{⋆★⋆} BG Green, Thomas

Nathaniel Thomas Green
Soldier, Lawyer and Statesman, Hero of the Texas Revolution.
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Born: June 8, 1814

Birthplace: Buckingham County, Virginia

Father: Judge Nathan Green, Sr., (1792-1866)

(Buried: Cedar Grove Cemetery, Lebanon, Tennessee)​

Mother: Mary Field, (1792-1849)

(Buried: Winchester City Cemetery)​

Wife: Mary Wallace Chalmers, (1828-1866)

Daughter of John Gordon Chalmers, editor and politician—U.S. Senator from Mississippi​

(Buried: Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas)​

Married: January 31, 1847

Children:

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Mary Wallace Lane, (1847-1926).​

(Buried Maverick Co. Cemetery, Eagle Pass, Texas)​

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Eliza Chalmers Neil; (1849-1931)​

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Alice Bentley, (1850-1940)​

(Buried Abilene Municipal Cemetery, Abilene, Texas)​

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Jeanette Haydon, (1853-1932)​

(Buried Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California)​

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Thomas Green, Jr.; (1857-1886)​

(Buried Maverick County Cemetery, Eagle Pass, Texas)​

​

Laura Hodgson, (1859-1940)​

(Buried Mount Olivet Cemetery, Nashville, Tennessee)​

Religion: Methodist

Education:

Jackson College, Tennessee​

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Princeton College, Kentucky​

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Degree from University of Tennessee, 1834​

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Studied law with father, prominent Judge on Tennessee Supreme Court​

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1836-37 continued studies after Texas Revolution​

Political Party: Democratic

Nickname: Tom, "Murat of the West"

Occupation before Civil War:

Left Tennessee to fight in Texas Revolution; arrived Nacodoches 1835; enrolled in Army January 14, 1836. Artillery company manning the Twin Sisters during Battle of San Jacinto. Commissioned Lieutenant two days after battle April 21; May 1836 made Major and named Aide-de-Camp to General Thomas J. Rusk.​

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Resigned May 30, 1836, returned to Tennessee to continue Law Studies. Returned to Texas 1837.​

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Became County Surveyor, LaGrange Co., Texas 1837; elected Engrossing Clerk* for House of Representatives (Texas Congress); elected to Texas House, 1839. Secretary of Senate for 6th​ & 8th​ Congresses. 1841-61, Clerk Texas Supreme Court.​

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During Texas Republic, served in numerous military expeditions against Mexico and Indians; 1841 Colorado River expedition vs Comanches; 1842 Vasquez expedition—raised volunteer Company in Travis County; Inspector General for Somervell expedition after Woll's invasion.​

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Mexican War: Recruited and led company of Texas Rangers as part of John C. Hays' First Texas Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, instrumental in capture of Monterrey, September 1846.​

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Civil War Career:

Elected Colonel Fifth Texas Volunteer Cavalry (Sibley's Brigade), invaded New Mexico 1862.​

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Battle of Val Verde, February 20-21, 1862​

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Recapture of Galveston, January 1, 1863​

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Spring 1863, Fighting along Bayou Teche, Louisiana leading Taylor's First Cavalry Brigade​

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Promoted Brigadier General on May 20, 1863​

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June-November 1863: Victories at Brashear City, Louisiana; Cox's Plantation; Stirling Plantation; Bayou Bourbeaux. During period, inflicted approximately 3,000 casualties, suffered 600.​

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April 1864 victory over USA Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks at Mansfield and William Emory at Pleasant Hill, LA., effectively ending the Red River Campaign, saving Texas from invasion.​

Died: April 12, 1864

Place of Death: Blair's Landing (Plantation), Louisiana

Cause of Death: Artillery shell to head

Age at time of Death: 49

Burial Place: Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Texas

Quotes About: "Historian John D. Winters in The Civil War in Louisiana (1963) quotes a Texas soldier who fought under Green: "He was a man who, when out of whiskey, was a mild mannered gentleman, but when in good supply of old burst-head was all fight." Winters continues: "Well fortified with Louisiana rum, Green with a yell told [his men] that he was going to show them how to fight. The charge against the gunboats was made on horseback. Green was killed well in advance, a cannon shot taking off the top of his head. ... Drunk or sober, foolish or not in waging the attack, Green was a valuable man, and General Taylor lamented him." (Wikipedia)

"Upon his death, Union Admiral David Dixon Porter paid tribute to the fallen Confederate cavalryman in saying that Green was "one in whom the rebels place more confidence than anyone else. He led his men to the very edge of the bank, they shouting and yelling like madmen—losing General Green has paralyzed them; he was worth 5,000 men to them." (Wikipedia)

"His coolness under the heaviest fire and intrepidity under the most trying circumstances are sufficiently attested to by the results. I cannot commend Colonel Green more highly to the favorable consideration of the Executive." Henry H. Sibley, following the Battle of Val
Verde, NM Territory.

