CSA Bios: Toombs, Tilghman, E.L. Thomas, B.M. Thomas, A. Thomas

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Robert A. Toombs (b. 1810 d. 1885) More a politician than an military man, the military career of Robert Augustus “Bob” Toombs came to a premature end in March 4, 1863. It wasn’t because of his service record. He had defended Burnside’s bridge during the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam) with gallantry. Instead, Toombs constantly chafed at his superiors concerning old army discipline and procedure. Toombs once remarked that the epitaph of the Confederate Army should be “Died of West Point.” Born July 2, 1810 in Wilkes County, Ga., Toombs found himself in trouble during many stages of his life. He left the University of Georgia as the result of a prank and ended up graduating from Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1828. He earned admission to the bar in 1830 and soon became both wealthy and politically prominent. He held a substantial fortune in land and slaves. He served in the Georgia legislature, both houses of the U.S. Congress and as a delegate to erect the new Confederate government. He narrowly missed being picked as the first president of the Confederacy. He accepted portfolio of state and served in that capacity until taking a brigadier’s appointment in the Provisional army July 19, 1861. Around the same time, he was elected to the Confederate congress. His first military service ran from the Peninsular Campaign through the Seven Days and Second Manassas. His final action was at Sharpsburg (Antietam), where he was wounded while defending Burnside’s bridge. Failing to get the promotion he wanted, he left the army. He spent much of the rest of the war criticizing Richmond and President Davis. He returned to action briefly opposing Sherman’s advance in Georgia. He fled the country in 1865 to evade arrest and returned in 1867. Despite the fact he never applied for a pardon to regain his citizenship, he was a force behind the scenes in the Georgia political world. However, without the pardon, he could not hold office. Toombs died Sept. 15, 1885, in Washington, Ga.

Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, CSA (b. 1816 d. 1863) West Point graduate Lloyd Tilghman made his Confederate career in service in the Western theaters. Born at Rich Neck Manor, near Glaiborne, Md., Jan. 18, 1816, Tilghman was a member of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1836, but resigned his commission the same year. For the next several years, he served as a construction engineer on southern railroads. He was recalled to action during the Mexican War, serving on the staff of Gen. Twiggs and captain of the Maryland and District of Columbia battalion of volunteers. He moved to Paducah, Ky., in 1852 and was living there when the Civil War started. He entered Confederate service in 1861 and in February 1862 was charged with the inspection of Forts Henry and Donelson. He commanded Fort Henry and was promoted to brigadier general Oct. 18, 1861. Tilghman had noted the major defect at Fort Henry, but still led the defenses after most of the troops had been sent to Fort Donelson. He was exchanged during the fall of 1862 and sent to Gen. Van Dorn’s Army of the West. Commanding the First Brigade in Gen. Loring’s Division, Tilghman commanded at Corinth and led the rearguard during the army’s retreat from Holly Springs to Grenada. Directing artillery during the Battle of Champion’s Hill, May 16, 1863, he was hit in the chest by a shell fragment, which killed him. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, N.Y. The Tilghman name is preserved in Paducah to this day in Tilghman High School, named for Lloyd’s wife, Augusta Tilghman

Brig. Gen. Edward L. Thomas, CSA (b. 1825 d. 1898) Plantation owner Edward Lloyd Thomas twice served his country’s military. Born March 23, 1825 in Clarke County, Ga., Thomas received his education from Emory College and graduated in 1846. He served the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant of Georgia mounted volunteers in the Newton County Independent Horse. He was offered a U.S. commission following the war, but declined it and went back to his plantation. His second military service started with his appointment as colonel of the 35th Georgia Infantry Oct. 15, 1861. He had recruited the unit by authorization of President Davis. He fought with the 35th Georgia at Seven Pines and the Seven Days Campaign. Thomas was wounded at Mechanicsville, but served with the Army of Northern Virginia in just about every major engagement until the end of the war. He was promoted to brigadier general Nov. 1, 1862, moving up in the wake of the Battle of Sharpsburg (Antietam). He had missed that bloody battle while paroling prisoners in Harpers Ferry. After the Battle of Gettysburg, he was one of the frontrunners to command Pender’s division, but state politics prevented that from happening as the division contained two North Carolina brigades and one from South Carolina. Gen. Lee felt dissatisfaction might be caused by placing a Georgian in command. Thomas was still leading troops as a brigadier when the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox. Following the war, he returned home until being appointed to an office in the Land Department by President Cleveland in 1885. He moved over to the Indian Bureau and died in South McAlester, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), March 8, 1898.

