George Henry Thomas

George Henry Thomas (July 31, 1816 – March 28, 1870), the "Rock of Chickamauga", was a career U.S. Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War.

The Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War, three of Thomas' regimental superiors—Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee and William J. Hardee—resigned. Many southern-born generals were torn between loyalty to their state and loyalty to their country. Thomas struggled with the decision but opted to remain with the United States. In response, his family turned his picture against the wall, destroyed his letters, and never spoke to him again.

Related Topics:
Albert Sidney Johnston - Robert E. Lee - William J. Hardee

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thomas was promoted in rapid succession to be lieutenant colonel and colonel in the Regular Army, and brigadier general of volunteers. In command of an independent force in eastern Kentucky, on January 18, 1862, he attacked and routed the Confederate Generals Crittenden and Zollicoffer at Mill Springs, gaining the first important Union victory in the war. It was one of only two occasions in the war in which an army was dispersed in a battle on an open field (the other was Nashville, also a Thomas victory).

Related Topics:
Lieutenant colonel - Colonel - Regular Army - Brigadier general - January 18 - 1862

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He served under Don Carlos Buell and was offered, but refused, the chief command in the anxious days before the Battle of Perryville. Under William Rosecrans he held the center and thus saved the Union army at the Battle of Murfreesboro (Stone's River) and was in charge of the most important part of the maneuvering from Decherd to Chattanooga during the Tullahoma Campaign (June 22 –July 3, 1863) and the crossing of the Tennessee River. At the Battle of Chickamauga on September 19, 1863, he earned the name of "The Rock of Chickamauga," by some accounts being all that saved a terrible defeat for the North from becoming a hopeless rout.

Related Topics:
Don Carlos Buell - Battle of Perryville - William Rosecrans - Battle of Murfreesboro - Chattanooga - Tullahoma Campaign - June 22 - July 3 - 1863 - Tennessee River - Battle of Chickamauga - September 19

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thomas succeeded Rosecrans in command of the Army of the Cumberland shortly before the Battle of Chattanooga III (November 23–25, 1863), a stunning Union victory due mainly to his behind-the-scenes management. In William Tecumseh Sherman's advance through Georgia in the spring of 1864, the Army of the Cumberland numbered over 60,000 men, and Thomas's staff did the logistics and engineering for Sherman's entire army group. At the Battle of Peachtree Creek (July 20, 1864) Thomas' defense severely damaged John B. Hood's army in its first attempt to break the siege of Atlanta.

Related Topics:
Army of the Cumberland - Battle of Chattanooga III - November 23 - 25 - 1863 - William Tecumseh Sherman - Battle of Peachtree Creek - July 20 - 1864 - John B. Hood

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When Hood broke away from Atlanta in the autumn of 1864, menaced Sherman's long line of communications, and endeavored to force Sherman to follow him, Sherman abandoned his communications and embarked on his March to the Sea. Thomas stayed behind to fight Hood. Thomas, with a smaller force, raced with Hood to reach Nashville, where he was to receive reinforcements.

Related Topics:
1864 - March to the Sea

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, a large part of Thomas's force, under command of John McAllister Schofield, held Hood in check long enough to cover the concentration at Nashville.

Related Topics:
Battle of Franklin - November 30 - 1864 - John McAllister Schofield

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At Nashville, Thomas had to organize his forces, drawn from all parts of the West and including many young troops and even quartermaster's employes. He declined to attack until his army was ready and the ice covering the ground had melted enough for his men to move. The North, including General Ulysses S. Grant himself, grew impatient at the delay. General John A. Logan was sent with an order to supersede Thomas, and soon afterwards Grant left the Army of the Potomac to take command in person.

Related Topics:
Ulysses S. Grant - John A. Logan - Army of the Potomac

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before either arrived, Thomas made his attack on December 15, 1864, and the Battle of Nashville was the most crushing defeat of any army on either side in the whole war. Hood's army was completely ruined and never again appeared on the field. For this brilliant victory Thomas was made a major general in the regular army and received the Thanks of Congress.

Related Topics:
December 15 - 1864 - Battle of Nashville - Major general

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~