Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 10.djvu/145

 THOMAS

THOMAS

54. and promoted captain, Dec. 24, 1853 He was on frontier duty in California and Texas, 1854- 60 ; was promoted major of 2d cavalry. May 12, 1855. and was wounded in a skirmish near the Brazos river, Aug. 26, 1860. He was promoted lieutenant colonel in April, 1861, and col- onel. May 3, 1861 ; was transferred to the 5th cavalry, Aug. 3, 1861, and partici- pated in the opera- tions in the Shenan- doah valley. He was promoted brigadier- general, U.S. v., Aug. 17. 1861, and placed in command at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., Sept. 18, 1861 : com- manded the Federal forces at the battle of Logan's Cross Roads, Ky., Jan. 19-20, 1862; was in command of his brigade in the ad- vance on Nashville, Tenn., February-IMarch , 1862, and subsequently a brigade in Buell's Army of the Ohio, but did not arrive on the battle-field of Shiloh until after the engagement. He commanded the right wing, Army of the Tennessee, under General Grant in the siege of Corinth, Miss., April-May, 1862, being promoted major-general, U.S.V., April 25, 1862, and was in military command of Corinth, June 5-22, 1862. He took part in Buell's operations in North Ala- bama, Tennessee and Kentucky, being in com- mand at Decherd, McMinnville and Nashville, Tenn., August-September, 1862, and was second in command of the Army of the Ohio under Gen- eral Buell on the advance into Kentucky and in the battle of Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8. 1862. He commanded the centre of the Army of the Cum- berland under Gen. William S. Rosecrans at the battle of Stone's river, Tenn.. Dec. 31-Jan. 2. 1863 ; took part in the advance on TuUahoma, June 24-July 4, 1S63 ; in the action of Hoover's Gap, June 26, 1863, and commanded the 14th army corps. Army of the Cvimberland. at the bat- tle of Chickamaiiga, Ga., Sept. 19. 1863. He was engaged in checking the Confederate advance on Chattanooga, Sept. 21, 1863, and placed in com- mand of the Department and Army of the Cum- berland, Oct. 19, 1863, being promoted brigadier- general, U.S.A., Oct. 27, 1863. He commanded the Army of the Cumberland in the battle of Missionary Ridge ; the invasion of Georgia. May 2-Sept. 7, 1864, including tlie occupation of Re- saca, Ga.; the battles of Dallas, Pine mountain, Kenesaw mountain, and Peach Tree Creek, and the siege and surrender of Atlanta. He was oc-

cupied in organizing the defences of Tennessee against the Confederate invasion by General Hood, and in concentrating his scattered forces behind Duck river, where constant skirmishing was kept up for five days. He fell back to Hai*- peth river, Nov. 29, 1864, and fought the battle of Franklin, Tenn. ; was promoted major-general, U.S.A., Dec. 15, 1864, and fought the battle of Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 15-16, 1864, routing the Confederate army and driving them beyond the Tennessee river. For the latter service the thanks of congress were tendered him, March 3, 1865, and on Nov. 2, 1865, the general assembly also voted him their thanks, and a gold medal, bear- ing the motto: "I will hold the town till we starve." He commanded the headquartei's at Nashville, Tenn., June- August, 1866 ; the mili- tary division of the Tennessee embracing the departments of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi ; and the Department of the Tennessee. 1866-67, with headquarters at Nashville and at Louisville, Ky. He was assigned to the command of the 3d military district, com- prising Georgia, Florida and Alabama, March 11-15, 1867, and of the Department of the Cum- berland, March 16, 1867. He was a member of the board for recommendations for brevets to general ofiicers, March 14-24, 1866. An eques- trian statue of General Thomas was unveiled in Washington, D.C., Nov. 19, 1879 ; His name in Class N, Soldiers and Sailors, received twenty- four votes for a place in the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, New York university, October, 1900, and stood sixth in the class of twenty sug- gested. He died in San Francisco, Cal., Marcli 28, 1870, and was buried with military honors at Troy, N.Y.. April 8, 1870.

THOriAS, Henry Qoddard, soldier, was born in Portland, Maine, April 5, 1837 ; son of William Widgery and Elizabeth White (Goddard) Thomas, and a descendant of Isaiah Thomas, publisher of the first Bible in New England. He attended the private academies of Portland, Maine ; and Bowdoin college, and was graduated from Am- herst, A.B., 1858, A.M., 1865. He was first assistant at the Portland high school, 1858-59; studied law in the office of Judge Edward Fox and of Josiah H. Drummond, and practised in Portland. In 1861 he raised a company, of which he was appointed captain ; took part in the battle of Bull Run ; was appointed captain, U.S.A., Aug. 5, 1861, and was engaged on re- cruiting service, 1861-63. He was appointed colonel of the 2d regiment, U.S. colored volun- teers, March 20, 1863, being the first regular of- ficer to accept a colored command ; took part in the battles of Snicker's Gap. Bristol. Rappa- hannock, Brandywine and Mine Run ; was ap- pointed colonel of the 19th U.S. colored troops