Thomas Moonlight
Encyclopedia
Thomas Moonlight was a United States politician and general.
Thomas's birth date is frequently quoted as 10 November 1833 (including on his grave marker), but this cannot be the case as his baptism records exist for 30 September 1833, and he cannot have been baptised before he was born. Early Scottish and English record keeping relied on the church where more commonly the baptism date and not birth date was recorded. It was not until government record keeping began that formal birth dates were recorded.
Just as Thomas achieved fame in the US, his cousin George eventually left America and achieved fame as a Pioneer and Prospector in New Zealand where the township of Moonlight is named after him. George was said to have retained his American accent all his life and took the name Captain George Fairweather Moonlight. As he had no right to the title Captain, speculation is he adopted Thomas's military achievements in the US. Several places in New Zealand were named by George (Shenandoah River, Rappahannock, Minnehaha) taking America to New Zealand. Both of his cousins are buried in Nelson, New Zealand. From a small farming area in Scotland, his family achieved great things on two continents.
in the 4th U.S. Artillery regiment. During the American Civil War
Moonlight raised a company of artillery for the 4th Kansas Infantry, but the regiment never completed organization. The recruits to the company (and another regiment) were reassigned to the 1st Kansas Battery
; Moonlight briefly served as its captain. Moonlight later joined the 11th Kansas Infantry
as its lieutenant colonel
. The regiment became the 11th Kansas Cavalry
and Moonlight its colonel
. (Moonlight briefly commanded the 14th Kansas Cavalry
as lieutenant colonel but was later ordered to return to the 11th Kansas Cavalry.) His service during the war was primarily in Kansas
against bushwhacker
s and border guerrillas
. He also pursued William C. Quantrill's raiders following the Lawrence Massacre. In 1864 he commanded the 3rd Sub-district in the District of South Kansas. During Sterling Price
's Missouri Raid
in 1864, Colonel Moonlight commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division in the Army of the Border
and was conspicuous at the Battle of Westport
.
Toward the end of the war, he was in command of the District of Colorado and campaigned against Indians
on the plains. He was given a brevet
promotion to brigadier general
in 1865.
After the war, he returned to his farm and became involved in politics in the state of Kansas. He served as the Kansas Secretary of State, and also as state senator. From January 8, 1883 to January 22, 1885 he served as the Adjutant General of Kansas
. From 1887 to 1889 Moonlight served as the governor of the Wyoming Territory
. After his term as governor, he served as US Minister to Bolivia
.
He died at Leavenworth, Kansas
and is buried there in Mount Muncie Cemetery.
Birth
Thomas was baptised on 30 September 1833 in St Vigeans, Angus, Scotland with birth record number 319/0040 0169. The son of a farmer Thomas Moonlight and his wife Agnes Stott, his family can be traced in Scotland back to the 1600s and to Archibald Moonlight and his wife Margaret Elspet Andersone. Thomas was one of 10 children.Thomas's birth date is frequently quoted as 10 November 1833 (including on his grave marker), but this cannot be the case as his baptism records exist for 30 September 1833, and he cannot have been baptised before he was born. Early Scottish and English record keeping relied on the church where more commonly the baptism date and not birth date was recorded. It was not until government record keeping began that formal birth dates were recorded.
Early life
When he was 7, records show him living at Galladen, Angus, Arbroath on a farm of some 90 acres with his family and also a maid. By 1851, he is no longer with his family supporting evidence he left Scotland at early . Some think that he left Scotland alone, but family tales are he possibly left with his two cousins: George and Thomas. He is thought to have worked farms in the East until he enlisted in the army aged 20. He married Ellen Elizabeth Murray (born in Ireland) and they had 7 children. Thomas died 7 February 1899 and is buried in Mount Muncie cemetery, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas with his wife.Just as Thomas achieved fame in the US, his cousin George eventually left America and achieved fame as a Pioneer and Prospector in New Zealand where the township of Moonlight is named after him. George was said to have retained his American accent all his life and took the name Captain George Fairweather Moonlight. As he had no right to the title Captain, speculation is he adopted Thomas's military achievements in the US. Several places in New Zealand were named by George (Shenandoah River, Rappahannock, Minnehaha) taking America to New Zealand. Both of his cousins are buried in Nelson, New Zealand. From a small farming area in Scotland, his family achieved great things on two continents.
