Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875

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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.

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. The Senate confirmed the appointment on August 5, 1861. 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. Thomas was replaced by Maj. Gen. Edward D. Townsend as Adjutant General, who would serve until 1880.

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.

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.

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.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Fisk, James Liberty, 1835-1902. Report of expedition (North Western) to Montana in 1864 for the protection of emigrants under his command / James L. Fisk, Captain & A.2M, 1865 Jan. 13. Newberry Library
referencedIn Palmer, Gideon Stinson, 1813-1891. Military officer correspondence, 1856-1907. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Bonneville, Benjamin Louis Eulalie de, 1796-1878. Letter : Santa Fe, N.M., to Lorenzo Thomas, New York, 1859 Mar. 4. Texas Christian University
referencedIn United States. Army. Mexican War orders, 1846 Aug 29-Sep 20. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn United States. Army of Mexico. Mexican War orders, 1846 Aug 29-Sep 20. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Autograph letter signed : n.p., to Ulysses S. Grant, Washington, D.C., 1865 May 25. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : Washington, D.C., Samuel Morse Felton, Philadelphia, 1861 Apr. 19. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885. Letters: to Henry Wager Halleck, 1862-1865. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
referencedIn Craig, Isaac A., 1834-1917. Papers, 1862-1865. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Fort Vancouver (Wash.). Records, 1854-1866. University of Arizona Libraries
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Signature : [n.p., n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Pattison, Alexander B. Letter : to Brig. Gen. Lorenzo Thomas, 1863 September 26. University of California, Santa Barbara, UCSB Library
referencedIn Bounty Land Application File of Brevet Major Lorenzo Thomas, Adjutant, U.S. Army (50-160-6488) National Archives at Washington, D.C
creatorOf Andrew, John A. (John Albion), 1818-1867,. Lee family papers [microform] 1652 [1769-1870] 1890. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Larry Fagin Papers., n.d., 1958-1977. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. Letter : Washington, D.C., to [Lorenzo?] Thomas, n.p., 1861 Sept. 10. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Poetry mss., 1954-2002 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Miles, Dixon Stansbury, 1804-1862. Letter : Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to Lorenzo Thomas, Washington, D.C., 1861 May 22. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Lorenzo Thomas correspondence and calling card, 1848-1864. Library of Congress
referencedIn Ulysses S. Grant Papers, 1819-1969, (bulk 1843-1885) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. Letter : near Harrison's Landing, Va., to L[orenzo] Thomas, n.p., 1862 July 27. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871. Robert Anderson : miscellaneous papers, 1836-1864 (bulk 1860-1864). The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. Letter, 1862. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Hurlbut, Stephen Augustus, 1815-1882. Letter, 1863 June 5. Tennessee State Library & Archives, TSLA
referencedIn McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. Letter : near Harrison's Landing, Va., to L[orenzo] Thomas, n.p., 1862 July 27. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Philip Case Lockwood memorial collection of Civil War portraits and autographs, 1862-ca. 1886. Houghton Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter signed : "A. G. Office, ", to William Pitt Fessenden, [18]61 Sept. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States Commandery of the State of Massachusetts Civil War collection, 1724-1933 (inclusive); 1861-1912 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Bonneville, Benjamin Louis Eulalie de, 1796-1878. Letter : Fort Clark, Tex., to Lorenzo Thomas, New York, 1861 Feb. 20. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : Washington, D.C., to Winfield Scott, Washington, D.C., 1861 Apr. 16. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : Washington, D.C., to Samuel Morse Felton, Philadelphia, 1861 Apr. 19. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Flagg, S. Griswold. S. Griswold Flagg collection, 1825-1938 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf United States. President (1861-1865 : Lincoln). The President of the United States of America : to all who shall see these presents greeting : appointment, 1862 Feb. 21. Newberry Library
creatorOf Fauntleroy, Thomas T. Report to Lorenzo Thomas, U.S. Adjutant General's Office : Santa Fe : LS, 1860 July 21. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn John Mason Brown, 1837-1890. John Mason Brown (1837-1890) papers, 1862-1864 The Filson Historical Society
creatorOf Sibley, Caleb Chase, 1806-1875. Letter, 1862 December 16 [to] Lorenzo Thomas. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
referencedIn Miles, Dixon Stansbury, 1804-1862. Letter : Fort Leavenworth, Kan., to Lorenzo Thomas, Washington, D.C., 1861 May 22. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872. Collection, 1793-1896. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
creatorOf Scribner, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1825-1900. Papers of B.F. Scribner, 1838-1911. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Schofield, John McAllister, 1831-1906. Autograph letter signed : Freeport, Ill., to Lorenzo Thomas, [New York?], 1853 July 23. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Samuel Peter Heintzelman Papers, 1822-1913, (bulk 1850-1865) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Approved Pension File for Elizabeth B. Thomas, Widow of Brigadier General Lorenzo Thomas, United States Army (WC-173339) National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn Wool, John Ellis, 1784-1869. Letter : Troy, N.Y., to L[orenzo?] Thomas, New York, 1853 June 18. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf United States. Adjutant-General's Office. General orders and regulations, 1840-1842. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Autograph letter signed : n.p., to Ulysses S. Grant, Washington, D.C., 1865 May 25. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Correspondence with Robert Montgomery Bird, 1844. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf United States. Adjutant-General's Office. General orders : no. 67, 1842 Oct. 22. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : Washington, D.C., to unknown person, n.p., 1869 Apr. 4. Texas Christian University