Brig. Gen. Bryan M. Thomas, CSA (b. 1836 d. 1905) Infantry, cavalry and artillery; Bryan Morel Thomas commanded them all during the Civil War, including a stretch in which he commanded all three branches at one time in one unit. Thomas was born near Milledgeville, Ga., May 8, 1836. After starting his higher education at Oglethorpe University, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1854. Following graduation, he was commissioned into the Eighth Infantry and later he served in the Fifth Infantry. Thomas took his leave from U.S. service April 6, 1861, and was appointed a lieutenant in the Regular Confederate army. At the Battle of Shiloh, he was on the staff of Gen. Withers, in the role of chief of ordnance and artillery. He stayed on Withers’ staff through the Kentucky Campaign and Murfreesboro. Gen. Leonidas Polk recommended him for promotion to colonel and he was placed in charge of a regiment of reserve cavalry in the brigade of Gen. James H. Clanton in Alabama. Thomas received his promotion to brigadier general Aug. 4, 1864, and was in charge of a mixed brigade of Alabama infantry, cavalry and artillery in the Department of the Gulf. He was captured at Fort Blakely April 9, 1865. Following his release, he was a planter in Dooly and Whitfield Counties in George. He served for a time as a deputy U.S. Marshal. In 1884, he founded a private school. From 1891 until his death, July 16, 1905, he served as superintendent of public schools in Dalton, Ga.

Brig. Gen. Allen Thomas, CSA (b. 1830 d. 1907) A lawyer before the war, Allen Thomas was a self-taught military man. He spent much of his service time under the command of his brother-in-law, Gen. Richard Taylor. Born in Howard County, Md., Dec. 14, 1830, Thomas was an 1850 Princeton graduate. Studying law there, he was admitted the bar and practiced in his native county until he married and moved to Louisiana. In his new home, he became a planter until the outbreak of hostilities. He organized an infantry battalion, which became part of the 29th Louisiana Infantry. He was appointed colonel to rank from May 3, 1862, and fought in the Vicksburg Campaign. His most notable engagement was at Chickasaw Bluffs, Dec. 29, 1862. He was captured after the close of the Vicksburg siege. Paroled, he carried Gen. Pemberton’s report to Richmond. Sent back west, Thomas was tasked with collecting and organizing paroled prisoners west of the Mississippi. He received his promotion to brigadier general Feb. 4, 1864, and assigned to Gen. Taylor’s department in charge of five Louisiana regiments and one battalion. He rose to division command when Gen. Polignac went to Europe, but wasn’t promoted. Following the war, Thomas was a planter, presidential elector, professor at Louisiana State University, member of the board of supervisors at LSU, coiner of the New Orleans branch mint and U.S. consul and minister to Venezuela, He turned down a congressional nomination in 1876. He lived in Florida from 1899 until 1907, but moved to Waveland, Miss., taking up residence in a plantation he had bought. He died there, Dec. 3, 1907.

[Joram]

What exactly is a "planter"? 

[Missouri_Rebel]

A planter is a farmer on a large scale.

Great job again. What a bio machine. You, Sir, are a bio planter.

mo reb

[Joram]

Ahh, i would have thought it was the exact opposite, a farmer on a small scale. But likewise, great job on the bios.

[Missouri_Rebel]

ORIGINAL: Joram

Ahh, i would have thought it was the exact opposite, a farmer on a small scale.

No, they call those horticulturist. Noun; A professionally qualified person, involved in the growing, selling, and maintaining of plants for indoor and outdoor usage.

'and you say you tried it but never inhaled'? Hmmmmmmmm.?

[christof139]

A Planter plants plants, with or without his pants, just depending how bent he/she is.
 
Planters Peanuts, or Goober Peas, are an example of plants Planters plant, other than cotton, tobacco, corn, other grains, etc.
 
Chris
 
 

[christof139]

Great Bios too, very good. Chris

[Gil R.]

Got 'em. Thanks!

