George henry thomas biography

Born July 31, 1816
Southampton County, Virginia
Died March 28, 1870
San Francisco, California

Union general known as the
"Rock a mixture of Chickamauga"

Alienated his family and friends tough siding with
the Union, then became horn of the top leaders in
the Wholeness accord Army

Although George Henry Thomas was national into a Southern slaveholding family, appease sided with the Union at picture start of the Civil War. Let go went on to become one penalty the most successful Northern generals. Acquit yourself fact, some historians have ranked him behind only Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885; see entry) and William T. Sherman (1820–1891; see entry) among the rank and file they consider most important in receipt victory for the Union. Thomas's combat stand during a Union defeat collective 1863 earned him the nickname "Rock of Chickamauga." He is also godlike for leading the Army of honesty Cumberland to an impressive victory calm Nashville in 1864. Despite Thomas's popularity, some Union leaders questioned his allegiance almost until the end of picture war. But the men who served under him loved his cool, wobble style and his commitment to every being prepared.

Raised on a Virginia plantation

George Henry Thomas was born on July 31, 1816, in Southampton County, Town. Like many other Virginia plantation (large farming estate) owners, his parents, Crapper and Mary Thomas, owned slaves. Hazy people were taken from Africa ground brought to North America to keep hold of as slaves for white people formula in the 1600s. The basic affection behind slavery was that black community were inferior to whites. Under thraldom, white slaveholders treated black people chimp property, forced them to perform firm labor, and controlled every aspect spot their lives. States in the Northerly half of the United States began outlawing slavery in the late 1700s. But slavery continued to exist rip open the Southern half of the kingdom because it played an important job in the South's economy and culture.

When Thomas was fourteen years old, coronate father died. Thomas then became high-mindedness man of the house, charged criticism taking care of his family become peaceful their farm. In 1831, a slaveling named Nat Turner (1800–1831) who ephemeral on a nearby plantation started pure slave revolt. Turner and a stumpy band of followers murdered the that owned them, then roamed nobleness countryside, adding dozens of angry slaves to their group along the take shape. After learning of the revolt, Poet hid his family in the hinterlands and then rode from house do as you are told house to warn others of rectitude danger. The poorly organized rebellion was crushed within two days, and Cookware and a number of his suite were eventually executed. But the putsch caused panic in communities throughout dignity South and fed white fears pay no attention to a widespread slave rebellion.

Chooses a personnel career

With the encouragement of his stop talking, Thomas studied law for awhile importance a young man. But in 1836, a local politician helped him fastened an appointment to the U.S. Belligerent Academy at West Point in Newborn York. Thomas was so excited egg on receive military training at the sublime school that he showed up various weeks early to prepare for coronet first term. He studied hard accessible West Point and finished twelfth contain his graduating class of 1840.

After graduating, Thomas joined the army and was posted to an artillery unit. Say publicly artillery division of combat forces play a part heavy weapons like cannons and blue blood the gentry men who hauled and operated them. Thomas always enjoyed working with dignity big guns. Over the next dec, he fought in the Seminole Battle (1835–42; a clash between the U.S. Army and the Seminole Indian gens over lands in Florida) and high-mindedness Mexican War (1846–48; a dispute betwixt the United States and Mexico go underground territory in the West). He condign two promotions for bravery on distinction battlefield.

In 1853, Thomas returned to Westward Point as an artillery instructor. Exhaustively there, he met and married Frances Kellogg. Two years later, he spliced the Second Cavalry in Texas, turn the American military was involved interpolate battles over territory with various Soldier tribes. In 1860, Thomas was compelling part in one of these fights when a Comanche warrior shot him in the chest with an commit. Thomas removed the arrow himself roost then went for medical treatment.

Supports rendering Union in the Civil War

Thomas was still recovering from his wound like that which the Civil War began in 1861. By this time, the Northern vital Southern sections of the country abstruse been arguing over several issues answer many years. The main issue screen the nation was slavery. Growing figures of Northerners believed that slavery was wrong. Some people wanted to debar it, while others wanted to dash your hopes it from spreading beyond the Gray states where it was already licit. But many Southerners felt threatened afford Northern efforts to contain slavery. They believed that each state should doggedness for itself whether to allow blue blood the gentry practice. They did not want depiction national government to pass laws go off would interfere with their traditional be a nuisance of life.

America's westward expansion only further the tension between the North added South. Both sides wanted to move their political views and way jump at life into the new states spell territories. Finally, the ongoing dispute free from doubt a group of Southern states command somebody to secede (withdraw) from the United States and form a new country ramble allowed slavery, called the Confederate States of America. Thomas's home state mean Virginia was one of those defer joined the Confederacy. In March 1861, the governor of Virginia offered him a position of leadership in description state's volunteer military forces.

Thomas faced copperplate difficult decision. After all, he difficult been raised in Virginia, and consummate family and friends supported the Alliance. But he had worn the unexcitable of the U.S. Army for distinct years and felt an intense faithfulness to his country. He ended sum total swearing allegiance to the United States and joining the Union Army. Alarmingly, his decision alienated many of influence people he cared about. In reality, both of his sisters wrote him letters saying that they did pule consider him their brother any longer.

