When was George Henry Thomas born and where did he grow up?
George Henry Thomas was born on the 31st of July 1816 at Newsom's Depot in Southampton County, Virginia. He grew up on a plantation that employed fifteen enslaved people by the year 1829.
George Henry Thomas was born on the 31st of July 1816 at Newsom's Depot in Southampton County, Virginia. He grew up on a plantation that employed fifteen enslaved people by the year 1829.
George Henry Thomas earned the nickname Rock of Chickamauga for holding a desperate position on Horseshoe Ridge during the Battle of Chickamauga on the 20th of September 1863. His defense prevented a total rout of Union forces while Future President James Garfield witnessed him rallying broken units under heavy fire.
George Henry Thomas family turned his picture against the wall and destroyed all letters sent to them after he chose to remain loyal to the United States Army despite being a native Virginian. They never spoke to him again after his decision to fight against his home state and declared they had no brother.
George Henry Thomas died of a stroke on the 28th of March 1870 while writing a response to criticism from John Schofield at the Presidio of San Francisco. He destroyed private papers stating he did not want his life hawked in print for curious eyes.
Thomas County Kansas and Nebraska bear his name along with Fort Thomas Kentucky. An equestrian statue stands at Thomas Circle in Washington D.C. and another statue unveiled in Lebanon Kentucky in 1999 honors his memory.