referencedIn McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. Letter : Washington, D.C., to [Lorenzo?] Thomas, n.p., 1861 Sept. 10. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : Washington, D.C., to unknown person, 1861 Apr. 5. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : to T.E. Ellsworth, 1865 June 23. University of California, Santa Barbara, UCSB Library
creatorOf Butler, William Orlando, 1791-1880. Bird-Johnston collection, 1845-1848. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn United States. Army. Dept. of the South. Records, 1862-1866. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
creatorOf Records of the Adjutant General's Office. 1762 - 1984. Generals' Papers and Books. 1830 - 1884. Papers and Books of General Lorenzo Thomas National Archives at Washington, D.C
referencedIn United States. Adjutant-General's Office. Order, 1846 Jul 7. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Haynie, Isham N., 1824-1868. Letter : Memphis, to Lorenzo Thomas, n.p., 1863 Feb. 7. Texas Christian University
creatorOf Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879. [Assignment list] 1863 February 14 [to] General L. Thomas, Washington / Jos. Hooker. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Maggie Lindsley papers, 1862-1977. Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Northrop, Lucius Bellinger, 1811-1894. Correspondence : of Lucius Bellinger Northrop, 1841- 1863. Alexandria Library. Local History / Special Collections (Alexandria, Va.)
referencedIn Lee, Robert E. (Robert Edward), 1807-1870. Letter : Arlington, Va., to Lorenzo Thomas, New York, 1859 Oct. 1. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part III: The Civil War: The Union, 1804-1915. Houghton Library
creatorOf United States. District Court (Massachusetts). Letters received, 1861-1864, by John Shepard Keyes. Boston Athenaeum
referencedIn H. W. Halleck Papers, 1843-1896, (bulk 1862) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Thomas, Lorenzo, 1804-1875. Letter : Washington, D.C., to Winfield Scott, Washington, D.C., 1861 Apr. 16. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Nauman, George, 1802-1863. Letter : Lancaster, Pa., to L[orenzo] Thomas, Washington, D.C., 1861 June 10. University of Chicago Library
referencedIn Nauman, George, 1802-1863. Letter : Lancaster, Pa., to L[orenzo] Thomas, Washington, D.C., 1861 June 10. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885. Papers, 1843-1969 (bulk 1843-1908) Library of Congress
referencedIn Schofield, John McAllister, 1831-1906. Autograph letter signed : Freeport, Ill., to Lorenzo Thomas, [New York?], 1853 July 23. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Callehen, James, fl. 1864. Leadbeatter family papers [manuscript], 1861-1865. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn S. Griswold Flagg collection, 1825-1938 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anderson, Robert, 1805-1871. person
associatedWith Barton, William Eleazar, 1861-1930, person
associatedWith Bonneville, Benjamin Louis Eulalie de, 1796-1878. person
associatedWith Butler-Gunsaulus Collection (University of Chicago. Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Craig, Isaac A., 1834-1917. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith Dodge, A. H. person
correspondedWith Dodge, F. person
associatedWith Ellsworth, T. E. person
correspondedWith Fagin, Larry. person
associatedWith Fauntleroy, Thomas T. person
associatedWith Felton, S. M. (Samuel Morse), 1809-1889. person
associatedWith Fessenden, William Pitt, 1806-1869, person
associatedWith Fisk, James Liberty, 1835-1902. person
associatedWith Flagg, S. Griswold. person
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associatedWith Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885. person
correspondedWith Grant, U. S. (Ulysses S.), 1881-1968 person
correspondedWith Halleck, H. W. (Henry Wager), 1815-1872. person
associatedWith Haynie, Isham N., 1824-1868. person
correspondedWith Heintzelman, Samuel Peter, 1805-1880. person
associatedWith Hicks, Thomas Holliday, 1798-1865. person
associatedWith Hooker, Joseph, 1814-1879. person
associatedWith Hurlbut, Stephen Augustus, 1815-1882. person
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correspondedWith Lindsley, Maggie. person
correspondedWith Lockwood, Philip Case, 1844-1897 person
associatedWith McClellan, George Brinton, 1826-1885. person
associatedWith Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872. person
associatedWith Miles, Dixon Stansbury, 1804-1862. person
associatedWith Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Commandery of the State of Massachusetts, collector. corporateBody
associatedWith Modern Poetry Association corporateBody
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associatedWith Northrop, Lucius Bellinger, 1811-1894. person
associatedWith Online Archive of California. corporateBody
associatedWith Pattison, Alexander B. person
correspondedWith Randolph, Julianna person
associatedWith Schofield, John McAllister, 1831-1906. person
associatedWith Scott, Winfield, 1786-1866. person
associatedWith Scribner, B. F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1825-1900. person
associatedWith Sibley, Caleb Chase, 1806-1875. person
associatedWith United States. Adjutant-General's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army. Dept. of the South. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Army. Infantry Regiment, 4th corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Army of Mexico. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. District Court (Massachusetts) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf United States Military Academy corporateBody
associatedWith United States. President (1861-1865 : Lincoln) corporateBody
associatedWith William E. Barton Collection of Lincolniana (University of Chicago) corporateBody
associatedWith Wool, John Ellis, 1784-1869. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New Castle DE US
West Point NY US
Mexico 00 MX
District of Columbia DC US
District of Columbia DC US
Subject
Slavery
Civil War, 1861-1865
General
Impeachments
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Obituaries
Occupation
Army officers
Soldiers
Activity

Person

Birth 1804-10-26

Death 1875-03-02

Male

Americans

English

Information

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