George Henry Thomas, a native Virginian who chose to remain in the Union Army, played a crucial role in the Civil War’s outcome through his successes in the Western Theater. He became known as the “Rock of Chickamauga” for his gallant stand at the Battle of Chickamauga Creek, Georgia, on Sept. 20, 1863, and was subsequently given command of the Union Army of the Cumberland. With Thomas’ crushing defeat of Hood’s Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Nashville, Tennessee, in December, 1864, Grant was able to press the siege at Petersburg, leading to the surrender of Lee’s army at Appomattox, Virginia, four months later. Thomas died of natural causes and was laid to rest in April, 1870, before 10,000 mourners, including President Grant, his Cabinet, and Generals Meade, Hooker, Sheridan, Sherman, Schofield, and Rosecrans. None of Thomas’ Virginia kin were present, because when his sisters learned of his infidelity to the South, they ceased all communications, and despite his attempts at reconciliation, the breach was never closed.
