Charles Thomas

Charles Thomas (April 13, 1797 – February 1, 1878) was a United States Army officer. The quartermaster served in the army for some 47 years, notably as Acting Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army during the American Civil War.

Biography Charles Thomas was born in Philadelphia on April 13, 1797. In 1819 he was commissioned as a Third Lieutenant in the United States Army Ordnance Department. He switched branches several times, briefly serving in the artillery before joining the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment in 1822. In 1826 he became the unit's Assistant Quartermaster. He continued to serve in the regiment until 1838 when he was promoted to Major in the Quartermaster Department. He participated in the Mexican-American War as quartermaster of the Center Division under command of Brigadier General John E. Wool. For his services in the war he was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel. The substantial promotion followed in 1850 and he was finally promoted to Colonel and Assistant Quartermaster-General in 1856. Beside his administrative post he also commanded the Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot, went to England as a purchasing agent from October 1861 to May 1862 and served as Assistant Quartermaster-General with the Middle Department for a year. Another year later he received the brevet to Major General, dated March 13, 1865. In the meantime Thomas continued in his quartermaster duties until he retired in July 1866.

His son Charles William Thomas (1833–1882) was a quartermaster in the U.S. Army as well, graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1855. During the civil war he served as Chief Quartermaster of various corps and departments. He reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and eventually resigned in 1872, afterwards becoming a clerk in the Department of the Interior.