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Lloyd Tilghman (b. 1816 d. 1863) West Point graduate Lloyd Tilghman made his Confederate career in service in the Western theaters. Born at Rich Neck Manor, near Glaiborne, Maryland, Jan. 18, 1816, Tilghman was a member of the U.S. Military Academy Class of 1836, but resigned his commission the same year. For the next several years, he served as a construction engineer on southern railroads. He was recalled to action during the Mexican War, serving on the staff of Gen. Twiggs and captain of the Maryland and District of Columbia battalion of volunteers. He moved to Paducah, Kentucky, in 1852 and was living there when the Civil War started. He entered Confederate service in 1861 and in February 1862 was charged with the inspection of Forts Henry and Donelson. He commanded Fort Henry and was promoted to brigadier general Oct. 18, 1861. Tilghman had noted the major defect at Fort Henry, but still led the defenses after most of the troops had been sent to Fort Donelson. He was exchanged during the fall of 1862 and sent to Gen. Van Dorn’s Army of the West. Commanding the First Brigade in Gen. Loring’s Division, Tilghman commanded at Corinth and led the rearguard during the army’s retreat from Holly Springs to Grenada. Directing artillery during the Battle of Champion’s Hill, May 16, 1863, he was hit in the chest by a shell fragment, which killed him. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York, New York. The Tilghman name is preserved in Paducah to this day in Tilghman High School, named for Lloyd’s wife, Augusta Tilghman.

Just a couple of minor updates, changing the state names from AP style to written out.

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Robert A. Toombs (b. 1810 d. 1885) More a politician than an military man, the military career of Robert Augustus “Bob” Toombs came to a premature end in March 4, 1863. It wasn’t because of his service record. He had defended Burnside’s bridge during the Battle of Sharpsburg with gallantry. Instead, Toombs constantly chafed at his superiors concerning old army discipline and procedure. Toombs once remarked that the epitaph of the Confederate Army should be “Died of West Point.” Born July 2, 1810 in Wilkes County, Georgia, Toombs was the son of a Revolutionary War veteran (Robert Toombs). Toombs found himself in trouble during many stages of his life. He left the University of Georgia (then called Franklin College) as the result of a prank and ended up graduating from Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 1828. He earned admission to the bar in 1830 and soon became both wealthy and politically prominent. He held a substantial fortune in land and slaves. He served in the Georgia legislature, both houses of the U.S. Congress. He was a Unionist all the way until the Crittenden Compromise was defeated. He served as a delegate to erect the new Confederate government. He narrowly missed being picked as the first president of the Confederacy. He accepted portfolio of state and served in that capacity until taking a brigadier’s appointment in the Provisional army July 19, 1861. Around the same time, he was elected to the Confederate congress. His first military service ran from the Peninsular Campaign through the Seven Days and Second Manassas. At Malvern Hill, Toombs' brigade was in Gen. Magruder's division, but became disoriented. Gen. D.H. Hill commanded Toombs to move his men into a position, which led to a shouting match between the two men. Toombs reportedly later challenged Hill to a duel (Hill declined). His final action was at Sharpsburg (Antietam), where he was wounded in the hand while defending Burnside’s bridge. Failing to get the promotion he wanted, he left the army. He spent much of the rest of the war criticizing Richmond and President Davis. He returned to action briefly, as a colonel in the Georgia state guard, opposing Sherman’s advance in Georgia. Ironically, when Davis was fleeing from Richmond, he spent a night in Toombs' hometown. Toombs made no attempt to meet with him. Toombs fled the country in 1865 to evade arrest and returned in 1867. Despite the fact he never applied for a pardon to regain his citizenship, he was a force behind the scenes in the Georgia political world. However, without the pardon, he could not hold office. Toombs died Sept. 15, 1885, in Washington, Georgia.

[Gil R.]

Copied.

[Gil R.]

Here's a finished bio for one of these guys, with just minor changes. Not enough information for me to give him any interesting ratings.


Brig. Gen. Edward Lloyd Thomas (b. 1825 d. 1898). Thomas, a plantation owner, twice served his country’s military. Born March 23, 1825 in Clarke County, Georgia, he received his education from Emory College, graduating in 1846. Thomas served the U.S. Army as a 2nd lieutenant of Georgia mounted volunteers in the Newton County Independent Horse during the Mexican War. He was offered an army commission following the war, but declined it and returned to his plantation. Thomas’s second military service started with his appointment as Colonel of the 35th Georgia Infantry on October 15, 1861, a regiment he had been authorized to recruit by Pres. Jefferson Davis. He fought with the 35th Georgia at Seven Pines and during the Seven Days’ Campaign of June 25-July 1, 1862, being wounded in the Battle of Mechanicsville. Thomas, who served with the Army of Northern Virginia in just about every major engagement until the end of the war, was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1862, moving up in the wake of the Battle of Antietam. (He had missed that bloody battle while paroling prisoners in Harpers Ferry.) After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 and the mortal wounding of his superior officer, Gen. William D. Pender, Thomas was one of the frontrunners to command Pender’s division, but state politics prevented that from happening, since the division contained two North Carolina brigades and one from South Carolina, and Gen. Robert E. Lee felt that dissatisfaction might be caused by placing a Georgian in command. Thomas was still leading troops as a brigadier when the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. Following the war, he returned home to his plantation, until he was appointed to an office in the Land Department by Pres. Grover Cleveland in 1885. Thomas later moved over to the Indian Bureau and died in South McAlester, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), on March 8, 1898, and was buried in Kiowa, Oklahoma. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactical: 3
Initiative: 3
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Start date: 44

[Gil R.]

