Henry Goddard Thomas

Henry Goddard Thomas (April 5, 1837 – January 23, 1897) was a Union Army general during the American Civil War.

Henry Goddard Thomas
Born(1837-04-05)April 5, 1837
Portland, Maine
DiedJanuary 23, 1897(1897-01-23) (aged 59)
Oklahoma City
Buried
Evergreen Cemetery,
Portland, Maine
AllegianceUnited States of America
Union
Service/branchUnion Army
United States Army
Years of service1861–1891
Rank Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
Unit5th Maine Infantry Regiment
Commands held2nd U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment
19th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment
2nd Bde, 4th Div, IX Corps
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
RelationsWilliam W. Thomas Jr. (brother)
Signature

Early years

A native of Portland, Maine, Thomas graduated from Amherst College in 1858 and was admitted to the bar shortly thereafter.

Career

When the Civil War began Thomas enlisted as a private in the 5th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Commissioned as captain in June 1861, Thomas was present at the First Battle of Bull Run and the Peninsula Campaign among other battles. In February 1863, Thomas was appointed colonel of the 2nd United States Colored Infantry. In December 1863, Thomas was appointed colonel of the 19th United States Colored Infantry. On November 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln appointed Thomas a brigadier general of volunteers to rank from his appointment date. The President nominated Thomas for the appointment on December 12, 1864 and the U.S. Senate confirmed the promotion on February 23, 1865.[1] Thomas was mustered out of the volunteers on January 15, 1866, and remained in the Regular Army until he retired in 1891[1] On March 29, 1867, President Andrew Johnson nominated Thomas for appointment to the grade of brevet major general of volunteers for his service during the war, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the award on April 5, 1867.[2] Henry Goddard Thomas died on January 23, 1897 in Oklahoma City Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and is interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine.[3]

Personal

Thomas was the brother of diplomat and politician William W. Thomas, Jr.

Notes
  1. Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3. p. 729
  2. Eicher, 2001, p. 715
  3. General Henry Goddard Thomas, 1837-1897: A Memorial via GoogleBooks

References
  • Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8047-3641-3.


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