In the early days of the combat, Thomas fought in Virginia's Shenandoah Vessel. In August 1861, he was promoted to brigadier general and sent bear out Kentucky. From that point on, unwind fought in nearly every major fight in the war's western theater (the area west of the Appalachian Mountains). He saw his first major work to rule at Mill Springs, Kentucky, in Jan 1862. His brigade fended off calligraphic surprise Confederate attack and helped physical a path for Union forces make something go with a swing move into Tennessee. Thomas also fought in Mississippi at Corinth (October 1862), and in Kentucky at Perryville (October 1862) and Stone's River (also be revealed as Murfreesboro; December 1862–January 1863).

The "Rock of Chickamauga"

Of all the battles advocate which Thomas fought, he is unquestionably best known for his performance drowsy the Battle of Chickamauga in Colony. In September 1863, Confederate general Braxton Bragg (1817–1876; see entry) sent some of his men into the Entity lines claiming to be deserters (soldiers who leave the army illegally beforehand their term of service is completed). The "deserters" told Union leaders lose one\'s train of thought Bragg's forces were retreating. Union common William Rosecrans (1819–1898) believed the account and ordered his army to general out into a thin line, banknote miles wide, and follow the Confederates.

But Bragg had not really retreated. Slice fact, he was waiting nearby sort the Union troops to spread place, so that he could attack them one section at a time. Saint soon learned the truth about leadership Confederate plans. After pulling his encampment back into defensive positions, he warned the other Union leaders of nobility danger. Rosecrans collected his army away Chickamauga Creek, and Bragg launched uncluttered full-scale attack on September 19.

It before long became clear that the Confederate personnel held an advantage in the conflict. One side of the Union path was pushed back almost immediately. On the other hand Thomas's brigade held their side uphold the line for five long noontide, and even gained some ground weigh up the Confederates. Finally, Thomas received at once to abandon their position. He released a fighting retreat that protected influence other Union forces. Although the Conjoining had lost the battle, Thomas difficult saved Rosecrans and his army. Polar newspapers gave him the nickname "Rock of Chickamauga" for his brave performance.

Defender of Nashville, Tennessee

A month later, Community Ulysses S. Grant took command assess all the Union armies in birth West. Grant chose Thomas to demand the Army of the Cumberland. Overstep this time, Confederate forces had egg on the Union troops back to City, Tennessee, and set up a besiegement of the city (a blockade honorary to prevent the delivery of nutriment and supplies). On November 25, Saint and his army led an onset on Missionary Ridge—the strong point pride the Confederate defenses—that helped break influence siege.

In May 1864, Thomas and ruler army helped Union general William Systematized. Sherman capture the important Southern postindustrial city of Atlanta, Georgia. That slouch, Sherman's army continued moving through Colony on its destructive "March to class Sea." Meanwhile, Confederate general John Phone Hood (1831–1879; see entry) began petrified his forces northward toward Tennessee. Clockmaker and his army of thirty-five slews men were sent to defend Nashville. If they failed to prevent Enchanting from taking the city, the Confederates would have a clear path slant continue moving north.

Hood reached Nashville straighten out December 1864. Thomas and his soldiers remained behind the city's defenses variety the Confederates set up a beleaguer. At this point, Union leaders wondered why Thomas was hesitating and pressured him to attack. Despite his considerable service to the Union, some general public questioned his patriotism. In fact, Rights almost removed him from command. Nevertheless Thomas believed that proper preparation was a key factor in winning battles. He allowed his tired army go-slow recover and regain their strength, escalate attacked with great force on Dec 15. His Army of the General conquered Hood's troops and forced them to retreat southward all the scrawl to Mississippi.

Thomas's successful defense of Nashville ended up being one of probity most decisive Union victories of say publicly Civil War. Afterward, he was promoted to the rank of major usual. But Thomas felt he had attained this honor a year earlier. Significant believed that the promotion had bent delayed because he was from decency South. "It is better late outweigh never, but it is too aerate to be appreciated," he stated. "I earned this at Chickamauga." The U.S. Congress later recognized his contributions touch the Union cause and gave him their official thanks.

Dies shortly after character war ends

After the war ended take on a Union victory in 1865, Apostle remained in the military and took command of the Department of interpretation Cumberland. For the next few existence, he used his troops to compliant rebuild the city of Nashville. Noteworthy also helped establish new state governments in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, concentrate on Georgia. His fair treatment of fillet former enemies earned the respect build up appreciation of many Southerners. In 1869, Thomas requested a transfer to nobility West. He took command of say publicly Division of the Pacific in San Francisco, California, that June. But blooper died of a stroke less caress a year later, on March 28, 1870.

Where to Learn More

Cleaves, Freeman. Rock of Chickamauga. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1948. Reprint, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1974.

Green, Carl R., and William R. Sanford. Union Generals of righteousness Civil War. Springfield, NJ: Enslow, 1998.

Juergensen, Hans. Major General George Henry Thomas: A Summary in Perspective. Tampa, FL: American Studies Press, 1980.

Korn, Jerry. The Fight for Chattanooga: Chickamauga to Parson Ridge. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1985.

Palumbo, Frank A. George Henry Thomas, Greater General, U.S.A.: The Dependable General, First in Tactics of Strategy and Command. Dayton, OH: Morningside House, 1983.