Charles Mynn Thruston
Encyclopedia
Charles Mynn Thruston was a soldier, farmer, politician, and a brigadier general
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. He served as the mayor
of Cumberland, Maryland
, from 1861 to 1862.
Thruston was born in Lexington, Kentucky
, the son of Kentucky
U.S. Senator Buckner Thruston
. At age 16, he graduated from the United States Military Academy
in 1814 and served during the War of 1812
as an engineer on Governors Island, New York City. After the war, Thruston was promoted to the rank of captain in the artillery
branch. He later fought in the Seminole Wars
of the 1830s. In 1836, Thruston resigned from the Army and became a farmer in Maryland.
When the Civil War broke out, he was serving as Mayor of Cumberland, Maryland, which was a critical railroad hub.
On September 7, 1861, Thruston was appointed Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers, giving him military authority to protect the B&O Railroad from Confederate
raiders such as McNeill's Rangers
.
Thruston was largely unsuccessful at stopping the Confederate raids from randomly destroying railroad tracks. On April 1862, Thruston resigned his commission and allowed a younger commander to assume the responsibility of protecting the B&O Railroad from the enemy cavalrymen.
Thruston died in Cumberland, Maryland. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery
on Cumberland's West Side.
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He served as the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, from 1861 to 1862.
Thruston was born in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, the son of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
U.S. Senator Buckner Thruston
Buckner Thruston
Buckner Thruston was a Democratic-Republican U.S. Senator from Kentucky, and later a long-serving a United States federal judge.-Early life, education, and career:...
. At age 16, he graduated from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1814 and served during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
as an engineer on Governors Island, New York City. After the war, Thruston was promoted to the rank of captain in the artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
branch. He later fought in the Seminole Wars
Seminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
of the 1830s. In 1836, Thruston resigned from the Army and became a farmer in Maryland.
When the Civil War broke out, he was serving as Mayor of Cumberland, Maryland, which was a critical railroad hub.
On September 7, 1861, Thruston was appointed Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers, giving him military authority to protect the B&O Railroad from Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
raiders such as McNeill's Rangers
McNeill's Rangers
McNeill's Rangers was an independent Confederate military force commissioned under the Partisan Ranger Act by the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War. The 210 man battalion-size unit was formed from Company E of the 18th Virginia Cavalry and the First Virginia Partisan Rangers...
.
Thruston was largely unsuccessful at stopping the Confederate raids from randomly destroying railroad tracks. On April 1862, Thruston resigned his commission and allowed a younger commander to assume the responsibility of protecting the B&O Railroad from the enemy cavalrymen.
Thruston died in Cumberland, Maryland. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery
Rose Hill Cemetery
Rose Hill Cemetery may refer to:in the United States:*Rose Hill Cemetery , listed on the NRHP in Arkansas*Rose Hill Cemetery — Antioch,California* Rose Hills Memorial Park, a cemetery in Whittier, California...
on Cumberland's West Side.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals