GENERAL JAMES A. THOMAS
COMMANDER OF THE UNITED
CONFEDERATE VETERANS
By Scott B. Thompson, Sr.
Laurens County's most distinguished Confederate veteran was James A. Thomas. James Thomas, a son of Francis Thomas, was born in Dublin on March 3, 1847. His father was Clerk of Laurens Superior Court from 1834 to 1860. His grandfather, Peter Thomas, was a judge of the Inferior Court of Laurens County and hosted the first session of Laurens County Superior Court in his home on the banks of Turkey Creek. James enlisted in Co. A of the 2nd Georgia Brigade of Militia at the age of 16. Thomas served as ensign and color bearer of the company. His regiment was commanded by Col. James Stapleton of Jefferson County and was a portion of the command of Brigadier General Carswell, also of Jefferson County. Thomas was involved in some of the battles around Atlanta and in the delaying actions fought during Sherman's "March to the Sea." General Thomas recounted a battle near Atlanta by saying,
"With Sherman advancing toward Atlanta, the regiment, which was made up of young boys and old men, was held in reserve while being drilled. When Sherman first arrived near Atlanta, my company was sent to guard Green's Ferry about ten miles from the city. It was there that the company first came in contact with the northern general's army as it began its march to the sea, and my first time under fire."
"Just after we got to the ferry, one of our men mounted the little four pounder we had with us on an Indian mound. We did not expect to use it, as we were not on the main front, but the attack of Sherman caused our troops to the left to withdraw without notifying our commanding officer."
"Early the following afternoon, we were suprised to see the Union men gradually approaching us. We went in our trenches and the gunner opened up with the little Four Pounder. After one or two shots they put his gun out of commission, but during the night he fixed it and was ready for them again. For a second time his gun was silenced without him being injured, so before daybreak the next day he patched up the little gun and opened up with his regular morning salute only to be out of commission for a third time, but while he was in operation his gun took its toll of Union men."
The regiment was recalled from Green's ferry to Atlanta and put in the trenches until a few days before July 22, 1864, when it was sent to West Point, Ga., to defend against the threat of a Union Cavalry attack. The regiment was recalled back to Atlanta and participated in the Battle of Jonesboro. The Confederate defeat at Jonesboro caused the evacuation of Atlanta by General Hood's Army. Thomas's regiment quickly retreated to McDonough and then to Griffin. From Griffin the regiment was sent to Bear's Creek, where they were furloughed for a brief time.
Shortly arriving in Macon, Thomas was one of the first to see the Yankee soldiers approaching the city. The Confederate forces were moved to Ball's Ferry on the Oconee River just above Laurens County. When it was apparent that Sherman's target was Savannah, all Confederate forces were withdrawn to Savannah.
Among the many stories which General Thomas liked to tell, there was one about a battle near Savannah, which he had never seen printed in any history of the war.
"Sherman sent a newly equipped brigade of Negro troops on an expedition to cut the railroad from Charleston to Savannah, which was a very important line at the time. My brigade was sent to intercept the Negroes and met them at a station called Pocataligo, near Hardeesville. The two forces met at a large "slash" or lagoon, across which a road had been built, and the Negroes, new equipped with every requisite for a soldier, broke and ran after a short fight with the Confederates. When they ran, the Negroes threw away all equipment and surplus clothing possible. It was in November and heavy army blankets, overcoats, long and blue cloth, new rifles, haversacks, cartridge boxes, even rubber ponchos, had been given them, and when they began discarding all of this desirable equipment, the Confederates closed in and supplied themselves with everything needful. General Thomas says when his regiment reached Savannah again, it could not have been told, as far as overcoats and equipment were concerned, whether they were Yankees or Confederates."
"The regiment was kept in Savannah trenches until the city was evacuated and it then moved through South Carolina to Augusta with the division. After being sent to Briar Creek, we could see the progress Sherman made in the day by smoke and at night by the glare of fires. After being on duty at Briar Creek, the regiment was returned to Augusta and then furloughed."
In April of 1865 James A. Thomas was mustered out of service in Augusta. In June he received in parole from the Federal government. Thomas returned to Dublin where he was admitted to the bar. He moved his practice to Cochran and eventually settled in Macon. Thomas returned to Dublin to set up his practice in 1902. Col. Thomas was a leader of Christ Episcopal Church in its early years. Thomas took a leading role in the command of the Georgia Confederate Veterans.
In 1912 he was appointed Major General, commanding the Eastern District of Georgia, succeeding the late Capt. Hardy Smith of Dublin. His son, James A. Thomas, Jr., was in command of the 2nd Georgia Regiment and the 121st Ga. Infantry, when he died while on shipboard just before his ship reached France. In 1916, General Thomas was elected to command all of the veterans of Georgia. Another son, Hill G. Thomas, was Justice of the Peace in Dublin for many years. His granddaughter, Morgie Thomas Baker, donated many of the General's keepsakes to the Dublin-Laurens museum several years before her death. As State Commander, Gen. Thomas secured the Georgia Confederate Veteran's Reunion for Dublin in 1920.
Gen. Thomas was nominated as National Commander of the United Confederate Veterans at the Richmond Reunion in 1922. To promote harmony among the veterans, General Thomas withdrew his name when a dispute among the Mississippi delegation brought about a turmoil at the meeting. General Thomas retained his position of commanding officer of the Army of Tennessee. In 1925 he was elected as Commanding Officer of the United Confederate Veterans. Gen. Thomas was not able to seek re-election on account of his health but was afforded the honor of being named as Honorary Commander - a title which he held until his death on Oct. 18, 1929. Gen. Thomas was buried in Macon, Georgia in Riverside Cemetery beside his wife, the former Miss Josephine Corbett, who died several years before. Mrs. Thomas, an outstanding member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, was also instrumental in the founding of Macon Hospital. Courier Herald, 2/13/1916, 10/20/1929, Civil War Files, Dublin Laurens Museum, Laurens County News, 6/9/76.