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history-nerd — Forgotten warrior
Published: 2011-11-23 21:12:58 +0000 UTC; Views: 1181; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 15
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A rivendication of his pride by one of the most successful Union generals in the American Civil War, despite being a Virginian by birth. Unfortunately, while he saved the war's outcome for the Union many times, he was too honest to engage in politicking and selfpraise, and when the war ended he destroyed his personal papers so that historians and journalists wouldn't hawk his personal life. So people like Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman and Philip Sheridan took all the credit for victories in which his own part was forgotten.Nowasayd General George H. Thomas is largely ignored by the everyday man who has been taught in school how Grant and Sherman singlehandedly won the war; he is not ignored by a patrol of historians who fight to see that his contribution receives the credit it deserves, and his faith in the United States of America is vindicated by his country's recognition of his sacrifices (his relationships with his kin were all but destroyed, and he didn't take a single day of leave for the duration of the war!).
This is my tribute to him; while not an American myself, I can't help but be moved by a spirit full of modesty and honesty like his. Like General Dochturov, about whom Tolstoj wrote that men like him were destined to be ignored because of their own efficiency and silence, he has known oblivion till now. I hope this contributes to ascend to his rightful place!
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Comments: 3
Not totally forgotten - his record is a clearly great one.
1) Battle of Logan's Cross Roads / Mill Springs in Kentucky - first important Union victory of 1862.
2) Battle of Stone River / Murfreesboro in Tennessee - a battle he helped the Union win in December 1862/ January 1863 when closely contested.
3) Battle of Chickamauga - his historical marker - "The Rock of Chickamauga" who saved the northern Armies of the Cumberland and Tennessee from Bragg's forces by making a desperate stand until the men reached Chattanooga.
4) Chattanooga Campaign, Day 3: Battle of Missionary Ridge - although he later said he did not know why his men did it, to a man they left their emplacements at the bottom of the Ridge yelling "Chickamauga! Chickamauga!!" and drove the Confederates out of their posts on the ridge. It would be the first of two occasions in the American Civil War that northern troops literally pulverized an enemy force so completely.
5) Battle of Nashville - As commander of the Army of the Cumberland Thomas prepared for the coming of the Confederates under John Bell Hood, planning to head into Virginia and relieve Lee at Petersburg. Despite misgivings by Secretary of War Stanton and General in Chier Grant (who sent Major General John Logan to replace him), Thomas did his work so well he wrecked Hood's remaining army (the second and last time this happened in the American Civil War).
And the price for this. He won the enmity of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, and Schofield (who had narrowly won the battle of Franklin against Hood a few weeks earlier), so they ignored him for the most part. He was also forever a non-person to his sisters and family in Virginia, because unlike Lee and Jackson (but like Farragut) he fought against their state and newly adopted nation. But he has not been fogotten.
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