General Banks said of him, "…he was the ablest officer in their service."

Interesting Facts:

• Tom Green County, Texas, geographically 17th​ largest in the state, is named for the General. It was one of the largest counties in the state at the time of its designation in 1874, over 60,000 square miles (now 1,541 sq.mi.).
• He reportedly disliked his first name, Nathaniel, and repeatedly got into fistfights with another Nathanial, so he began using his middle name, Tom.
• He was "over 6 feet tall and weighed nearly 200 pounds" as described at the Battle of San Jacinto.
• After the loss at Glorieta Pass, Sibley "abandoned the army" and Green commanded the troops in their long, difficult return to Texas.
• In the recapture of Galveston, Green and his men, serving under General Magruder, were on two cottonclads—Neptune and Bayou City (Neptune sank), and captured the Federal flagship, Harriet Lane.
• General Banks said of him, "…he was the ablest officer in their service"

Resources:

• https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgr38
• https://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/Library/Veteran_Bios/Bio_page/?id=352&army=Texian
• https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/72737402.pdf

 

[Nathanb1]

I have a soft spot for old Tom...I spent a good part of my life in Tom Green County, Texas, so the name was familiar. Then I taught 7th grade history, which is all Texas History and a lot of Revolution (yeah, lots of Civil War, just because...me). And then there's my relative who fought with the 13th Texas at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. Texans owed a lot to Tom. It boggles my mind just how many of those guys in the Texas Revolution (1835-6) ended up still fighting in the Civil War. On the Sibley Expedition, yet! Years on a horse, in all kinds of weather...honestly, I'd have been begging somebody to kill me in the days before Aleve.

Tom Green County: History, Geography, and Economy

Explore the rich history, geography, and economic significance of Tom Green County, Texas, including its agricultural dominance, historical landmarks, and cultural events.

tshaonline.org

Thomas Green: Military Leader of the Texas Revolution

Explore the life and legacy of Thomas Green, a key military leader during the Texas Revolution and the Civil War, known for his contributions to Texas history and military campaigns.

tshaonline.org

The Gallant General Tom Green C.S.A. (July 2014) | Archive - 2014 | Rickey Robertson | Local Writers' Columns | Center for Regional Heritage Research | SFASU

 

[SWMODave]

Test - pick the correct answer
1. Tom lost his head and tried to attack an ironclad on horseback.
2. Tom lost his head when he tried to attack an ironclad on horseback
3. Both 1 and 2

Sorry nathanb1! Couldn't resist.

 

[Nathanb1]

Test - pick the correct answer
1. Tom lost his head and tried to attack an ironclad on horseback.
2. Tom lost his head when he tried to attack an ironclad on horseback
3. Both 1 and 2

Sorry nathanb1! Couldn't resist.

We seem to have a plethora of generals tonight who lost their heads. LOL...

Wikipedia has the answer, for anyone who doesn't know..."He led his men to the very edge of the bank, they shouting and yelling like madmen—losing General Green has paralyzed them; he was worth 5,000 men to them." He is buried in the family plot at Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas. ... Green was killed well in advance, a cannon shot taking off the top of his head."

However, at least he didn't say, "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...." I couldn't resist, either.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

My great-grandfather Arnold G. Miller and his two brothers, all from Atascosa County, Texas, served under Tom Green in the 5th Texas Cavalry in Louisiana. The youngest, Frank Miller, was also with Green on Sibley's New Mexico expedition. Like Tom Green, Frank did not survive the war, but at least he kept his head, dying of sickness in a camp hospital.

 

[Pollaco]

One of the Federal Gunboats in the river fired the cannon shot that incapacitated General Green.Does anyone know which one? I'm thinking it was the Osage. And it's said He played a leading role in the Battle of Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863.What exactly was that role?

 

[Louisiana Jayhawker]

He is a very brave and dashing Cavalry Commander who was of great value to the Confederacy. I would like to add to the very nice thread. We should list the Battle at Fort Butler on his list of battles. We should list the Battle of Blair's Landing as a battle and not play it down as a mere patrol. We would likely be more accurate to say "killed in battle" then say "mortally wounded while patrolling the Red River, Blair's Landing." I suppose having your head decapitated by a heavy Naval gun at point blank range one should have been dead before one hit the ground from one's horse. I am always wondering why he was so reckless at Blair's Landing? He was a major player at Galveston Bay Battle which seems too easy maybe to him and he was defeated at Fort Butler under severe fire of the Federal Navy but not personally himself. Where is the respect for Naval guns?

 

[donna]

A very brave soldier. Thanks for adding to biographies.

 

[Pollaco]

Has it ever been decided which Union gunboat fired the fatal shot that killed Gen. Green?

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy early (January 8th) birthday Brig. General Thomas Green! Salutes remembering General Green on his birthday.

