession, was adjusted upOI
his return after the campaign in the Pun
jab. and she accompanied him 10 Amer
lea. They had several children befor,
she died. few years ago, some % whom
now reside IN this city One son wa,
killed in military service IN British Bur
nah, and another was a member of tn,
Canadian Rifles. There are several grand
sons. and IL need not be surprising If, IL
some future war OF this countrys.
Thornett, inheriting the martial spirit o.
three generations Of fighters. should dis
tinguish himself