George Henry Thomas

[Jim Klag]

August 17, 1861 - George Henry Thomas, USA, is appointed Brig. Gen.

Catching Up With "Old Slow Trot"

Stubborn and deliberate, General George Henry Thomas was one of the Union's most brilliant strategists. So why was he cheated by history?

www.smithsonianmag.com

 

[jgoodguy]

I like this part

Thomas "comes down in history...as the great defensive fighter, the man who could never be driven away but who was not much on the offensive. That may be a correct appraisal," wrote Catton, an admirer and biographer of Grant. "Yet it may also be worth making note that just twice in all the war was a major Confederate army driven away from a prepared position in complete rout—at Chattanooga and at Nashville. Each time the blow that finally routed it was launched by Thomas​

 

[Jim Klag]

Not many generals have been both a "rock" and a "hammer" - Rock of Chickamauga and Hammer of Nashville.

 

[diane]

Gotta love George Thomas! Grant underestimated him a couple times, too. He may have been slow but he got where he was going. My favorite was when he was asked how do we figure out the states to bury these guys and he said, "mix 'em up!" He kept Forrest in line, too, after the war - Forrest very much respected him. Didn't like him, but he respected him! He told Forrest if he did not surrender Mississippi and Alabama would be in the dark ages for half a century and Forrest knew he'd do it, too. But he could also tell Thomas save it, I'm done.

 

[O' Be Joyful]

My favorite was when he was asked how do we figure out the states to bury these guys and he said, "mix 'em up!"

"...mix 'em up, mix 'em' up. I'm tired of states' rights."

 

[O' Be Joyful]

"...mix 'em up, mix 'em' up. I'm tired of states' rights."

Who cain't love a guy like that?

 

[diane]

His sisters! They were mean old biddies. He always sent them letters, birthday greetings, Christmas presents and they always sent everything back unopened. Said their brother was dead. Ages on, after their brother was long gone and they were very old ladies, they planted acorns in his memory. Not one sprouted!

 

[O' Be Joyful]

His sisters! They were mean old biddies. He always sent them letters, birthday greetings, Christmas presents and they always sent everything back unopened. Said their brother was dead. Ages on, after their brother was long gone and they were very old ladies, they planted acorns in his memory. Not one sprouted!

I know, and they turned his early portrait to the wall.

And I would bet that no Mighty Oaks ever sprouted over their graves, unless they had prime spots in Richmond.

 

[diane]

Gosh, had to laugh at that - reminded me of a grave in the local cemetery. The town grouch, ornery curmudgeon. Grass grows all over there except for his grave! And - guess there really is no rest for the wicked...the grave goes up and down...

 

[O' Be Joyful]

The town grouch, ornery curmudgeon. Grass grows all over there except for his grave!

Call the local Ag. extension agent to investigate. It sounds like it could be an interesting experiment...during day time.

 

[diane]

Oh, no need for investigation - it's him! His wife was an avid gardener, had particularly grand roses, always winning ribbons at the fair. She passed on and he took care of the garden...which died within a year. Rosamund was her name, darling gal, nobody ever understood how that marriage worked. A mama skunk moved into his shed and was raising her family there - one day she and Hank met up and stared at each other. That's all. Next day she and her kits moved out!

 

[jgoodguy]

.the grave goes up and down...

???

 

[diane]

???

It's like a teeter-totter! Sometimes the foot is higher, then it goes down. Later the top rises a little, then goes down. The caretaker has looked all over for some water leak or underground pipes - never has been an explanation. Rosamund, right next to him, is just as peaceful as she was in life!

 

[O' Be Joyful]

A mama skunk moved into his shed and was raising her family there - one day she and Hank met up and stared at each other. That's all. Next day she and her kits moved out!

Well, if he could make skunks move out he was obviously a real stinker. Pardon my pun.

 

[diane]

Around here people have a lot of trouble with house skunks - he might have been able to supplement his retirement with that talent!

 

[jgoodguy]

It's like a teeter-totter! Sometimes the foot is higher, then it goes down. Later the top rises a little, then goes down. The caretaker has looked all over for some water leak or underground pipes - never has been an explanation. Rosamund, right next to him, is just as peaceful as she was in life!

Wasn't happy in life or afterlife.

 

[O' Be Joyful]

Around here people have a lot of trouble with house skunks - he might have been able to supplement his retirement with that talent!

Dad took a shotgun to one in our big-ass garden when I was a kid...whooo-wee. He didn't check the wind first.

 

[diane]

It do linger!

 

[O' Be Joyful]

It do linger!

And you are better off drinking the tomato juice than washin' the dog w/ it. All you end up with is a skunky 'mater hound.

Maybe it's time to split this here thread. I am open to almost any new title selection, as long as it ain't too stinky.

 

[Jim Klag]

And you are better off drinking the tomato juice than washin' the dog w/ it. All you end up with is a skunky 'mater hound.

Maybe it's time to split this here thread. I am open to almost any new title selection, as long as it ain't too stinky.

Indeed. This is the George Henry Thomas thread. I am open to lots of diversions, but skunks and tomato juice is just a little far afield.