George H. Thomas "Resembled George Washington in Body, Brain, and Soul"
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- George Henry Thomas, the Union-loyal general from Virginia, was known to his troops as "Pap" and admirers across the United States as the "Rock of Chickamauga." One staff officer, Lt. Col. James Fowler Rusling, put Thomas on par with George Washington. Here's the backstory.
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Thomas was,is,and will always be the greatest of all the Generals of the union.
I think grant was obviously better, but in planning specially defence none were better than thomas he only moved when he was ready and never lost, he was a safe pair of hands I think him being subordinate to sherman was for the best, because the union needed all guns blazing attack every time types of generals to lead. The dismissal of an intelligent talented commander like rosecrans was an example I'm just glad Thomas's talents were realised and used unlike rosecrans who I don't think would've agreed to serve under sherman.
Thomas died within a few years after the war ended. Unfortunately, he left no memoirs.
@@jameswirth3117 he had no intention to have a memoir he had his papers burned, he was incredibly private.
@random-J
I have one of the last letters written by General Hooker before his death. In it, he states that Thomas was most disgracefullyheld back by the efforts of Grant and Sherman's circle, which took energy opportunities to cast ignominy upon him, to advance their own fraction.
@@rogersheddy6414 if that's how hooker saw things then that's great every big shot civil war general had an opinion, it was a war and Thomas had to be subordinate to his bosses that's the way it works. If thomas never promoting himself kept him under sherman then that was his choice he literally didn't care to talk to the press or write a memoir even if he wanted to he died too soon, but he died commanding a military district grant gave him while he was president which he could have given to anybody else, I take the little difference grant had with thomas during the war were the same with the ones he had with rosecrans and they were not quickly following orders like sherman ALWAYS did even when he thought grant was wrong example the whole vicksburg campaign.
Duty, honor, and sacrifice aren't just defined on the battlefield. Here, in Thomas, is a man who was disowned by his family for standing with his country. A man who turned down command of an Army because he felt on the eve of battle (Perryville) it was too disruptive a change. Then served well under the command was given to Rosecrans instead. Truly a man of high character.
General Thomas was an incredibly able leader and soldier. The Union army was fortunate to have him....
Thank you for this - I have always felt that Thomas was extremely underrated in most Civil War studies. Yet, here was a man who never lost a battle and who showed a great regard for his troops - never asking them to risk their lives unless everything was properly prepared. It is a pity that Grant did not like him and that was every evident in his autobiography. It is also too bad that Thomas did not live long enough to pen his memoirs - that would have been both thorough and a pleasure to read.
Lucky for Thomas that he kicked off his Nashville offensive before Grant could relieve him. Grant's various grudges seem almost childish. Fortunately, Thomas built a reputation that stands for itself.
Another great video Ron! You always bring great information to your viewers!!
That was a strong group of leaders! I don’t know much about Thomas after the war but it seems that like old soldiers often do, just fade away. Thanks.
Ed from Lynchburg
My favorite General. His men served him. I read he was dangerous to follow when he was in retreat.
Most of my civil war ancestors were under his command. He was actually very successful.
Thank you Ron for illuminating these aspects of this fine officer. The following are my opinions on general Thomas and his times, provisional and subject to amendment.
The Federal Government had huge industrial resources and a very large population of military age men who happened to be rather better educated than their opposite numbers to the South through the North's free Public School system. Still, it is my understanding that the military theorists in Europe thought all this was insufficient to conquer the Confederacy. From what I understand, French and English governments teetered on the edge of recognizing and aiding the Confederacy's attempt to shatter the United States. Of course, all hope of this was dashed when Vicksburg and Gettysburg patently sealed the Confederacy's fate and it was clear that the war would not evolve into a guerilla stalemate.
Still, with all this advantage in men and equipment, the officers of the Federal armies had to contend with literate volunteers who were not as amenable to military discipline and privation as their opposite numbers generally were. If not handled properly, this vast, in some ways undisciplined Federal army would be like a clumsy giant, a Goliath, if you will, unable to act and easily struck by smaller, more adroitly handled forces. Fortunately, the Federal government had an abundance of extremely solid and effective officers, with G.H. Thomas perhaps the best example of this (along with Naval officers like J.A. Winslow, to name just one). These, somewhat less than flamboyant, but highly competent men put the Union Armies (and Navy) to good use through substance, not just style.
In Thomas's first battle at Mill Springs in eastern Kentucky, Thomas with 7,000 men destroyed and routed Crittenden's 12,000 man force. He did it by attacking both rebel flanks simultaneously. In his last battle at Nashville in 1864 he destroyed and routed Hood's Army of the Tennessee by attacking both its right and left flank.
Great video! I have to get that Rusling book. Btw, I think Thomas was also called The Sledge pf Nashville, because of the crushing victory he had over Hood there.
You always do a great job.
General Thomas is buried in Troy, Ny. I visited his grave site years ago.
Thanks!
He truly was an American in the spirit of George Washington, a soldier who fought for his nation, not for his state.
