Charles Mynn Thruston (February 22, 1798 – February 18, 1873) was a career U.S. Army officer who retired to Maryland where he became a farmer and politician, then returned to service as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He served as the mayor of Cumberland, Maryland, from 1861 to 1862.
In 1820, he married Juliana Hughes (1798-1881) of Baltimore, and they had at least six sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, William Sydney Thruston (1828-1864), fought for the Union Army as a captain of the 18th U.S. Infantry during the Civil War, but drowned after falling from a boat into the C&O Canal in June 1864.
Military careeredit
In 1814, 16-year-old Thruston graduated from the United States Military Academy, 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. Nonetheless, he or a relative owned one 15-year-old Black female slave in Louisville in 1850.[1] In 1860, Thruston owned a 50-year-old enslaved man in Cumberland, Maryland, and his son George's wife Elizabeth owned four slaves (including a boy).[2]
On September 7, 1861, Thruston accepted a commission as Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers, with military authority to protect the B&O Railroad from Confederate raiders such as McNeill's Rangers. Being 63 years old at the time, he was one of the oldest generals to serve during the Civil War. However, Thruston had little success at stopping the Confederate raids from destroying railroad track. In April 1862, he resigned his commission and allowed a younger commander to assume the responsibility of protecting the B&O Railroad from the enemy cavalrymen.
Death and legacyedit
Thruston died in Cumberland, Maryland in 1873, survived by his widow, who in 1881 would be buried beside him in Rose Hill Cemetery on Cumberland's West Side.
charles, mynn, thruston, grandfather, colonel, february, 1798, february, 1873, career, army, officer, retired, maryland, where, became, farmer, politician, then, returned, service, brigadier, general, union, army, during, american, civil, served, mayor, cumber. For his grandfather see Charles Mynn Thruston colonel Charles Mynn Thruston February 22 1798 February 18 1873 was a career U S Army officer who retired to Maryland where he became a farmer and politician then returned to service as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War He served as the mayor of Cumberland Maryland from 1861 to 1862 Charles Mynn ThrustonBorn 1798 02 22 February 22 1798Lexington Kentucky U S DiedFebruary 18 1873 1873 02 18 aged 74 Cumberland Maryland U S Place of burialRose Hill Cemetery Cumberland MarylandAllegianceUnited StatesUnionService wbr branchUnited States ArmyUnion ArmyYears of service1814 1836 1861 1862RankBrigadier GeneralBattles warsWar of 1812Seminole WarsAmerican Civil WarSpouse s Juliana Hughes m 1820 wbr Children8RelationsBuckner Thruston father Charles Mynn Thruston grandfather Contents 1 Early and family life 2 Military career 3 Death and legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly and family life editThruston was born in Lexington Kentucky the son of Kentucky U S Senator Buckner Thruston He was named for his grandfather Col Charles Mynn Thruston who served in the American Revolutionary War and in the Virginia General Assembly He had at least four brothers and two sisters In 1820 he married Juliana Hughes 1798 1881 of Baltimore and they had at least six sons and two daughters Their eldest son William Sydney Thruston 1828 1864 fought for the Union Army as a captain of the 18th U S Infantry during the Civil War but drowned after falling from a boat into the C amp O Canal in June 1864 Military career editIn 1814 16 year old Thruston graduated from the United States Military Academy 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 Nonetheless he or a relative owned one 15 year old Black female slave in Louisville in 1850 1 In 1860 Thruston owned a 50 year old enslaved man in Cumberland Maryland and his son George s wife Elizabeth owned four slaves including a boy 2 When the Civil War broke out Thruston was mayor of Cumberland Maryland which was a critical railroad hub as well as start of the National Road and on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal C amp O Canal On September 7 1861 Thruston accepted a commission as Brigadier General of U S Volunteers with military authority to protect the B amp O Railroad from Confederate raiders such as McNeill s Rangers Being 63 years old at the time he was one of the oldest generals to serve during the Civil War However Thruston had little success at stopping the Confederate raids from destroying railroad track In April 1862 he resigned his commission and allowed a younger commander to assume the responsibility of protecting the B amp O Railroad from the enemy cavalrymen Death and legacy editThruston died in Cumberland Maryland in 1873 survived by his widow who in 1881 would be buried beside him in Rose Hill Cemetery on Cumberland s West Side See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp American Civil War portalList of American Civil War generals Union References edit 1850 U S Federal Census Slave Schedule for Louisville Ward 7 Jefferson County Kentucky 1850 U S Federal Census Slave Schedule for Cumberland Allegany County Maryland p 1 of 1External links editCity of Cumberland Charles Mynn Thruston Find a Grave Retrieved 2008 02 12 Preceded byJohn Humbird Mayor of Cumberland1861 1862 Succeeded byCharles H Ohr Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Mynn Thruston amp oldid 1181263938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
