Thomas Gamble Pitcher
Encyclopedia
Thomas Gamble Pitcher was a career American
soldier who served as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
from 1866 until 1870.
Pitcher was born at Rockport, Indiana
, a son of Judge John Pitcher, who loaned his law books to young Abraham Lincoln
. He graduated from West Point
in 1845. During the Mexican War, he won the brevet rank
of first lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in 1858.
During the Civil War
, Pitcher participated in the defense of Harpers Ferry
in June 1862, where he and his men were among the thousands of Union soldiers who surrendered to Stonewall Jackson
. After being released and exchanged, he served in the Virginia campaign
until the battle of Cedar Mountain
(August 9, 1862), where he was severely wounded. He was then brevetted major
in the regular army, and three months later was commissioned brigadier general
of volunteers, but saw no further active service. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted lieutenant colonel
, colonel
, and brigadier general in the regular army.
On July 28, 1866, Pitcher was commissioned as the colonel of the 44th U.S. Infantry. From 1866 to 1870 he was superintendent of the United States Military Academy
, and from 1880 until 1887 was superintendent of the New York Soldiers and Sailors Home.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
, along with his sons, Lt. Col. John Pitcher and Col. William L. Pitcher, also West Point graduates.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soldier who served as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
Superintendents of the United States Military Academy
The commanding officer of the United States Military Academy is its Superintendent. This position is roughly equivalent to the chancellor or president of an American civilian university. The officer appointed is by tradition a graduate of the United States Military Academy, commonly known as "West...
from 1866 until 1870.
Pitcher was born at Rockport, Indiana
Rockport, Indiana
Rockport is a city in Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,160 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Spencer County.-History:...
, a son of Judge John Pitcher, who loaned his law books to young Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. He graduated from West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1845. During the Mexican War, he won the brevet rank
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
of first lieutenant. He was promoted to captain in 1858.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Pitcher participated in the defense of Harpers Ferry
Battle of Harpers Ferry
The Battle of Harpers Ferry was fought September 12–15, 1862, as part of the Maryland Campaign of the American Civil War. As Gen. Robert E. Lee's Confederate army invaded Maryland, a portion of his army under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
in June 1862, where he and his men were among the thousands of Union soldiers who surrendered to Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
. After being released and exchanged, he served in the Virginia campaign
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness, fought May 5–7, 1864, was the first battle of Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Both armies suffered heavy casualties, a harbinger of a bloody war of attrition by...
until the battle of Cedar Mountain
Battle of Cedar Mountain
The Battle of Cedar Mountain, also known as Slaughter's Mountain or Cedar Run, took place on August 9, 1862, in Culpeper County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks attacked Confederate forces under Maj. Gen. Thomas J...
(August 9, 1862), where he was severely wounded. He was then brevetted major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the regular army, and three months later was commissioned brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of volunteers, but saw no further active service. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
, colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
, and brigadier general in the regular army.
On July 28, 1866, Pitcher was commissioned as the colonel of the 44th U.S. Infantry. From 1866 to 1870 he was superintendent of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, and from 1880 until 1887 was superintendent of the New York Soldiers and Sailors Home.
He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
, along with his sons, Lt. Col. John Pitcher and Col. William L. Pitcher, also West Point graduates.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals