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词条 Lorenzo Thomas
释义

  1. Early life

  2. Civil War

  3. Postbellum career

  4. See also

  5. Notes

  6. References

  7. External links

{{For|the American poet (born in 1944)|Lorenzo Thomas (poet)}}{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Lorenzo Thomas
|image = GenLThomas.jpg
|office = Adjutant General of the U.S. Army
|president = Abraham Lincoln
Andrew Johnson
|term_start = March 7, 1861
|term_end = February 22, 1869
|predecessor = Samuel Cooper
|successor = Edward D. Townsend
|birth_date = {{birth date|1804|10|26}}
|birth_place = New Castle, Delaware, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1875|3|2|1804|10|26}}
|death_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.
|restingplace = Oak Hill Cemetery
|education = United States Military Academy
|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
{{*}}Union
|branch = {{flag|United States Army}}
{{*}}Union Army
|serviceyears = 1823–1869
|rank = Brigadier General
Brevet Major General
|battles = American Civil War
}}

Lorenzo Thomas (October 26, 1804 – March 2, 1875) was a career United States Army officer who was Adjutant General of the Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. After the war, he was appointed temporary Secretary of War by U.S. President Andrew Johnson, precipitating Johnson's impeachment.

Early life

Thomas was born in New Castle, Delaware. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1823, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Infantry. He fought in the Seminole War in Florida and, during the Mexican–American War, he was the chief of staff to General William O. Butler. He received a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel for Monterrey, which was made permanent in 1852. From 1853 to 1861, he served as chief of staff to the commanding general of the U.S. Army, Winfield Scott.

Civil War

Just before the start of the Civil War, Thomas was promoted to colonel and adjutant general of the U.S. Army on March 7, 1861. On August 10, 1861, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln appointed Thomas a brigadier general in the regular army, to rank from August 3, 1861, the date Lincoln sent the nomination to the U.S. Senate for confirmation.[1] The Senate confirmed the appointment on August 5, 1861.[1] Camp Thomas, a Regular Army training base in Columbus, Ohio, was named in his honor in July 1861. He held the position of adjutant general until he retired in 1869, except for a special assignment to recruit African-American troops in the Military Division of the Mississippi from 1863 to 1865.

Thomas did not get along well with Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and this assignment outside of Washington, D.C., was considered a form of banishment. Many historians have claimed Thomas was banished in disgrace after conspiring to defame Union General William T. Sherman as insane.[2] Thomas was replaced by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Townsend as Adjutant General, who would serve until 1880.[3]

From March 17 to July 23, 1862, he served as the chairman of the War Board, the organization that assisted U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary Stanton in the management of the War Department and the command of the Union armies during the period in which there was no general-in-chief.

On April 6, 1863, General Thomas was sent by the War Department to Helena, Arkansas to recruit freedmen into the U.S. Army. He created the first black troop in Arkansas, fighting for Union side as part of Bureau of Colored Troops, which was created by the War Department on May 22, 1863.[4][5]

On March 8, 1866, U.S. President Andrew Johnson nominated Thomas to the grade of brevet major general in the regular army, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on July 14, 1866.[6]

Postbellum career

On February 21, 1868, President Johnson attempted to replace Stanton by appointing Thomas as Secretary of War ad interim. Thomas, still stinging from his bad treatment by Stanton, boasted of his ability and determination to oust him from office by force, if necessary. Some historians believe that it was this attitude in his testimony at Johnson's impeachment trial in the Senate that was partially responsible for Johnson's acquittal. Thomas retired from the Army on February 22, 1869, ten days before Johnson left office. He died in Washington, D.C., and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Georgetown.

Fort Thomas, a military post established in Arizona Territory in 1876, was named for Thomas.[7]

See also

{{Portal|United States Army|American Civil War}}
  • List of American Civil War generals (Union)

Notes

1. ^Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, Civil War High Commands. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8047-3641-3}}. p. 717
2. ^Boritt, p. 137.
3. ^[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1893/05/12/106864241.pdf "Obituary. Gen. Edward D. Townsend."] New York Times, May 12, 1893. p. 5. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
4. ^Warren, Steven L. "Black Union Troops." Encyclopedia of Arkansas, February 28, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
5. ^Whites-Koditschek, Sarah and Quantia Fletcher (slideshow). "Civil War Exhibit Tells African American Story In Arkansas." www.ualrpublicradio.org, November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
6. ^Eicher, 2001, p. 709
7. ^"Arizona Forts: Fort Thomas (1876-1891)." www.legendsofamerica.com. Retrieved February 28, 2016.

References

  • Boritt, Gabor S., and Stephen W. Sears. Lincoln's Generals. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. {{ISBN|978-0-19-508505-1}}.
  • Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-8047-3641-3}}.
  • Warner, Ezra J. Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964. {{ISBN|0-8071-0822-7}}.

External links

{{Commons category}}
  • Claims document detailing $52,899 in property losses Thomas suffered during the Civil War. Thomas was eventually awarded $6,500 from the government.
  •  . New York Times short piece addressing Thomas' service in the Mississippi Valley recruiting African-American soldiers.
{{s-start}}{{s-mil}}{{s-bef|before=Samuel Cooper}}{{s-ttl|title=Adjutant General of the U.S. Army|years=1861–1869}}{{s-aft|after=Edward D. Townsend}}{{s-end}}{{Authority control}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Lorenzo}}

12 : 1804 births|1875 deaths|19th-century American politicians|Adjutants general of the United States Army|American military personnel of the Mexican–American War|Impeachment of Andrew Johnson|People from New Castle, Delaware|People of Delaware in the American Civil War|Rejected or withdrawn nominees to the United States Executive Cabinet|Union Army generals|United States Army generals|United States Military Academy alumni

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