John Thruston Thornton

In 1860 he was a 36 year old lawyer in Farmville, VA. He was commissioned Captain of Company K, 3rd Virginia Cavalry on 24 June 1861 at Prince Edward Court House, VA. He was detailed to Fort Smith, AR in August 1861 but was back with his unit by January 1862 and was elected Lieutenant Colonel in April.

He commanded the regiment in Maryland.

But on the bloody morning [17 September 1862] of Sharpsburg, as he was bringing his regiment into position to protect the left of the army, his punctilious obedience to orders led him to expose himself during a few minute's halt, to a battery of the enemy; and almost the first shot which opened the fearful drama of the day, gave him a fatal wound. It exploded beside him, and one fragment tore his saddle to pieces, inflicting an irreparable shock on his body, while another crushed his arm almost from the hand to the shoulder.

His frightened horse was arrested by his men, he sunk fainting into their arms, and was carried to a little farm-house near the field. There, the surgeons endeavored to save his life by amputating his mangled limb; but in vain. After lingering for twelve hours insensible or delirious he fell asleep.

His service basics from the 3rd Virginia Cavalry,1 with death details quoted from his Memorial [pdf] by Rev. R.L. Dabney (1864). Personal details from family genealogists and the US Census of 1860. His gravesite is on Findagrave, with middle name as Thurston, source also of his picture, from a photograph contributed by user Linda crediting Prince Edward County.

He married Martha Jane Riddle (1829-1897) in November 1849 and they had 7 children.

11/17/1824; Farmville, VA

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Thornton Family Cemetery, Cumberland State Forest, Cumberland County, VA