Life in the United States
He served for five years as a first sergeantFirst Sergeant
First sergeant is the name of a military rank used in many countries, typically a senior non-commissioned officer.-Singapore:First Sergeant is a Specialist in the Singapore Armed Forces. First Sergeants are the most senior of the junior Specialists, ranking above Second Sergeants, and below Staff...
in the 4th U.S. Artillery regiment. 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...
Moonlight raised a company of artillery for the 4th Kansas Infantry, but the regiment never completed organization. The recruits to the company (and another regiment) were reassigned to the 1st Kansas Battery
1st Independent Battery Kansas Light Artillery
1st Independent Battery Kansas Light Artillery was an artillery battery that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The battery was organized at Mound City, Kansas and mustered in for a three years on July 24, 1861 under the command of Captain Thomas Moonlight.This unit was...
; Moonlight briefly served as its captain. Moonlight later joined the 11th Kansas Infantry
11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Infantry
The 11th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 11th Kansas Infantry was organized at Camp Lyon near Fort Leavenworth, Kansas from August 29 through September 14, 1862...
as its lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
. The regiment became the 11th Kansas Cavalry
11th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 11th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Kansas City, Kansas in late April 1863 from the 11th Kansas Infantry, which ceased to exist...
and Moonlight its colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. (Moonlight briefly commanded the 14th Kansas Cavalry
14th Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry
The 14th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was a cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 14th Kansas Cavalry was organized at Fort Scott and Leavenworth, Kansas in April 1863 as a battalion serving as escort for Major General James G. Blunt...
as lieutenant colonel but was later ordered to return to the 11th Kansas Cavalry.) His service during the war was primarily in Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
against bushwhacker
Bushwhacker
Bushwhacking was a form of guerrilla warfare common during the American Revolutionary War, American Civil War and other conflicts in which there are large areas of contested land and few Governmental Resources to control these tracts...
s and border guerrillas
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
. He also pursued William C. Quantrill's raiders following the Lawrence Massacre. In 1864 he commanded the 3rd Sub-district in the District of South Kansas. During Sterling Price
Sterling Price
Sterling Price was a lawyer, planter, and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri, who served as the 11th Governor of the state from 1853 to 1857. He also served as a United States Army brigadier general during the Mexican-American War, and a Confederate Army major general in the American Civil...
's Missouri Raid
Price's Raid
Price's Missouri Expedition, also known as Price's Raid, was an 1864 Confederate cavalry raid through the states of Missouri and Kansas during the American Civil War. While Confederate Major General Sterling Price enjoyed some successes during this campaign, he was decisively beaten at the Battle...
in 1864, Colonel Moonlight commanded the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division in the Army of the Border
Army of the Border
The Army of the Border was a Union army during the American Civil War. It was created from units in the Department of Kansas to oppose Sterling Price's Raid in 1864. Samuel R. Curtis was in command of the army throughout its duration.Major General James G...
and was conspicuous at the Battle of Westport
Battle of Westport
The Battle of Westport, sometimes referred to as the "Gettysburg of the West," was fought on October 23, 1864, in modern Kansas City, Missouri, during the American Civil War. Union forces under Major General Samuel R. Curtis decisively defeated an outnumbered Confederate force under Major General...
.
Toward the end of the war, he was in command of the District of Colorado and campaigned against Indians
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
on the plains. He was given a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to brigadier general
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 1865.
After the war, he returned to his farm and became involved in politics in the state of Kansas. He served as the Kansas Secretary of State, and also as state senator. From January 8, 1883 to January 22, 1885 he served as the Adjutant General of Kansas
Adjutant General of Kansas
The Adjutant General of Kansas is the highest ranking military official in the State of Kansas and is subordinate to the Governor of Kansas. The Adjutant General is a member of the Governor's Cabinet and advises the Governor on military and emergency management matters...
. From 1887 to 1889 Moonlight served as the governor of the Wyoming Territory
Wyoming Territory
The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital...
. After his term as governor, he served as US Minister to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
He died at Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
and is buried there in Mount Muncie Cemetery.
See also
- List of American Civil War generals