Thomas Gamble Pitcher (October 23, 1824 – October 21, 1895) 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 Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

. He graduated from

West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

in 1845. During the Mexican War, he won the

brevet rank In many of the world's military establishments, a brevet ( or ) was a warrant giving a commissioned officer a higher rank title as a reward for gallantry or meritorious conduct but may not confer the authority, precedence, or pay of real rank. ...

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a ...

. He was promoted to captain in 1858. During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

, Pitcher participated in the defense of

Harpers Ferry Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It is located in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The population was 285 at the 2020 census. Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where the U.S. stat ...

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 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 ...

(August 9, 1862), where he was severely wounded. He was then brevetted major in the

regular army A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following: * a standin ...

, and three months later was commissioned

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

of volunteers, but saw no further active service. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted lieutenant colonel,

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

, 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 The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

, and from 1870 until 1877 was superintendent of the New York Soldiers and Sailors Home. He died of tuberculosis on October 21, 1895 and is buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

, along with his sons, Lt. Col. John Pitcher (also a West Point graduate, class of 1876) and Col. William L. Pitcher.

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*
Judge John Pitcher - Lincoln Connection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitcher, Thomas Gamble People of Indiana in the American Civil War Union Army generals People from Rockport, Indiana United States Military Academy alumni American military personnel of the Mexican–American War Members of the Aztec Club of 1847 Superintendents of the United States Military Academy Burials at Arlington National Cemetery 1824 births 1895 deaths

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References

External links