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.

Thomas's Legacy

Thomas was beloved by his soldiers, for whom he always had a fatherly concern. He never had any ambitions outside of the military, remaining in the army his entire life. His victory at Nashville was a masterpiece, and for years was the only American Civil War battle studied in European military academies.

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His cadets at West Point gave him the nickname of "Slow Trot Thomas," and this sobriquet was used to diminish his reputation. He moved slowly because of an injured back, but he was mentally anything but slow, only methodical. He was known for accurate judgment and thorough knowledge of his profession and once he grasped a problem and the time was right for action, he would strike a vigorous, rapid blow.

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In the years following Thomas's death, Generals Grant and Sherman {and their partisans} attempted to minimize his importance and accomplishments. The veterans' organization for the Army of the Cumberland, throughout its existence, fought to see that he was honored for all he had done.

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Thomas was in chief command of only two battles in the Civil War, the Battle of Mill Springs at the beginning and the Battle of Nashville near the end. Both were victories. However, his contributions at the battles of Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Peachtree Creek were decisive. His main legacy lay in his development of modern battlefield doctrine and in his mastery of logistics.

Related Topics:
Battle of Mill Springs - Battle of Nashville

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