Husker General: USA Maj. Gen. John M. Thayer

[Battleline]

Maj. Gen. John M. Thayer (b. 1820, d. 1906) One of the best known Civil War soldiers from Nebraska Territory, John Milton Thayer was one of the first senators when Nebraska became a state and also served as its governor from 1886-92. He also served as governor of Wyoming Territory for a time. Born Jan. 24, 1820 in Bellingham, Massachusetts, Thayer’s family had a long history in that state. He worked on his fathers farm as a youth and graduated from Brown University in 1841. He studied law and began a practice in Worcester, Massachusetts and stayed there until 1854. He also was a lieutenant in the Worcester Light Infantry, a local militia unit. Thayer’s family moved to Nebraska Territory, settling on a farm just outside of Omaha, in 1854. When the Pawnee Indians and settlers came into conflict, Thayer was commissioned the first brigadier general of territorial militia. In this capacity, he developed a reputation as an adept Indian fighter. At the start of the Civil War, Thayer was commissioned as colonel of the 1st Nebraska Infantry, which had been recruited as a unit designed to be stationed in Nebraska, but instead was called to join the gathering Federal armies in the West. Assigned to forces under Brig. Gen. U.S. Grant, Thayer led six regiments of the Third Division in the campaign against northern Tennessee forts in early 1862. Originally sent to Fort Henry as reinforcements, Thayer’s troops were put back on the boats and embarked for a river trip over to Fort Donelson. His 6,000 troops disembarked north of Fort Donelson just before midnight Feb. 13, 1862, and joined the center of the siege lines as part of Brig. Gen. Lew Wallace’s newly-formed Third Division. Thayer’s men saw first major combat in helping to stem the Confederate attack Feb. 15. Called in to reinforce Brig. Gen. John McClernard’s beleaguered division, halting the Confederate attack in that area. In the Battle of Shiloh (April 6-7, 1862), Thayer led a brigade in Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace’s division. His troops were engaged on the second day in helping to drive back the Confederates. After leading a brigade for much of the year, Thayer was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers Oct. 4, 1862. However, the Senate did not act on it and the commission expired March 4, 1863. He was reappointed March 13, 1863, and confirmed at that rank. His men fought at Chickasaw Bluffs during action around Vicksburg and then was sent to Arkansas Post. During the Vicksburg Campaign, Thayer’s command was the 3rd Brigade in the 1st Division (Maj. Gen. Frederick Steele) of Maj. Gen. William Sherman’s XV Army Corps. After the successful siege, Thayer went with Steele to Arkansas. In January of 1864, Thayer led the District of the Frontier, headquartered at Fort Smith, Arkansas. From there, Thayer took part in Steele’s Camden Campaign, designed to support the Red River Campaign of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks. Following the failure of both expeditions, Thayer remained in Arkansas for the rest of the war. On Feb. 27, 1865, Thayer was reassigned to St. Charles, Arkansas, where his command was a regiment of Kansas cavalry and a battery of artillery. At the close of the war, Thayer led he District of Eastern Arkansas based at Helena. There, he received a brevet promotion to major general. He resigned July 19, 1865. In 1867, he became one of Nebraska’s first senators. When he lost in a bid to retain the seat, President Grant appointed him governor of Wyoming Territory. In 1886, Thayer was elected governor of Nebraska. He was retained in 1888 and stayed in office in 1890 with a lawsuit against his successor, claiming he was not a U.S. citizen. The Supreme Court ruled Thayer out of office in 1892. Thayer lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, until his death March 19, 1906. He was buried in Wyuka Cemetery.

[Gil R.]

Copied, thanks.