Stephen Decatur Thruston

(1833 - 1906)
Home State: North Carolina
Command Billet: Regimental Major
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 3rd North Carolina Infantry

Before the Antietam Campaign:
After three years at the University of Virginia (-1853), he graduated from medical school in Philadelphia. He then practiced in Wilmington, North Carolina.

In May 1861 he was appointed Captain, Company B, 3rd Infantry. He was senior Captain in the regiment. He was promoted Major on 1 July 1862.

In the Antietam Campaign:
He assumed command of the Regiment after Col de Rosset was hit at Sharpsburg. He himself "received a painful contusion, but did not leave the field." (DH Hill Report)

The remainder of the War:
He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel in March 1863, to date from 10 December 1862. At Chancellorsville in May 1863 he commanded the Regiment and briefly led the Brigade as senior officer. He was made Colonel of the Third Infantry on 2 October 1863.

After the War:
After the war Dr. Thruston moved to Dallas, Texas, and resumed the practice of medicine. He was a charter member of the Dallas Medical Society, organized in 1884. He was active in veteran's affairs, later an officer in the Sterling Price Camp, Confederate Veterans, in Dallas.

References, Sources, and other notes:
Sources: Red, George Plunkett, The Medicine Man in Texas, - posted online by the Texas Medical Center Library, and Colonels1.

Birth Date: 11/28/1833    Place of Birth: Gloucester County, VA
College: U of Virginia
Death Date: 11/15/1906    Death Place: Dallas, TX    Burial Place: Greenwood Cemetery, Dallas, TX

Notes

1 Krick, Robert K., Lee's Colonels: A Biographical Register of the Field Officers of the Army of Northern Virginia, Dayton (Oh): Morningside Press, 1979 [AotW citation 967]

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