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615 entries.
59) Mitchell Katz 59) Mitchell Katz wrote on March 24, 2020 at 10:11 am
Monday, January 25, 2016
mitchelldkatz(at)gmail(dot)com


Thomas was not a great general of the Civil War. He was The great general of the Civil War.
Admin Reply by: admin
Agreed!
60) Joe Rogers 60) Joe Rogers wrote on March 24, 2020 at 10:09 am
June 12, 2016 8:57 PM
jolomoro3(at)gmail(dot)com

Any observances on July 31, 2016?

Wow, you are so right. It will the General's 200th birthday! I will post a notice. Thanks.
61) Joe Rogers 61) Joe Rogers wrote on March 24, 2020 at 10:07 am
July 11, 2016 10:28 PM
jolomoro3(at)gmail(dot)com

Wondering why U.S. Park Service apparently has no event of any kind scheduled for Thomas Cir. in NW Wash D.C. on 7/31/16.
Admin Reply by: admin
It is a long sad story on how General Thomas, one of the best officers to ever wear the uniform, has been lost to the American people. I am adding a paper on this site that was first published in 1909 that explains one of the reasons. It has to do with the Southern Historical Society and its infamous 'Lost Cause Theory'.
62) James Riopelle 62) James Riopelle wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:58 am
November 8, 2016 Tuesday
riopelle.james(at)gmail(dot)com

Very grateful to Gen. Thomas. Would like to learn more about his life.
Is there a recommended biography?
Admin Reply by: admin
My favorite bio is Francis McKinney's, "Education in Violence". See Bibliography page for details. At the West Coast Civil War Roundtable last month, I met Evan C. Jones a young historian who mentioned Gen. Thomas was one of his favorite generals. I bought his book, "Gateway to the Confederacy, new perspectives on the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Campaigns" which he edited and wrote some of the essays and it is very well done.
63) C. Koronas 63) C. Koronas wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:57 am
November 26, 2016 Saturday 11:01 AM
ckoronas(at)cox(dot)net

General Thomas is one of the Civil Wars forgotten hero's as he never ran for public office, left no memoirs or gave any public speeches.
Admin Reply by: admin
He died young at age 53 in 1875. I wish he had time to write his Memoirs.
64) Richard Bentley 64) Richard Bentley wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:56 am
February 9, 2017
jurgen.manycolored(at)gmail(dot)com


I think the Wikipedia site article needs some attention. For instance, according to Bobrick, Thomas was called "Slow-trot Thomas" by the cadets at West Point not because he was slow, but in the Cavalry drills when the cadets wanted to charge, he would give the order "Slow Trot".

The book by Bobrick (Master of War: The Life of General George H. Tomas) who is an eminent historian and whose books are carefully researched correct a number of inaccuracies deliberately perpetrated by Grant, Sherman, and Schofield in their memoirs.

The real facts are that Thomas never lost a battle, never retreated except when ordered, never was surprised, was always prepared for eventualities, never sacrificed his men unduly, and was in the forefront in the introduction of new technologies and new strategies.

No other civil war general on either side had those combined results.
Admin Reply by: admin
Great essay. Thanks for posting.
65) Spottswood Graves 65) Spottswood Graves wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:54 am
May 27, 2017 Saturday
spottswoodgraves(at)gmail(dot)com

I Admire General Thomas for his character, his professionalism, his citizenship.
Admin Reply by: admin
Thanks for posting.
66) E. Ferguson 66) E. Ferguson wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:53 am
November 24, 2017 Friday

My ancestor was supposed to be married to daughter of General Thomas. Do you have marriage records of his family? Marriage was supposedly to Aaron Ferguson.

Thank you
Admin Reply by: admin
Please see Thomas Genealogy.
67) David T. Williams 67) David T. Williams wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:51 am
January 18, 2018 Thursday

I was delighted to find your website. I think General George Thomas may have been the best battlefield leader of the Civil War. People forget that the Rock of Chickamauga gave a preview of his heroic qualities at Stones River, where he also saved the army from disaster. Thanks to your site, I just reserved the book Master of War from my library system. I’m glad your doing justice to an undeservedly forgotten hero!
Admin Reply by: admin
Thanks for your comments. I know you will enjoy the book.
68) Sheldon Hildebrandt 68) Sheldon Hildebrandt wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:22 am
March 11, 2018 Sunday
sheltyjohil(at)gmail(dot)com

Hi

I just stumbled across your website, and being a Thomas fan, would like to thank you for having put together the website!

