★ Thomas, Stephen

Stephen Thomas​

Born: December 6, 1809

Birthplace: Bethel, Vermont

Father: John Thomas

Mother: Rebecca Batchelor

Wife: Ann Peabody 1816 – 1877

(Buried: Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier Vermont)​

Children:

Amanda Thomas Newcomb 1834 – 1902​

(Buried: Green Mount Cemetery Montpelier Vermont)​

Political Party: Democratic Party and Republican Party

Occupation before War:

Manufacturing Businessman in West Fairlee, Vermont

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1838 – 1839: Vermont State Representative​

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1842 – 1846: Register of probate for district of Bradford, Vermont​

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1843: Delegate to Vermont State Constitutional Convention​

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1845: Vermont State Representative​

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1847 – 1849: Bradford, Vermont District Probate Judge​

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1848 – 1849: Vermont State Senator​

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1848: Alternate Delegate to Democratic Party National Convention​

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1850: Delegate to Vermont State Constitutional Convention​

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1852: Vermont Delegate to Democratic Party National Convention​

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1856: Vermont Delegate to Democratic Party National Convention​

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1860 – 1861: Vermont State Representative​

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1860: Vermont Delegate to Democratic Party National Convention​

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1860: Unsuccessful candidate for Lt. Governor of Vermont​

Civil War Career:

1861 – 1865: Colonel of 8th​ Vermont Volunteers Infantry Regiment​

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1862 – 1863: Served in the Union Army, Department of the Gulf​

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Served in the Occupation of New Orleans, Louisiana​

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1863: Served in the Battle of Fort Bisland, Louisiana​

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1863: Served in the Siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana​

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1864 – 1865: Served in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War​

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1864: Served in the Third Battle of Winchester, Virginia​

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1864: Served in the Battle of Fisher's Hill, Virginia

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1864: Served in the Battle of Cedar Creek, Virginia​

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1865: Brigadier General of Union Army, Volunteers​

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1865: Mustered out of the Union Army on August 24th​​

Occupation after War:

1867 – 1868: Lt. Governor of Vermont​

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Delegate to Soldier's Convention that nominated General Grant.​

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1870 – 1878: United States Pension Agent​

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President of United States Clothes Pin Company in Montpelier.​

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President of North Haverhill Granite Company​

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Commander of Vermont Department Grand Army of the Republic​

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President of Vermont Officers Reunion Society​

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1892: Recipient of the Medal of Honor for his role at Cedar Creek​

Died: December 18, 1903

Place of Death: Montpelier, Vermont

Cause of Death: Senile Decay

Age at time of Death: 94 years old

Burial Place: Green Mount Cemetery, Montpelier, Vermont

Medal of Honor Citation​

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Colonel (Infantry) Stephen Thomas, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 19 October 1864, while serving with 8th Vermont Infantry, in action at Cedar Creek, Virginia, for distinguished conduct in a desperate hand-to-hand encounter, in which the advance of the enemy was checked.​

 

[Pollaco]

After his return from the war and becoming a Republican, Thomas was told by the Democratic Party "Thomas, you've changed; we haven't".His reply was "Fools never do".

 

[Pollaco]

Slightly wounded during the Port Hudson he soon returned to participate in the Sabine Pass expedition. Soon after, his brigade (along with most of the XIX Corps)was tranfered the Army of the Shenandoah.It was the fighting at Cedar Creek that earned him the Medal of Honor.