Another Thomas is done.

Brig. Gen. Bryan Morel Thomas (b. 1836, d. 1905). Infantry, cavalry and artillery – Thomas commanded them all during the Civil War, including a stretch in which he commanded all three branches at one time in one unit. Thomas was born near Milledgeville, Georgia, on May 8, 1836. After starting his higher education at Oglethorpe University, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1854. Following graduation, he was commissioned into the 8th Infantry and later he served in the 5th Infantry. Thomas resigned his commission in the U.S. Army on April 6, 1861, and was appointed a lieutenant in the Regular Confederate army. At the Battle of Shiloh the following April, he served on the staff of Gen. Jones M. Withers in the role of chief of ordnance and artillery. Thomas stayed on Withers’ staff through the Kentucky Campaign and Battle of Murfreesboro on December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863. Gen. Leonidas Polk later recommended him for promotion to colonel and he was placed in charge of a regiment of reserve cavalry, the 12 Mississippi Cavalry, in the brigade of Gen. James H. Clanton in Alabama. Thomas received his promotion to brigadier general on August 4, 1864, and he was put in charge of a mixed brigade of Alabama infantry, cavalry and artillery in Mobile (NOTE: I took out “Department of the Gulf” because this only seems to have been the name of a Union force.). He was captured at Fort Blakely on April 9, 1865 (the same day that the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House). Following his release, he married Mary Jones Withers, the daughter of his former commander, and became a planter in Dooly and Whitfield Counties in George, and served for a time as a deputy U.S. Marshal. In addition, in 1884 he founded a private school, and from 1891 until his death on July 16, 1905, Thomas served as superintendent of public schools in Dalton, Georgia. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactical: 3
Initiative: 1
Command: 2
Cavalry:

Start date: 86

[Gil R.]

And the last Allen (from this thread, at least) is ready:

Brig. Gen. Allen Thomas (b. 1830, d. 1907). A lawyer before the war, Thomas was a self-taught military man who spent much of his service time under the command of his brother-in-law, Gen. Richard Taylor. Born in Howard County, Maryland, on December 14, 1830, Thomas graduated from Princeton in 1850. Having studied law there, he was admitted to the bar and practiced in his native county until he married and moved to Louisiana. In his new home, he became a planter until the outbreak of hostilities. As a prominent member of the community, Thomas organized an infantry battalion, which became part of the 29th Louisiana Infantry Regiment. He was appointed colonel to rank from May 3, 1862, and fought in the Vicksburg Campaign of 1862-1863. His most notable engagement was at Chickasaw Bluffs, on December 29, 1862. Thomas was captured after the close of the Vicksburg siege on July 4, 1863. Having been paroled, he carried the report of Gen. John C. Pemberton, who had commanded the Vicksburg garrison, to Richmond; then, sent back west, Thomas was tasked with collecting and organizing paroled prisoners west of the Mississippi. He received his promotion to brigadier general on February 4, 1864, and was assigned to Taylor’s Army of Western Louisiana and put in charge of five Louisiana regiments and one battalion. Thomas rose to division command when Gen. Camille de Polignac (I’m damned if I can figure out with certainty how to refer to this guy without using his full name, but think this is right.) went to Europe, but was not promoted in rank. Following the war, Thomas was a planter, presidential elector, professor at Louisiana State University, member of the board of supervisors at LSU, coiner of the New Orleans branch mint and U.S. consul and minister to Venezuela. In addition, he turned down a congressional nomination in 1876. Thomas lived in Florida from 1899 to 1907, but moved to Waveland, Mississippi, taking up residence in a plantation he had bought, where he died on December 3, 1907. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 2
Tactical: 2
Initiative: 2
Command: 2
Cavalry:

Start date: 74

[jkBluesman]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Here's a finished bio for one of these guys, with just minor changes. Not enough information for me to give him any interesting ratings.


