Charles L. Thomas (Medal of Honor, 1865)

Charles Lawrence Thomas
Indian wars Powder River Expedition
Awards	Medal of Honor

Charles Lawrence Thomas (February 12, 1843–February 24, 1923) was a United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for heroism in September 1865 during the Powder River Expedition in Montana and Dakota Territory.

Biography

Charles L. Thomas was born on February 12, 1843, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He left his home at Boudes Ferry Landing, Ohio to enlist in the 11th Ohio Cavalry in June 1863. He was mustered in at Cincinnati, Ohio. Thomas served in the West along the Overland Road for the duration of the Civil War, earning a promotion to Corporal in February 1864.

During the

. Thomas kept the animal with him in case his own horse was shot. Later that day, he rescued Private John Hutson of the 2nd Missouri Light Artillery, who had been abandoned by Cole's column because he was unable to walk. Hutson was hiding when Thomas found the private. Charles got him onto the spare horse, and brought him into Cole's and Walker's camp when they arrived at about 9 p.m. and delivered General Connor's message. The four men had ridden for 39 hours traveling over 135 miles alone in hostile territory. Thomas recalled that he had "left Camp Connor with over 350 rounds of ammunition and had 17 shots left when I arrived at Colonel Cole's Camp." He also said that "My old Spencer rifle was getting so hot I could not hold the barrel with my necked hand." The next morning, September 16, Connor provided Thomas' detail with an escort of 15 men commanded by Lieutenant Thomas H. Jones of the 2nd Missouri Artillery to report back to General Connor. Corporal Thomas and the two scouts arrived back at his camp on September 18, 1865. In all, Thomas and his three companions rode nearly 200 miles in less than 100 hours.

Charles Thomas was promoted to Sergeant and mustered out in 1866. He returned to Ohio and later moved to Kansas. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on August 24, 1894. Charles L. Thomas died on February 24, 1923, in Dwight, Kansas. He is buried in the Dwight-Morris cemetery, in Morris County, Kansas.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company E, 11th Ohio Cavalry. Place and date: At Powder River, Montana and Dakota Territory, September 14–18, 1865. Entered service at: Ohio, United States Birth:

Date of issue: August 24, 1894.

Citation:

Carried a message through a country infested with hostile Indians and saved the life of a comrade en route.

See also

• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Indian Wars

References

• "Medal of Honor recipient Charles L. Thomas". Retrieved September 24, 2010.
• "Charles L. Thomas". Claim to Fame: Medal of Honor recipients. Find a Grave. Retrieved 2007-12-19.