Thomas H. McCray facts for kids
Thomas Hamilton McCray (born 1828 – died October 19, 1891) was an American inventor and a businessman. He also served as an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.
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Early Life and Military Service
Thomas McCray was born in 1828 near Jonesborough, Tennessee. His parents were Henry and Martha (Moore) McCray. He worked on a farm in Tennessee. Later, he moved to Arkansas where he ran a mill. Around 1856, he moved to Texas and operated another mill.
Just before the Civil War began, McCray returned to Arkansas. He settled in Wittsburg, located in Cross County. In June 1861, he joined the 5th Arkansas Infantry Regiment. He was given the rank of lieutenant and became an adjutant for his unit. An adjutant is like a chief assistant to a commanding officer.
Leading Soldiers in Battle
In late 1861, Thomas McCray was sent back to Arkansas. His job was to gather more soldiers for the army. He was first elected as a major, then as a colonel, for the new 31st Arkansas Infantry regiment.
Colonel McCray led a group of soldiers from Texas and Arkansas. They fought in the 1862 Kentucky Campaign. His group was part of Churchill's division. They showed great bravery at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, on August 30, 1862. General Thomas J. Churchill specifically praised McCray. He noted McCray's "gallantry and coolness" during the battle. This means McCray was brave and stayed calm under pressure.
Later War Years
McCray hoped to be promoted to a higher rank, like brigadier general. When this did not happen, he felt disappointed. Also, his regiment had become very small, with fewer than 150 men. It was going to be combined with another group.
Because of this, McCray asked to be moved to the Trans-Mississippi Department. This was a different area of the war. There, he helped create several new groups of Arkansas cavalry. Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback.
During Price's 1864 Missouri Raid, McCray led a cavalry group. This group included the 45th, 46th, and 47th regiments. These soldiers were new and did not have much equipment. Many of them left the army, and the group broke apart after the raid. McCray kept a small command in northeast Arkansas until the war ended.
Life After the War
After the Civil War, many people who fought for the Confederacy left the United States. Thomas McCray was one of them, and he went to Mexico for a short time.
Later, he returned to Arkansas and lived in Wittsburg again. After that, he became a traveling salesman. He worked for the McCormick Reaper Company, which was based in Chicago, Illinois. This company made farm machines.
Thomas McCray was also an inventor. He created and patented several improvements for machines that press cotton and hay. These machines helped farmers. He passed away in Chicago on October 19, 1891, from a kidney problem. He was buried in a cemetery in Dunning, Chicago.