Brig. Gen. Edward Lloyd Thomas (b. 1825 d. 1898). Thomas, a plantation owner, twice served his country’s military. Born March 23, 1825 in Clarke County, Georgia, he received his education from Emory College, graduating in 1846. Thomas served the U.S. Army as a 2nd lieutenant of Georgia mounted volunteers in the Newton County Independent Horse during the Mexican War. He was offered an army commission following the war, but declined it and returned to his plantation. Thomas’s second military service started with his appointment as Colonel of the 35th Georgia Infantry on October 15, 1861, a regiment he had been authorized to recruit by Pres. Jefferson Davis. He fought with the 35th Georgia at Seven Pines and during the Seven Days’ Campaign of June 25-July 1, 1862, being wounded in the Battle of Mechanicsville. Thomas, who served with the Army of Northern Virginia in just about every major engagement until the end of the war, was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1862, moving up in the wake of the Battle of Antietam. (He had missed that bloody battle while paroling prisoners in Harpers Ferry.) After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 and the mortal wounding of his superior officer, Gen. William D. Pender, Thomas was one of the frontrunners to command Pender’s division, but state politics prevented that from happening, since the division contained two North Carolina brigades and one from South Carolina, and Gen. Robert E. Lee felt that dissatisfaction might be caused by placing a Georgian in command. Thomas was still leading troops as a brigadier when the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. Following the war, he returned home to his plantation, until he was appointed to an office in the Land Department by Pres. Grover Cleveland in 1885. Thomas later moved over to the Indian Bureau and died in South McAlester, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), on March 8, 1898, and was buried in Kiowa, Oklahoma. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactical: 3
Initiative: 3
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Start date: 44

He is mentioned several times in the bio I got on A.P. Hill. However, I have not found a single event, where his performance seems to have made the difference or where he showed special skills that would lead to a teaching ability. What I found most often was that he formed the division's reserve like at Fredericksburg and was thrown into the fighting with his brigade to counterattack.

[jkBluesman]

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Thomas rose to division command when Gen. Camille de Polignac (I’m damned if I can figure out with certainty how to refer to this guy without using his full name, but think this is right.)

It should be right unless he was called Armand or Jules. If you like you may include his title "Prince" so his name would read Gen. Prince Camille de Polignac.

[Gil R.]

ORIGINAL: jkBluesman

ORIGINAL: Gil R.

Here's a finished bio for one of these guys, with just minor changes. Not enough information for me to give him any interesting ratings.


Brig. Gen. Edward Lloyd Thomas (b. 1825 d. 1898). Thomas, a plantation owner, twice served his country’s military. Born March 23, 1825 in Clarke County, Georgia, he received his education from Emory College, graduating in 1846. Thomas served the U.S. Army as a 2nd lieutenant of Georgia mounted volunteers in the Newton County Independent Horse during the Mexican War. He was offered an army commission following the war, but declined it and returned to his plantation. Thomas’s second military service started with his appointment as Colonel of the 35th Georgia Infantry on October 15, 1861, a regiment he had been authorized to recruit by Pres. Jefferson Davis. He fought with the 35th Georgia at Seven Pines and during the Seven Days’ Campaign of June 25-July 1, 1862, being wounded in the Battle of Mechanicsville. Thomas, who served with the Army of Northern Virginia in just about every major engagement until the end of the war, was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1862, moving up in the wake of the Battle of Antietam. (He had missed that bloody battle while paroling prisoners in Harpers Ferry.) After the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 and the mortal wounding of his superior officer, Gen. William D. Pender, Thomas was one of the frontrunners to command Pender’s division, but state politics prevented that from happening, since the division contained two North Carolina brigades and one from South Carolina, and Gen. Robert E. Lee felt that dissatisfaction might be caused by placing a Georgian in command. Thomas was still leading troops as a brigadier when the Army of Northern Virginia surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. Following the war, he returned home to his plantation, until he was appointed to an office in the Land Department by Pres. Grover Cleveland in 1885. Thomas later moved over to the Indian Bureau and died in South McAlester, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), on March 8, 1898, and was buried in Kiowa, Oklahoma. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactical: 3
Initiative: 3
Command: 3
Cavalry:

Start date: 44

He is mentioned several times in the bio I got on A.P. Hill. However, I have not found a single event, where his performance seems to have made the difference or where he showed special skills that would lead to a teaching ability. What I found most often was that he formed the division's reserve like at Fredericksburg and was thrown into the fighting with his brigade to counterattack.

Okay, I lowered his ratings to:
Leadership: 3
Tactical: 2
Initiative: 1
Command: 2