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A cousin to Confederate General G. W. Smith. A nephew to U.S. Representative Richard French. A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He graduated 44th out of 52. He almost didn't graduate because of excessive demerits. He was one of the best brigade and division commanders, with a reputation for bravery and aggressiveness bordering on recklessness. He was severely wounded at Gettysburg and lost the use of his arm. He suffered a fractured femur at Chickamauga and had his leg amputated.
Jefferson Davis promoted him to command of the army of Tennessee, because he wanted someone who would fight. At Atlanta he dissipated his army in a series of bold but fruitless assaults. He had to evacuate the city. At the battle of Franklin Tennessee he made a massive frontal assault without the support of artillery and lost 12 generals. He tried to besiege Nashville Tennessee but was decisively beaten. He lost 23,500 men out of 38,000 soldiers, 20,000 at Atlanta alone.
After the war, he moved to Louisiana and became a cotton broker and life insurance business. He fathered 11 children, but was ruined by the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878-79. He lost his oldest child, his wife and his life, leaving 10 destitute orphans.
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Categories: United States Military Academy | Confederate States Army Generals, United States Civil War | Battle of Gettysburg | Wounded in Action, Confederate States of America, United States Civil War | Department of Tennessee, Confederate Army, United States Civil War | Department of Tennessee and Georgia, Confederate Army, United States Civil War | Namesakes US Counties | Namesakes Texas Counties | Kentucky, Notables | Notables | Wounded in Action, United States of America, United States Civil War
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Thurston-558