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
