THOMAS, GEORGE HENRY (1816-70). A dis tinguished American soldier, horn in Southamp ton County, Va. He graduated at West Point in 1840; served in the Mexican War, and distin guished himself at Monterey and Buena Vista. After the close of the Mexican War he served a year in Florida. three years as cavalry and artillery instructor at West Point, and then for five years in Texas as major in the Second Cavalry. On the outbreak of the Civil War, though he was by birth and associations a Southerner, he adhered to the Union cause; was lieutenant-colonel, and afterwards colonel of the Second Cavalry: commanded a brigade in the first Shenandoah campaign: and on .January 19, 1862, he won the battle of Mill Springs, Ky. He was in command of the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee during the siege of Cor inth, where he was in full command during a great part of June, 1S62. lie then commanded the centre of the Army of the Cumberland, and although appointed to supersede Buell as com mander of the whole army. asked to be allowed to remain in a subordinate position. He rendered conspicuous service at Perryville and Stone River (q.v.), and commanded the Fourteenth Army Corps in the campaign of middle Tennessee in the summer of 1863. At the Battle of Chicka
mauga (q.v.). September 19-20. 1863, Thomas stood firm, and resisted the concentrated attack of a victorious enemy. gaining justly the title of `the rock of Chickamauga.' Soon after he reluc tantly succeeded to the post held by Rosecrans. and commanded the Army of the Cumberland at Missionary Ridge, and in the campaign of 1864 up to the capture of Atlanta. When Sherman marched thence to the sea, Thomas was sent into Tennessee. where, in the battle of Nashville, De cember 15 and 16, 1804, he crushed the army of Htrod. He was at once appointed a major general in the Regular Army, and Congress tendered him a vote of thanks. In 1865 66 General Thomas commanded the Military Division of the Tennessee, including Ken tucky, Tennessee, Georgia. Alabama, and Missis sippi, and the Department of the Tennessee, in cluding the same States, the following year. From June, 1869, until his death. he was in com mand of the Military Division of the Pacific, with headquarters at San Francisco. Ills Life was written by Van Horne (New York, 1882).