I'm in the process of ordering some of the books you recommend and wanted to know if you could recommend books on The Army of The Cumberland to purchase?

For the last ten years I've been reading books about the war in general, and have come to agree with you wholeheartedly on the merit of Thomas.

So now I want to focus on him and read all I can.

Once again, Thanks for the website.
Admin Reply by: admin
Sheldon,

Yes, I started out much the same. As a young man I read all of Bruce Catton’s books. My favorite Generals were US Grant and Robert E. Lee. But after reading Shelby Foote’s trilogy, I realized that the Civil War was won in the Western Theater. I started reading about the best fought western battles and soon discovered General William S. Rosecrans and General George H. Thomas. Gen. Rosecrans did made bad mistakes at Chickamauga, but they were by far the best Generals of the war, and probably between them could have ended the war much sooner. But army politics kept them at the lower levels. General Grant kept promoting his friend General Sherman, not because he was a good general, but because he had such an influential brother in Senator Sherman.

Gen. Grant certainly has to be given credit for finally winning the war, but his strategy of winning by attrition, rather than using his superior numbers to win by maneuver caused huge Union losses that were unnecessary. I find the Civil War fascinating and keep hoping that the true history of the war will be revealed and that General Thomas be given his due, and perhaps one day a monument in his home State of Virginia alongside of his friend Robert E. Lee? Best regards,

Dave
70) Webmaster 70) Webmaster wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:17 am
March 11, 2018 Sunday
sheltyjohil(at)gmail(dot)com

Hi

I just stumbled across your website, and being a Thomas fan, would like to thank you for having put together the website!

I'm in the process of ordering some of the books you recommend and wanted to know if you could recommend books on The Army of The Cumberland to purchase?

For the last ten years I've been reading books about the war in general, and have come to agree with you wholeheartedly on the merit of Thomas.

So now I want to focus on him and read all I can.

Once again, Thanks for the website.
69) Gil Hansen 69) Gil Hansen wrote on March 24, 2020 at 9:16 am
March 20, 2018 Tuesday

From the moment I first read of George Henry Thomas, he became my absolute favorite Civil War general. Now the more I read of him, the greater he becomes. He was not only a great general; he was a great man!
I never tire of reading about him, and unlike so many other "heroes", the more I read of him, the more I respect him. I have yet to read one fact regarding his character or career that doesn't impress me further.

Thank you for your informative website!
Admin Reply by: admin
Yes, He was not only a great General, but a man of superb character. Thanks for your note.
71) James Walton 71) James Walton wrote on March 24, 2020 at 8:47 am
April 15, 2019
whoviawil(at)gmail(dot)com

Hi, I noticed your page for "What If" ideas, and I thought I'd add a few:

1) What if Thomas died after he was wounded by a Comanche in August 1860, thereby denying both sides his services? The wound was quite serious, and could have been fatal had it become infected.

2) Thomas was offered command of the Army of the Ohio during the Kentucky campaign, but turned it down. He cited the ill effects a change in command mid-campaign could cause, and likely Thomas' moral sense and humility kept him from replacing Buell. What if he had accepted? It's difficult to see him doing any worse than Buell, and he could deal Bragg a defeat, rather than stalemate.

3) What if Thomas had been in command of Union forces during the Atlanta Campaign? He would likely have better exploited Snake Creek Gap, dealing Johnston a serious, possibility devastating blow.

In reference to the scenario of Thomas joining the CSA (presumably he doesn't marry Frances Kellogg), while I doubt his leadership would change the outcome of the conflict, it could really alter the war in Virginia.
Admin Reply by: admin
Very good questions. Thanks for the input.
Guillermo Bosch Guillermo Bosch from Gettysburg, PA wrote on March 24, 2020 at 8:24 am
My favorite CW general besides General George G. Meade.

Guillermo L. Bosch
Licensed Battlefield Guide #149
Gettysburg National Military Park
Guillermo Bosch Guillermo Bosch from Gettysburg, PA wrote on March 24, 2020 at 8:00 am
bosch2(at)comcast(dot)net

My favorite CW general besides General George G. Meade.

Guillermo L. Bosch
Licensed Battlefield Guide #149
Gettysburg National Military Park
Admin Reply by: admin
You are a great judge of Generals!
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