Thomas H. Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas H. Taylor
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| Born | July 31, 1825 Frankfort, Kentucky |
| Died | April 12, 1901 (aged 75) Louisville, Kentucky |
| Buried |
Frankfort, Kentucky
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| Allegiance |  United States of America Confederate States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1846–1848 (USA) 1861–1865 (CSA) |
| Rank |  First Lieutenant (USA) Colonel (CSA)Brigadier General (CSA) (unconfirmed) |
| Battles/wars | Mexican–American War American Civil War |
| Other work | Chief of police, Louisville, Kentucky |
Thomas Hart Taylor (born July 31, 1825 – died April 12, 1901) was an important figure during the American Civil War. He served as a colonel in the Confederate States Army. He also led brigades and was a provost marshal, which is like a military police chief. Taylor was the last Confederate commander in Mobile, Alabama.
Even though he was often called a general, his appointment as a brigadier general was never officially approved. Before the Civil War, Taylor fought as a first lieutenant in the Mexican–American War. He also worked as a farmer, lawyer, and cattle driver. After the Civil War, he became a Deputy U.S. Marshal and later the chief of police in Louisville, Kentucky.
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Thomas Taylor's Early Life and Education
Thomas H. Taylor was born on July 31, 1825, in Frankfort, Kentucky. His father, Edmund Taylor, was a distant cousin of President Zachary Taylor.
Thomas went to Kenyon College in Ohio. He then graduated from Centre College in Kentucky in 1843.
Taylor's Family Life
Thomas Taylor was married three times. His first wife was Sarah Elizabeth Blandford, whom he married in 1844. They had one child, Edmund Haynes Taylor. Sarah died in 1858.
In 1864, he married Sarah A. Moreland from Mobile, Alabama. She passed away before 1878. In 1878, he married Eliza Adair Monroe. They had four children: Mary Louise, John Adair Monroe, Thomas Hart Jr., and Adair Monroe.
Taylor's Service in the Mexican–American War
Before the Civil War, Taylor served in the Mexican–American War. He started as a private soldier. Later, he became a first lieutenant in the 3rd Kentucky Infantry Regiment.
Thomas Taylor's Role in the Civil War
Thomas H. Taylor began his service in the Confederate States Army as a captain of cavalry. On July 3, 1861, he became a lieutenant colonel of the Confederate 1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment.
In July 1861, Taylor worked for Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He carried important messages from Davis to President Abraham Lincoln. These messages asked for captured Confederate sailors to be treated as prisoners of war. Davis warned that Union prisoners would face similar treatment if the sailors were harmed.
Delivering Messages to President Lincoln
On July 8, 1861, Taylor traveled with an escort towards the Union Army headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. He was carrying the dispatches for President Lincoln.
About seven miles from Arlington, Taylor met Union Colonel Andrew Porter. Porter was a friend from the Mexican–American War. Taylor was then taken to the office of U.S. Army General Winfield Scott in Washington. Scott sent Taylor's messages to President Lincoln.
Lincoln did not send a reply that night. The next morning, Taylor returned to Confederate lines. Lincoln never directly responded to Davis's messages. However, he did not carry out the threat to hang the privateers.
Leading the 1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment
On August 7, 1861, General Joseph E. Johnston formed the 1st Kentucky Infantry Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Taylor was given command of this new regiment.
On September 28, 1861, Taylor's regiment had a small fight with Union soldiers. This happened as the Confederates were leaving Mason's Hill and Munson's Hill in Virginia. Taylor was promoted to colonel on October 14, 1861.
On December 20, 1861, his regiment fought in the Battle of Dranesville. This battle was part of a large mission to gather supplies. Taylor got separated from his men during the fight. He had to find his way back to Confederate lines after dark.
Later Civil War Assignments
In March 1862, Taylor's regiment joined the Army of East Tennessee. The 1st Kentucky Infantry was a 12-month regiment. It was disbanded in the summer of 1862. Taylor was then given command of a brigade in the Department of East Tennessee. This division served at Cumberland Gap and in Kentucky.
Thomas H. Taylor was appointed brigadier general on November 4, 1862. However, the Confederate Senate did not confirm this appointment. This was because President Jefferson Davis did not officially nominate him.
From December 1862 to April 1863, Taylor commanded a brigade in the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. After this, he became the provost marshal and inspector general for the Army of Mississippi. This was under Lieutenant General John Stith Pemberton at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Taylor led an attack on Donaldsonville, Louisiana, on June 27 or 28, 1863. This attack was stopped by Union gunboats on the Mississippi River.
Capture and Exchange
Taylor was captured when Vicksburg fell to Union forces on July 4, 1863. The Union forces were led by Major General Ulysses S. Grant.
Taylor was released on parole, meaning he promised not to fight again until exchanged. He went to Montgomery, Alabama. Later, he was officially exchanged for a Union prisoner.
After his exchange, Taylor briefly served in Mobile, Alabama. Then, from March 5, 1864, to April 28, 1864, he commanded the District of Mississippi and East Louisiana. This was a difficult command due to few troops and unhappy civilians. Union raids also caused problems.
Final Commands and the End of the War
On June 24, 1864, Taylor became the provost marshal for the Department of Alabama and East Mississippi. From November 1864 until the war ended, Taylor commanded the post at Mobile, Alabama. His main job was to keep order in the city.
He had to evacuate Mobile with Confederate troops on April 11, 1865. There is no official record of his parole. However, some sources say he was paroled on May 5, 1865, in Jackson, Mississippi. He helped parole other Confederate troops there.
Life After the Civil War
After the Civil War, Thomas Taylor moved to Alabama. He worked in business in Mobile until 1870.
He then returned to Kentucky. For five years, he served as a deputy U.S. Marshal. From 1881 to 1892, Taylor was the chief of police in Louisville, Kentucky.
Thomas Hart Taylor passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 12, 1901. He died from typhoid fever. Taylor was buried in the State Cemetery in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Images for kids
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Rank insignia for a First Lieutenant in the Union Army.
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Rank insignia for a Colonel in the Confederate States Army.