And that is the issue there. You guys believe the federal government created the states when it is the other way around. There is just something the federal government should not be involving itself in. I can respect your opinion if you will respect mine insane I'd much rather fight for my state instead of a tyrannical government. So if the government was trying to walk all over the Bill of Rights you would just be okay with that and if a civil war where to break out you were fight for the very government trying to take our rights? That in my opinion is stupid you're fighting for your rights to also be taken.
After the battle of Cheatham Hill Thomas told Sherman any more attacks like that and I won't have any men left. The Rock of Chickamauga was a great general.
Thomas never lost a battle, and never sought fame, but was often derided by Grant and Sherman. I wonder why? Scofield often connived against Thomas, reporting falsehoods behind his back to Grant.
Both Sherman and Grant were careerist and could not tolerate any superior General getting ahead of them. Grant also destroyed / undermined career of Rosecrans. I could be wrong but , Sherman so called first modern general did not have single military victory in 4 years of civil war where he was incharge and made all the decisions.
And you will be sad to know that this rivalry between west point graduate generals was there in World war 2 also.
@@zaynjuliusstark-pn8hz
I understand Sherman did just fine in Georgia. But he wore out a lot of boots , and stole too many chickens on his way to Savannah 😂
Grant and Sherman shared the same complaint about Thomas - they thought he had “the slows”.
That would’ve been something to see
Pap gave Grant no end of anxiety at Nashville. Grant repeatedly wired him to attack immediately and was quite ready to replace him. He need not have worried.
Thought a southerner, I have appreciated and respected Pap Thomas since first reading of him in Heroes in Blue and Gray, in 6th grade (1972).
Why did we focus solely on Rusling’s writing? WT Sherman wrote of Pap’s comparison to Washington years before Rusling. My point is that quoting only one source does not make for good research. That can be done only by varied and different contemporary sources.
I feel some folks are quick to judge when it came to honorable people having to chose between their state (their very homes) and the Union. It convenient to say 'loyal', but when it was the place of your family's home, your very LIFE as you knew it, I'm not so quick to conveniently get on the 'moral high horse' of Union loyalty.
I admire Thomas much more than RE Lee, because this man stayed by his country while others defended the Confederate lost cause. Lee was deeply admired by his men, just as much as Thomas, his fellow VIrginian. Need to read up more on this man and thanks Ron for this video!
Thomas was an honorable man he promised to defend the constitution and didn't break it even when his family disowned him.
I read As True as Steel and Rock of Chickamauga. I liked As True as Steel better, the other was older and very dated.
It kinda gets under my skin when people call him Robert E. Lee. In his day he was R.E. Lee and should be addressed as such today.
Thank you for being one of the very few to use his name correctly 👍
Thomas was a piece of crap that turned on his own people.
His own sisters never spoke to him again after his treachery.
In fact, after the War, he sent a wagon load of food to them, they refused to take it, stating they would rather starve than accept food from a traitor.
May his soul burn in Hell.
The greatest Generals of the Civil War were George H. Thomas and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson ! The tragedy would be that George Thomas died of a stroke after reading a desparaging report of him by Generals Sherman and Grant, although all of the main Generals of the Civil War attended his funeral !
Greatest Civil War generals:
1. Grant
2. Sherman
3. Thomas
4. Jackson
5. Lee
A MUCH neglected figure, not treated as well by Grant as her ought to have been. Certainly part of this was because as a Virginian, he was outside the magic circle.
I SAW HIM REFEREEING A CORNHOLE GOLF GAME TODAY
Hope there was no cheating or cyberstalking occuring😂🎉
SHILOCK
George Washington had no military training and was not able to get a position as an officer in the British Army. George Washinton was consistent but not a good military tactician. Especially early in the Revolution when he was usually outflanked. George Thomas, a West Point Graduate, was a better tactician. Thomas was a very practical officer who in some cases, was smarter than his superior officers.
Gen. U.S. Grants' opinion of Gen. George Thomas was not quite as high as the staff officer you quote. Grant believed Thomas' troops assaulted Missionary Ridge with Thomas' blessing, instead of following orders and doing a 'demonstration'. Since the assault won the battle, Grant didn't officially reprimand Thomas.
Grant was overrated, as was Sherman.
Both needlessly sacrificed men, Thomas was careful of his men's lives, using careful planning to gain every advantage BEFORE combat started.
Perhaps too cautious at times? He wasn't called "Tardy George" for nothin'.
@spacehonky6315
He was called that because people in D.C. didn't see the weather in Nashville. No one, horses included, could even WALK.
But when Thomas moved, he WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE ARMY.
@rogersheddy6414
Cripes more phoney experts than you can shake a cherry tree at up in yard.
Really enjoy your presentations Ron.
Thanks again.
Grant is not overrated. He was the best general of the war on either side. You need a reappraisal.
Another general that got onto Grant's bad side.
Grant often did not well discern the character of men. Hence. Once he was taken advantage of.
Excellent leader. Sure wish he had married an Alabama girl. (Sad that he did not believe in the sovereign rights of old Virginia as the vast majority of the founders did which was promised to tm the apprehensive signers ). He probably could not bear to lose all that seniority in the old Army and risk all that he had accumulated as R.E .Lee had the great courage and character to do . Another what might have been.
Thanks!