Thomas W. Hyde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas W. Hyde
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| Born | January 16, 1841 Florence, Italy |
| Died | December 14, 1899 (aged 58) Fort Monroe, Virginia |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States of America Union |
| Service/ |
United States Army Union Army |
| Years of service | 1861 - 1865 |
| Rank |  Colonel Brevet Major General |
| Unit |  7th Maine Volunteer Infantry |
| Commands held | 1st Maine Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | American Civil War *Second Battle of Bull Run *Battle of Antietam *Battle of Gettysburg |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
| Other work | Senator, Mayor, Founder of Bath Iron Works |
Thomas Worcester Hyde (January 16, 1841 – December 14, 1899) was a Union Army colonel who subsequently received brevets of brigadier general of volunteers and major general of volunteers in the American Civil War, a state senator from Maine, and the founder of Bath Iron Works, one of the major shipyards in the United States. He wrote two books about his experiences during the war and at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Biography
Born in Florence, Italy, to parents who were natives of Bath, Maine, Hyde graduated from Bowdoin College in 1861 and then from Chicago University.
Hyde began his Union Army service on April 2, 1861, as a major in the 7th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On February 26, 1863, he became Assistant Inspector General of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac, which was commanded by Major General William F. "Baldy" Smith. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on December 1, 1863. In 1864, he became provost marshal general of the Sixth Corps. On September 24, 1864, Hyde transferred to the 1st Maine Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was promoted to colonel on October 22, 1864. Hyde commanded Brigade 3, Division 2, VI Corps of the Army of the Shenandoah between October 30, 1864, and December 6, 1864, and the same brigade in the Army of the Potomac from December 6, 1864, when the Army of the Shenandoah returned from its detached duty to the Army of the Potomac, until June 28, 1865. Despite this service, Hyde did not receive promotion to full rank brigadier general.
While serving under Major General John Sedgwick early in the war, Hyde was present at several key Civil War battles, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam (for which he later received the Medal of Honor), and the Battle of Gettysburg. He was also present at Confederate General Robert E. Lee's 1865 surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Hyde was mustered out of the volunteer army on June 28, 1865.
On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Hyde for appointment as a brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from April 2, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866. On February 17, 1869, President Johnson nominated Hyde for the brevet grade of major general of volunteers, to rank from April 2, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 3, 1869, one of the last brevet major general awards for Civil War service.
Starting in 1873, Hyde served three terms in the Maine Senate, including two as president. He became mayor of Bath in 1878.
In 1884, he founded Bath Iron Works and became general manager of it in 1888. Since it was founded, the shipyard has executed more than 425 shipbuilding contracts, including 245 for the U.S. Navy.
In 1894 he was named president of the Boston Elevated Railway Company.
Hyde wrote Following the Greek Cross (1894) and Recollections of the Battle of Gettysburg (1898).
Hyde died on November 15, 1899 at Fort Monroe, Virginia, after a short illness. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath, Maine.