 

[Sheltowee]

Sorry - just gotta say. Anyone else see it?

 

[Pollaco]

A Texas soldier supposedly remarked "He was a man who, when out of whiskey, was a mild mannered gentleman,but when in good supply of old burst-head was all fight".Green was supposedly well fortified with Louisiana rum when he made that charge.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

And it's said He played a leading role in the Battle of Galveston on Jan. 1, 1863.What exactly was that role?

One hundred fifty volunteers from the Fifth Texas commanded by Tom Green were on board the cotton-clad Bayou City. Along with the Neptune, they attacked the Harriet Lane. After rifle fire drove the Union sailors from their guns, they boarded and captured the ship.

 

[wtexas]

A Texas soldier supposedly remarked "He was a man who, when out of whiskey, was a mild mannered gentleman,but when in good supply of old burst-head was all fight".Green was supposedly well fortified with Louisiana rum when he made that charge.

It is my belief that he was not "well fortified with Louisiana rum" at Blair's Landing. Green, who was Taylor's most trusted subordinate, was sent to the Red River to impede and, hopefully, capture the Union ships and transports as they struggled to escape back toward Alexandria. He led troops that had little experience and that he had never fought with before and did not have any rifled artillery with him. But he carried Taylor's orders and confidence and so attacked. As he often did, especially given the inexperienced troops with him, he exposed himself to fire and, late in the fight, had the back of his head taken off by a grapeshot and killed instantly. (One source mentions that the countenance of his face was not marred by the wound.)

Taylor mentions Green in the same passage as Forrest. Certainly, Green was one of the best cavalry division commanders in the South. He was fully capable of successfully commanding both cavalry and infantry in smaller scale actions (Sterling's Plantation and Bayou Bourbeau). At the beginning of the Red River Campaign, he was promoted to major general via a special order issue by Kirby Smith, and placed in charge of a Taylor's cavalry corps. Green's performance at Mansfield, where he commanded Taylor's left wing, was solid, if unspectacular while his performance commanding cavalry at Pleasant Hill was mediocre. Whether he would have shined as a corps commander of cavalry is something we will never know.

Green excelled when operating in an independent capacity and had time to scout the area and the enemy before palnning and executing an attack. He did not have that luxury at Blair's Landing.

 

[Louisiana Jayhawker]

Well now we have a few problems to sort out here. It was a Confederate soldier under Green's command that made the statement that Green was drunk at Battle of Blair's Landing as cited quote in John D. Winters book and note Winters was Confederate apologists. Just think about it how narrow Red River is and even the Federals said General Green rode right up to the war ships on horse shouting orders to his men well behind him. His head may have been turned when the 9-inch cannon blew his head off or maybe partially as you claimed. It may have been the river monitor OSAGA gun crew and note their commander was using the new invention called a periscope view finder from the turret pilot house. What difference would it have been made if "he did not have that luxury at Blair's Landing" "to scout the area and the enemy before planning" "an attack". The enemy was in a deep river and in armored ships to attack and do what? It was suicidal to a sober commander but not so much to a drunkard perhaps.

Even worst General Green had earlier, if am not wrong, had led the infantry assault against Federal Fort Butler at Donaldsonville, Louisiana that was covered by Federal gunboats. Against the Fool did not "scout the area" "before planning" "an attack". He acted upon a southern gentlemen intelligence report volunteered that day that the Fort's riverside had no defensive wall. Later it turned out to be misinformed given by a brave southern white male Unionist whose background no one checked on and he fooled Green. Green again blindly set off a bloody assault in which his men are cut to pieces by Federal garrison fire and gunboats fire at point blank range. Low and behold, there was a strongly built riverside wall maned by the garrison waiting for the attack. It was built by negro freed slaves, and some were even armed that day by the white garrison and shown how to load and fire the rifled musket only hours before the attack (just like at Milken's Bend battle near Vicksburg in Louisiana side).

Another error, Green attack at Mansfield was delayed and not coordinated correctly with the right-wing rebel attack. This causes the rebel's center force to attack a little too early in which they suffered heavy losses. Lastly error is that Green was not at the Battle of Pleasant Hill remember he got orders by Richard Taylor to attack a powerful Federal naval force and that had an entire Federal troop division on board transports and landed and engaged across the river on the opposite side and not reachable.

 

[Louisiana Jayhawker]

Regardless General Green will have to be given the history of being a brave man even if he was fortified by alcohol at Blair's Landing. I am pleased the face covering was not destroyed there and was saved to be place back on what was left of his head at the soldier's funeral. I have no idea if he was drunk just going by what was claimed since the incident.

 

[Desert Kid]

Sorry - just gotta say. Anyone else see it?

View attachment 427758
View attachment 427759

Tom Green was certainly the type of dude who chased "Faster Horses, Younger Women, Older Whiskey and More Money!"