★ Pitcher, Thomas Gamble

Thomas Gamble Pitcher​

Born: October 23, 1824

Birthplace: Rockport, Illinois

Father: Judge John Pitcher 1794 – 1892

(Buried: North Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Indiana)​

Mother: Elizabeth Gamble 1795 – 1829

(Buried: North Cemetery, Mount Vernon, Indiana)​

Wife: Mary J. Bradley 1832 – 1894

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Children:

Colonel William Lewis Pitcher 1852 – 1930​

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

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Lt. Colonel John Pitcher 1854 – 1926​

(Buried: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia)​

Education:

1845: Graduated from West Point Military Academy – (40th​ in class)​

Occupation before War:

1845 – 1846: Brevet 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 5th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1846: Served in the Battle of Palo Alto, Mexico​

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1846: Served in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, Mexico​

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1846: Served in the Battle of Monterrey, Mexico​

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1846 – 1849: 2nd​ Lt. United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1847: Served in the Siege of Verra Cruz, Mexico​

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1847: Served in the Battle of Cerro Gordo, Mexico​

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1847: Served in the Capture of San Antonio​

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1847: Brevetted 1st​ Lt. for Gallantry at two Mexican War Battles​

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1847: Served in the Capture of Mexico City, Mexico​

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1848: Garrison Duty at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri​

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1848: Quartermaster, United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1849 – 1854: Adjutant for United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1849 – 1858: 1st​ Lt. United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1854 – 1857: Quartermaster, United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1857 – 1859: Depot Commissary at San Antonio, Texas​

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1858 – 1863: Captain, United States Army, 8th​ Infantry Regiment​

Civil War Career:

1862: Served in the Defense of Harper's Ferry, Virginia​

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1862: Wounded in the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Virginia​

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1862: Brevetted Major for Gallantry at Battle of Cedar Mountain​

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1862 – 1863: Disabled by his wound he received at Cedar Mountain​

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1862 – 1866: Brigadier General of Union Army Volunteers​

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1863 – 1864: Assistant Provost Marshal in Vermont​

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1863 – 1866: Major of United States Army, 16th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1865: Brevetted Lt. Colonel for his service in the War​

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1865: Brevetted Brig. General for his service in the war​

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1866: Mustered out of the Union Army on April 30th​​

Occupation after War:

1863 – 1866: Major of United States Army, 16th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1866 – 1869: Colonel of United States Army, 44th​ Infantry Regiment​

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1866 – 1870: Superintendent of West Point Military Academy​

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1869 – 1870: Colonel for United States Army, not assigned a regiment​

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1870 – 1878: Colonel United States Army, 1st​ Infantry Regiment​

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1870 – 1877: Governor of Soldiers Home in Washington, D.C.​

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1877 – 1878: On leave of absence from United States Army​

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1878: On Court martial duty in Omaha, Nebraska​

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1878: Retired from United States Army on June 28th​ due to disability​

Died: October 21, 1895

Place of Death: Post Hospital at Fort Bayard, New Mexico

Cause of Death: Exhaustion due to abscess of the brain

Age at time of Death: 70 years old

Burial Place: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia

 

[Pollaco]

While stationed in Vermont enforcing conscription his enrolling agents were driven out of the town of Rutland by an angry mob. This was in June of 1863. He was then transferred to Indiana also as a conscript enforcer. He finished out the war there.

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy weekend (October 23rd) Birthday Brig. General Thomas G. Pitcher! Salutes remembering General Pitcher on his birthday weekend.

 

[Pollaco]

He was among the thousands of Union soldiers who defended the town but later surrendered to Stonewall Jackson at Harper's Ferry in 1862.