Thomas Duncan (general)

Thomas Duncan
Thomas Duncan
	Brigadier General Thomas Duncan during the American Civil War
Born	April 14, 1819; Kaskaskia, Illinois
Died	January 7, 1887 (aged 67); Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America; Union
Service/branch	United States Army; Union Army
Years of service	1846–1873
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel; Brevet Brigadier General
Battles/wars	Black Hawk War; Mexican–American War; American Civil War; American Indian Wars

Thomas Duncan (April 14, 1819 – January 7, 1887) was a career officer in the U.S. Army, serving as a lieutenant colonel during the American Civil War. In 1867, he was nominated and confirmed for appointment as a brevet brigadier general in the regular army, to rank from March 13, 1865, for his service in the Civil War.

Biography

Duncan was born in

Veracruz. He was promoted to captain on March 12, 1848.^[1]

Duncan was promoted to major in the Regular Army and was transferred to the reorganized 3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States) on August 3, 1861.^[1] During the Civil War, he commanded Fort Craig in New Mexico, and was in charge of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (United States) forces at the Battle of Valverde, New Mexico. He was wounded in a skirmish at Albuquerque on April 8, 1862, and was appointed brevet lieutenant colonel in the regular army for his actions in that engagement.^[1] He was assistant provost marshal for the Department of the Northwest, District of Iowa from April 25, 1863, through 1864.^[1] He was appointed brevet colonel to rank from March 13, 1865.^[1]

Following the war, he remained in the

William "Buffalo Bill" Cody

served as a scout for the regiment. Duncan later commanded the District of Nashville until September 1868.

On March 1, 1867, President Andrew Johnson nominated Duncan for appointment to the grade of brevet brigadier general in the regular army, to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 2, 1867.^[2]

After his command of the District of Nashville, Duncan was ordered to the

Fort D. A. Russell, and was afterward in charge of the construction of Sidney Barracks. Lingering complications from his wound compelled him to be medically retired from active service on January 15, 1873.^[1]

Thomas Duncan died in Washington, D.C., on January 7, 1887, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[1]