# George H. Thomas — Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant character guide

> George H. Thomas in Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant by Ulysses S. Grant.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Thomas, General Thomas, Major-General George H. Thomas, George H. Thomas, Major-General Thomas

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

The steady Union commander whose reliability in the western theater made him the anchor Grant could count on while others maneuvered and quarreled.

## Who they are

Thomas belongs to the circle of generals Grant trusts to hold ground and execute without drama, the kind of officer whose name appears in the memoirs as a fixed point amid shifting campaigns. His reputation for unshakable defense—earned before these pages—makes him valuable precisely because Grant's strategy requires commanders who will not collapse under pressure. He matters to the middle arc as one of the dependable pillars on which the coordinated western movements rest.

## Relationships

### [John B. Hood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/john_b_hood)

_rivalry_

Thomas and Hood clashed in the battles of Nashville and Franklin, where Thomas delivered a crushing defeat to Hood's army.

## In the story

### [General Halleck in Command—Commanding the District of Cairo—Movement on Fort Henry—Capture of Fort Henry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxi)

Fights and wins the battle of Mill Springs during Grant's reconnaissance.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxiii)

Mentioned as part of Buell's army advancing on Nashville.

### [Halleck Assumes Command in the Field—The Advance Upon Corinth—Occupation of Corinth—The Army Separated](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxvi)

Transferred from Buell's army to command the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee.

### [Van Dorn's Movements — Battle of Corinth — Command of the Department of the Tennessee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xxix)

Ordered east to reinforce Buell on September 19.

### [First Meeting with Secretary Stanton—General Rosecrans—Commanding Military Division of Mississippi—Andrew Johnson’s Address—Arrival at Chattanooga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xl)

Commands the corps that stood firm at Chickamauga; Grant meets with him at Chattanooga and later assigns him to replace Rosecrans.

### [Assuming the Command at Chattanooga—Opening a Line of Supplies—Battle of Wauhatchie—On the Picket Line](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xli)

Accompanies Grant on reconnaissance; had previously ordered concentration of reinforcements at Bridgeport.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlii)

Thomas commands the Army of the Cumberland in the center and is to assault Missionary Ridge while the enemy is engaged on both flanks.

### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xliii)

Commanded the Army of the Cumberland, advancing the first line of the enemy on November 23rd.

### [Battle of Chattanooga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xliv)

Commands the Army of the Cumberland; ordered to assault the ridge after Hooker secures the flank, and sends Baird's division to reinforce Sherman.

### [The Relief of Knoxville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlv)

Thomas is directed to prepare Granger's troops for the relief of Knoxville but delays the order, causing Grant to intervene.

### [Sherman's Campaign in Georgia—Siege of Atlanta—Death of General McPherson—Attempt to Capture Andersonville—Capture of Atlanta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/xlix)

Commanded the Army of the Cumberland at Chattanooga.

### [The Battle of Franklin—The Battle of Nashville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lx)

Union commander at Nashville; criticized by Grant for his slow movements but ultimately won the battle.

### [Sherman's March North](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/chapters/lxii)

Failed to launch cavalry expedition in time; his army was depleted to reinforce Canby.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters/george_h_thomas
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/personal_memoirs_of_ulysses_s_grant_se/characters