Background
Thomas J. Wood was born on September 25, 1823, in Munfordville, Kentucky, the son of Col. George Twyman Wood and Elizabeth Helm.
Thomas J. Wood was born on September 25, 1823, in Munfordville, Kentucky, the son of Col. George Twyman Wood and Elizabeth Helm.
After a country schooling, he entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1841. Following his graduation in 1845, he gave up his graduation leave to join General Taylor's staff at Palo Alto.
During this campaign he brought Taylor's guns opportunely into action with ox-teams, and distinguished himself at Buena Vista by penetrating the Mexican lines in a brilliant reconnaissance. Though commissioned in the engineers, Wood, craving activity, transferred on October 19, 1846, into the 2nd Dragoons. In that regiment and with the 16t, 4th, and 2nd Cavalry he rose through grades to colonel on November 12, 1861. Almost continuously on the frontier, he participated in Indian campaigns, the Kansas border troubles, and Colonel Johnston's expedition to Utah. Enjoying a well-earned leave, he toured Europe in 1859-1860, and news of secession reached him in Egypt in January 1861. He returned home and within six months had mustered 40, 000 Indiana troops into Federal service at Indianapolis. Appointed brigadier-general of volunteers on October 11, he was given an Indiana brigade, and, in the spring of 1862, a division. At Stone's River his brigades alone retained their position throughout the battle, and on December 31, 1862, although he was wounded, he refused to quit the field until night ended the fighting. The next year at Chickamauga, the removal of his division from the line on September 20 permitted the confederates to break through and demoralized the Union right. A bitter controversy concerning responsibility for this disaster ensued between Rosecrans and Wood, but the latter retained his command and the implicit confidence of Rosecrans' successor, General Thomas. On November 25, in the brilliant capture of Missionary Ridge, his troops were the first to overrun the main Confederate defenses. The Atlanta campaign afforded him play for his tactical as well as his fighting abilities. At Lovejoy's Station, September 2, 1864, he was again badly hurt, but declined a sick leave. His shattered leg wrapped in a buffalo robe, he continued commanding his troops, and General Sherman declared that his example of fortitude was worth 20, 000 men to the army. Thus he endured the last Tennessee campaign, and taking command of the IV Corps in December he conducted the infantry pursuit of Hood's broken army after Nashville. Tardily appointed major-general of volunteers on January 27, 1865, immediately after the war, he won the gratitude of Mississippians by his humane military administration of their state. Owing to his injuries, he was retired as major-general, United States Army, June 9, 1868. He passed his later years at Dayton, Ohio, where he was conspicuously active in veteran organizations. He assisted in marking the battle lines at Chickamauga. He was appointed to the Board of Visitors at West Point in 1895 and lived to become the last survivor of the class of 1845.
Thomas John Wood died on February 25, 1906, in Dayton and was buried on the grounds overlooking the Academy, at West Point Cemetery.
On November 29, 1861, Thomas J. Wood married Caroline E. Greer. Their marriage lasted until Wood's death forty-five years later and produced three sons, two of whom survived to adulthood.
George Twyman Wood was married to Elizabeth Helm, they had two sons. George Wood also had a daughter, Amelia, by his third wife, Amelia Winlock Munford.
