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(1826 - 1862)
Home State: New York
Branch of Service: Infantry
Unit: 51st New York Infantry
Before Antietam
A 36 year old paperhanger in Brooklyn, he enlisted on 4 September 1861 in Brooklyn for three years and mustered as Private, Company G, 51st New York Infantry on 12 September.
On the Campaign
He was killed in action at Antietam on 17 September 1862. His Captain, Samuel Sims wrote Thomas' widow Caroline:
It has become my most painful and unavoidable duty to announce to you the death of your husband. He was killed while in the faithful discharge of his duty at the storming of Antietam Bridge Maryland in the morning of September 17th, 1862. Our joy at gaining the victory that day has been restrained by our remembrance of the brave men who fell - the faces of our comrades once so familiar that are lost to us, and more than that, the grief that we know will be brought to the home of our noble brother who has rendered his life a sacrifice to prove his devotion to our country, flag, and constitution. Your husband died at the moment of victory. Our Regiment with the Brigade had been ordered forward by Genl. Burnside to advance to the Bridge where the rebels were posted in strong force. They were the Brigade of sharpshooters called "Toombs Brigade" consisting I believe of Georgia, S. Carolina and Mississippi riflemen. The action lasted about one hour before poor Tom fell. He heard as he died the shout of victory. A noble death! but to you a stroke which I fear no words of mine can render alleviation. I humbly pray to my God that he will be with you in your affliction.
His grave is in the valley near the bridge, fifteen of his comrades lie there with him. I have caused an inscription to be placed over him. A final statement of his effects will be sent forward today to Washington. I enclose a lock of his hair ...
The rest of the War
His widow arranged for his remains to be returned home and they were buried there in April 1863.
References & notes
His service from the Adjutant General.1 Details and the letter quoted above from his bio sketch from Green-Wood Cemetery. His gravesite is on Findagrave.
Birth
1826; Kings County, NY
Death
09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY
1 State of New York, Adjutant-General, Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York [year]: Registers of the [units], 43 Volumes, Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1893-1905, For the Year 1900, Ser. No. 25, pg. 211 [AotW citation 22473]