Holmes, T. H. (Theophilus Hunter), 1804-1880

Theophilus Hunter Holmes was born November 13, 1804 to a prominent North Carolina family. In 1829 he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Prior to the Civil War, Holmes served in various campaigns against Native Americans and also saw action in the Mexican War, where he was brevetted for gallantry at the battle of Monterrey. When the Civil War erupted in 1861, Holmes was living in New York City and engaged as the superintendent of the recruiting station for the U.S. Army. He promptly resigned his commission and returned to his native North Carolina. On June 5, 1861, Holmes was appointed brigadier general in the Confederate States army. Shortly thereafter, Holmes was sent to Virginia and commanded a brigade at First Manassas. Following his promotion to major general in October 1861 Holmes served as commander of the Department of North Carolina. He later led a division during the Seven Days' battles. In July 1862 he was ordered to Little Rock to take command of the Trans-Mississippi Department. Following several reversals within the department, he was demoted to commander of the District of Arkansas. In January 1864 Holmes resigned from this position and returned to North Carolina where he was placed in command of reserve troops. Once the war was over, he retired to a farm in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He died June 21, 1880.

From the description of Theophilus Holmes papers, 1862-1864. (Central Arkansas Library System). WorldCat record id: 56574487

Theophilus Hunter Holmes of Sampson County, N.C., was the son of Gabriel H. Holmes, a congressman and governor of North Carolina (1821-1824). He served in the United States Army in the Seminole War, the Mexican War, and in the West before taking command of army recruiting in 1859. He resigned his commission during the siege of Fort Sumter and later achieved the rank of lieutenant general in the Confederate Army while serving in Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina. He died Cumberland County, N.C.

From the description of T. H. Holmes correspondence, 1861-1865. WorldCat record id: 39559219

Confederate Army officer, from Sampson County, N.C.

From the description of Papers, 1861-1867. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 19642981

Theophilus Hunter Holmes was born in Sampson County, N.C., on 11 November 1804. He was the son of Gabriel H. Holmes, a congressman and governor of North Carolina (1821-1824), and Mary Hunter. Holmes graduated from West Point Academy in 1829 and served in the Seminole War, the Mexican War, and in the West before taking command of army recruiting in 1859. During the siege of Fort Sumter, he resigned his commission and returned to North Carolina. Holmes achieved the rank of lieutenant general in the Confederate Army while serving in Virginia, Arkansas, and North Carolina. Holmes died 21 June 1880 in Cumberland County, N.C.

From the guide to the T. H. Holmes Correspondence, 1861-1865, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)