Born July 31, 1816
Southampton County, Virginia
Died March 28, 1870
San Francisco, California

Union general known as the
"Rock of Chickamauga"

Alienated his family and friends by siding with
the Union, then became one of the top leaders in
the Union Army

The men who served under George Henry Thomas loved his cool, steady style and his commitment to always being prepared.

George Henry Thomas. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress.)

Although George Henry Thomas was born into a Southern slaveholding family, he sided with the Union at the start of the Civil War. He went on to become one of the most successful Northern generals. In fact, some historians have ranked him behind only Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885; see entry) and William T. Sherman (1820–1891; see entry) among the men they consider most important in securing victory for the Union. Thomas's brave stand during a Union defeat in...