Part 4

One day in September, 1863, while looking for Gen. A. McD. McCook in Chattanooga valley, I saw a signal flag waving not far away, and riding up to the signal station found Lieut. Wm. Quinton, signal officer on Gen. Thomas' staff, in communication with a signal station on Lookout Mountain. He could not tell me where to find Gen. McCook, but was very anxious to be relieved in order that he might ride on towards Chickamauga with Gen. Thomas, and asked me if I would not relieve him. As it seemed important to keep the line open, I agreed to take his place while the Twentieth Corps, which was to follow the Fourteenth, was passing. After we had made the necessary arrangements, Lieut. Quinton said to me: "Lieutenant, I would like to introduce you to General Thomas. He is one of the kindest men that ever lived, and his staff look on him more as a father than their general." So we rode up to a slight elevation where Gen. Thomas and his staff were watching his troops as they were marching along the road to Chickamauga. The general received us very cordially, paid a high compliment to the signal corps, said his signal officers were all gentlemen upon whom he felt he could always rely, and he thought the signal corps would be better appreciated in the West as the different generals became more familiar with it. While we were conversing a staff officer galloped up, saluted and announced to the general that Chattanooga had been evacuated by the enemy and occupied by the brigade of Gen. Harker. Gen. Thomas said that "he was very glad to hear it and he hoped Gen. Harker would see that all public and private property was protected; he understood that there was a large supply of hospital stores there, including considerable wine, and he wanted them all carefully saved for the benefit of his own wounded and those of the enemy." The staff officer said "he was sure that Gen. Harker would do it, and that guards were being established when he left." As we rode away Lieut. Quinton remarked "That was just like Gen. Thomas, that is the way he is always looking after the wants of his men."

The final obsequies in honor of Gen. Thomas took place on the 8th of April, 1870, in St. Paul's Episcopal church, Troy, N.Y., attended by President Grant, the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, senators and representatives of Congress, officers of the army and navy, and many veterans of the army of the Cumberland and the Civil War. The pall bearers were Generals Meade, Scofield, Hooker, Rosecrans, Hazen, Granger, Newton and McKay. The religious services were conducted by Bishop Doane of Albany and the Rev. Doctors Cort, Potter, Walsh and Reese, and the body was followed to the grave in the beautiful cemetery of Oakwood by his comrades and old soldiers, where it was buried beside his Northern wife.

Mild in manner; fair in favor; Kind in temper; fierce in fight; Warrior nobler, gentler, braver, Never will behold the light!