Thomas' Legion

[CSA Today]

"Thomas' Legion was named after Cherokee chief, senator, and lawyer, William Thomas. He was 57 years old when the unit officially organized. From the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas believed and pleaded with North Carolina Governors Henry Toole Clark and Zebulon Vance, President Jefferson Davis, and various commanding generals that the mountaineers would be most effective as a locally employed guerrilla unit. These highlanders, moreover, were a unique blend of individuals possessing in-depth knowledge and understanding of their region.

Because of the lack of mountain defenses, bushwhackers reigned and slaughtered non-combatants for most of the war with impunity. Eventually, Governor Vance, President Davis, Generals Martin, Bragg, Buckner, and many others stated that a force similar to the Thomas Legion would have been sufficient for defense of that region.

Its command was comprised of the most diverse group of men. They were politicians, doctors, lawyers, scholars, students, Indians, farmers, miners, merchants, laborers, hunters and trappers. They were Smoky Mountain Highlanders and Cherokee Indians. Few were slave owners and from renowned families. In O.R., Series 1, 53, p. 314, Thomas stated that the Cherokees didn't own any slaves. Most lacked temporal wealth, but as combatants they were rich with skills and abilities. As rugged mountaineers many were descendants of the renowned Overmountain Men of the American Revolution; as trappers and hunters, they were scouts, sharpshooters, geographers and topographers; as politicians, lawyers, and scholars, they were strategists, organizers and leaders; as miners, they were geographers and topographers; as Cherokees, they were men of impeccable character, unwavering with loyalty, and were survivors of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and infamous Trail of Tears. Chief Yonaguska's warriors were prolific hunters and according to John R. Finger, The Eastern Band of Cherokees, 1819-1900, p. 62, in one year they provided their community with "540 deer, 78 bears, 18 wolves, and 2 panthers; the number of smaller mammals and birds killed must have totaled thousands." (Also see: Cherokee Indians: Weapons, War, and Warfare and Cherokee Indians: Weapons and Warfare.)"

(photo of Adams brothers of Thomas Legion)

 

[southern blue]

I have several ancestors who served with the Thomas Legion. My great grandfather ( not a Cherokee but married to one) knew William Thomas. They worked together to establish the Qualla Boundary for the Cherokees who did not go west.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

I have several ancestors who served with the Thomas Legion. My great grandfather ( not a Cherokee but married to one) knew William Thomas. They worked together to establish the Qualla Boundary for the Cherokees who did not go west.

I have the book, "Storm In The Mountains," about the Legion. It contains the company rosters.

 

[rhettbutler1865]

View attachment 60570
VERY INTERESTING post, and well done! I had always wondered about the Southern guerrilla units...

"Thomas' Legion was named after Cherokee chief, senator, and lawyer, William Thomas. He was 57 years old when the unit officially organized. From the beginning of the Civil War, Thomas believed and pleaded with North Carolina Governors Henry Toole Clark and Zebulon Vance, President Jefferson Davis, and various commanding generals that the mountaineers would be most effective as a locally employed guerrilla unit. These highlanders, moreover, were a unique blend of individuals possessing in-depth knowledge and understanding of their region.

Because of the lack of mountain defenses, bushwhackers reigned and slaughtered non-combatants for most of the war with impunity. Eventually, Governor Vance, President Davis, Generals Martin, Bragg, Buckner, and many others stated that a force similar to the Thomas Legion would have been sufficient for defense of that region.

Its command was comprised of the most diverse group of men. They were politicians, doctors, lawyers, scholars, students, Indians, farmers, miners, merchants, laborers, hunters and trappers. They were Smoky Mountain Highlanders and Cherokee Indians. Few were slave owners and from renowned families. In O.R., Series 1, 53, p. 314, Thomas stated that the Cherokees didn't own any slaves. Most lacked temporal wealth, but as combatants they were rich with skills and abilities. As rugged mountaineers many were descendants of the renowned Overmountain Men of the American Revolution; as trappers and hunters, they were scouts, sharpshooters, geographers and topographers; as politicians, lawyers, and scholars, they were strategists, organizers and leaders; as miners, they were geographers and topographers; as Cherokees, they were men of impeccable character, unwavering with loyalty, and were survivors of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and infamous Trail of Tears. Chief Yonaguska's warriors were prolific hunters and according to John R. Finger, The Eastern Band of Cherokees, 1819-1900, p. 62, in one year they provided their community with "540 deer, 78 bears, 18 wolves, and 2 panthers; the number of smaller mammals and birds killed must have totaled thousands." (Also see: Cherokee Indians: Weapons, War, and Warfare and Cherokee Indians: Weapons and Warfare.)"

(photo of Adams brothers of Thomas Legion)

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Actually elements of the Legion were detached from it, and served with Early in the Shenandoah in 1864.

 

[Chattahooch33]

My Uncle was Lieutenant Colonel William Clay Walker of the cavalry branch of Thomas' Legion.
He was murdered at home while recuperating from an illness on January 3, 1864

 

[southern blue]

Actually elements of the Legion were detached from it, and served with Early in the Shenandoah in 1864.

Yes. I had thought for a bit that my MIA gggrandfather might have been part of that Group and might even be buried somewhere here with the rest of the unknowns but the dates don't match up.

 

[CSA Today]

Actually elements of the Legion were detached from it, and served with Early in the Shenandoah in 1864.

Thomas Legion spent quite a bit of time in east Tennessee as well – especially around Strawberry Plains.
The North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865, A Roster has an entire volume (XVI) on the Legion, the only volume thus far devoted to a single outfit-- 537 pages in all including rosters, photographs, maps, index etc.