Portrait, Major General George Thomas

by American Landscapes

Title

Portrait, Major General George Thomas

Artist

American Landscapes

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

Portrait, Major General George Thomas
Photographer: Unknown
Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-cwpb-07202
Source: Civil war photographs, 1861-1865, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

Union General George H. Thomas, a Virginian who remained loyal to the Union, was one of the most reliable and effective commanders of the Civil War. A West Point graduate and veteran of the Mexican-American War, Thomas served primarily in the Western Theater. He gained national fame at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863, when the Union army was routed after a critical mistake by General William S. Rosecrans, who fled the field without issuing orders or appointing a successor. In the midst of the collapse, Thomas took control of the remaining Union forces on Snodgrass Hill without formal orders. His steadfast defense against repeated Confederate assaults allowed the rest of the Union army to retreat safely to Chattanooga. For his actions that day, he earned the nickname “The Rock of Chickamauga.” He continued to serve with distinction, playing a central role in the Union victory at Chattanooga and later commanding the Army of the Cumberland.

In 1864, Thomas led Union forces during the Nashville Campaign and delivered one of the most decisive Union victories of the war by destroying Confederate General John Bell Hood’s army at the Battle of Nashville. Known for his cautious but thorough style, Thomas was sometimes criticized by more aggressive generals like Grant and Sherman, but his results consistently spoke for themselves. After the war, he remained in the regular army, commanding military departments during Reconstruction and quietly enforcing civil rights protections. He declined to write memoirs or seek political office, focusing instead on duty and professionalism. Thomas died of a stroke in 1870 while still on active service and is buried in Troy, New York. Though often overshadowed, his unshakable leadership and battlefield discipline made him one of the Union’s most valuable and respected generals.

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October 6th, 2025

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