Thomas, George Henry (1816–1870)

US general. At the outbreak of the Civil War he joined the Union volunteers. In 1862 he gained the victory at the Battle of Mill Springs, and distinguished himself at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and Chickamauga. He was made commander of the army at Cumberland, and fought the Battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1863. In 1864 he defeated the Confederate forces led by John Bell Hood at Nashville.

Thomas was born in Southampton County, Virginia, and educated at West Point military academy. He served in the Seminole Wars and the Mexican War 1846–48, and was instructor at West Point 1851–54. During the Civil War he became a colonel and later brigadier general.