Thomas Moonlight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Moonlight
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| Born | September 30, 1833 Forfarshire, Scotland |
| Died | February 7, 1899 (aged 65) Leavenworth, Kansas |
| Place of burial |
Mount Muncie Cemetery, Leavenworth, Kansas
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| Allegiance | United States Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1853–1858, 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General |
| Unit | 4th U.S. Artillery Regiment |
| Commands held | 1st Kansas Battery 11th Kansas Infantry Regiment 11th Kansas Cavalry Regiment 2nd Bde, Prov. Cav. Div., Army of the Border |
| Battles/wars | |
| Other work | politician |
Thomas Moonlight (September 30, 1833 – February 7, 1899) was an important American politician and soldier. He served as the Governor of Wyoming Territory from 1887 to 1889.
Contents
Early Life and Family Roots
Thomas Moonlight was born in a place called Forfarshire, Scotland. He was baptized on September 30, 1833. His family's history in Scotland goes back to the 1600s! Thomas was one of ten children in his family.
You might see his birth date listed as November 10, 1833, on his grave. However, his baptism records show September 30, 1833. In those days, churches often recorded the baptism date instead of the exact birth date.
Growing Up in Scotland
When Thomas was seven, records show he lived on a farm in Gallowden. It was a farm with about 90 acres of land. He lived there with his family and a maid.
By 1851, Thomas was no longer living with his family. This suggests he left Scotland when he was quite young. Some people think he left alone. But family stories say he might have traveled with his two cousins, George and Thomas.
It's believed that Thomas worked on farms in the eastern United States before he joined the army. He was 20 years old when he enlisted.
Moonlight's Famous Cousin
Thomas's cousin, George Moonlight, also became famous. George moved to New Zealand and became a well-known pioneer and prospector. There's even a town in New Zealand named Moonlight after him!
George was said to have kept his American accent his whole life. He called himself Captain George Fairweather Moonlight. Since he wasn't really a captain, some people think he might have used Thomas's military achievements as his own. George named several places in New Zealand after American locations, like the Shenandoah River. Both of Thomas's cousins are buried in Nelson, New Zealand.
Life in the United States
Joining the Army
In 1853, when he was 20, Thomas Moonlight joined the 4th U.S. Artillery Regiment. He served in Texas from 1853 to 1856. During this time, he was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant. In 1860, Moonlight settled in Leavenworth County, Kansas.
Service in the Civil War
When the American Civil War started in 1861, Thomas Moonlight helped create an artillery company. This company later became part of the 1st Independent Battery Kansas Light Artillery. Moonlight briefly served as its captain.
He then joined the 11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry as a lieutenant colonel. This group later became the 11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, and Moonlight became its colonel.
Moonlight mostly served in Kansas during the war. He fought against bushwhackers and border guerrillas. He also chased after William C. Quantrill's raiders after the terrible Lawrence Massacre. In 1864, he commanded a group of soldiers in southern Kansas. During Sterling Price's raid into Missouri in 1864, Colonel Moonlight led a brigade in the Army of the Border. He played an important role in the Battle of Westport.
The Indian Wars
Near the end of the Civil War, Moonlight was in charge of the District of Colorado. He led campaigns against Native American tribes on the plains.
On February 13, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Moonlight to become a brevet brigadier general of volunteers. This promotion was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 23, 1865.
In April 1865, Moonlight became the commander of a northern area of the Great Plains. His headquarters were at Fort Laramie, Wyoming.
Trouble at Fort Laramie
On May 26, Moonlight ordered the execution of two Oglala Lakota Sioux chiefs, Two Face and Black Foot. A white woman, Lucinda Ewbanks, and her child were found living with the Oglala bands. They had been kidnapped by Cheyenne almost a year before and sold to these Oglala. Moonlight ordered the chiefs executed. Some accounts say Mrs. Ewbanks protested this decision. Other stories say the Oglala chiefs had actually rescued the woman from the Cheyenne and brought her to the fort as a sign of peace.
On June 3, the army decided to move about 1,500 Lakota and Arapaho people from near Fort Laramie. They were to be moved about 300 miles east to Fort Kearny in Nebraska. The Native Americans did not want to go. They said Fort Kearny was in Pawnee territory, and the Pawnee were their enemies. They also worried there would be no food for them there.
The army insisted, and the Native Americans left Fort Laramie on June 11 with 138 cavalry soldiers. However, on June 13, some of the Native Americans decided to escape north across the North Platte River. In the attempt to stop them, Captain William D. Fouts and four soldiers were killed.
When Moonlight heard about this, he left Fort Laramie with 234 cavalry soldiers to chase the Native Americans. He rode so fast that many of his men had to turn back because their horses were too tired. On June 17, the Lakota raided his horse herd and took most of his remaining horses. Moonlight and many of his men had to walk 60 miles back to Fort Laramie. His soldiers criticized him for not protecting the horses. On July 7, Moonlight was removed from his command and left the army.
Political Career
After his military service, Moonlight returned to his farm and became involved in Kansas politics. He was a member of the Republican party until 1870, when he became a Democrat.
He served as the Kansas Secretary of State and also as a State Senator. In 1864, Moonlight was a presidential elector, meaning he cast a vote for President Abraham Lincoln's re-election. From 1883 to 1885, he served as the Adjutant General of Kansas.
On January 5, 1887, President Grover Cleveland appointed Moonlight as the governor of the Wyoming Territory. Moonlight served as governor until April 9, 1889. After his time as governor, he served as the United States Minister to Bolivia from 1893 to 1897. He tried to run for governor of Kansas in 1886 but was not successful.
Family Life
Thomas Moonlight married Ellen Elizabeth Murray, who was born in Ireland. They had seven children together.
Death
Thomas Moonlight passed away on February 7, 1899. He is buried in Mount Muncie Cemetery in Lansing, Kansas. His wife is also buried in the same cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War brevet generals (Union)
