John Milton Thayer

For other people with the same name, seeJohn Thayer.

John M. Thayer
Thayer, between 1865 and 1880
6th Governor of Nebraska
In office January 6, 1887 – February 8, 1892
Lieutenant	Hibbard H. Shedd George D. Meiklejohn Thomas J. Majors
Preceded by	James W. Dawes
Succeeded by	James E. Boyd
2nd Governor of Wyoming Territory
In office March 1, 1875 – April 10, 1878
Preceded by	John Allen Campbell
Succeeded by	John Wesley Hoyt
United States Senator fromNebraska
In office March 1, 1867 – March 3, 1871
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Phineas W. Hitchcock
Personal details
Born	(1820-01-24)January 24, 1820 Bellingham, Massachusetts,US
Died	March 19, 1906(1906-03-19)(aged 86) Lincoln, Nebraska,US
Resting place	Wyuka Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Relatives	Thayer family
Alma mater	Brown University
Occupation	Lawyer
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Brigadier General BrevetMajor General
Commands	1st Nebraska Infantry District of the Frontier District of Eastern Arkansas
Battles/wars	Indian Wars American Civil War Battle of Fort Donelson Battle of Shiloh Battle of Chickasaw Bayou Battle of Arkansas Post Siege of Vicksburg Battle of Prairie D'Ane Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Battle of Fort Smith

John Milton Thayer(January 24, 1820 – March 19, 1906) was a general in theUnion Armyduring theAmerican Civil Warand apostbellumUnited States SenatorfromNebraska.Thayer served asGovernor of Wyoming TerritoryandGovernor of Nebraska.

Thayer was born inBellingham, Massachusetts.He attended and taught in rural schools. He graduated fromBrown Universityin 1841, and established a practice inWorcester, Massachusetts.Thayer was the editor of the Worcester Magazine and the Historical Journal. Thayer served as alieutenantin the localmilitiacompany before deciding to move with his family to theWest.He was married to Mary Torrey Allen on December 27, 1842, and they had six children.

Career

Arriving in Nebraska in 1854, he quickly affiliated himself with theRepublican Partyand actively participated in politics, as well as owning a large farm nearOmaha.

In 1855 he was appointedmajor generalof the Territorial Militia.In June of the same year, at the direction of Acting Nebraska Territorial GovernorThomas B. Cuming,Thayer led a council withPawneechiefs near present-dayLeshara, Nebraska.The chiefs were led by Pitalesharo, the town's namesake.Local Pawnee had conducted a series of raids on local settlers and Thayer meant to calm the situation. The general gained a reputation as an Indian fighter throughout the 1850s, eventually culminating with the Pawnee War of 1859.

Thayer served as delegate to the 1860 State Constitution Convention which organized the Republican Party in theNebraska Territory.He was elected to theNebraska Territorial Legislaturein 1860.While in the legislature, Thayer introduced a bill to abolish slavery in Nebraska Territory.

Civil War

With the outbreak of the Civil War, Thayer wrote a letter toSecretary of WarSimon Cameronasking that he be allowed to raise a Nebraska regiment in response to PresidentAbraham Lincoln's call for volunteers. He resigned his legislative seat in June 1861 to becomeColonelof the 1st Nebraska Infantry Regiment,and spent the entire war fighting in theWestern Theater.He commanded abrigadeunderLew Wallacein the battles ofFort Donelson,ShilohandSiege of Corinth.Promoted tobrigadier generalin October 1862, he led a brigade in theXV Corps.He saw action at the battles ofChickasaw BayouandFort Hindmanand thesiege of Vicksburg.

The 1st Nebraska provided support and refuge for freedom seekers escaping from enslavers. Thayer's home in Lincoln, Nebraska is listed on theNational Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Thayer was then assigned to thecavalryand commanded theDistrict of the Frontierwith his headquarters inFort Smith, Arkansas.He participated in theCamden Expeditionand other actions in the region, seeing considerable action at theBattle of Prairie D'Ane.He commanded the rearguard ofFrederick Steele's force at theBattle of Jenkins' Ferry,battlingConfederatetroops underSterling Pricefor over four hours before forcing Price to disengage. His delaying action enabled Steele to successfully extricate his army to safety.

In February 1865, Thayer was relieved of command of Fort Smith and sent to the smaller post atSt. Charles, Arkansas,with a regiment ofKansascavalry and a single artillery battery. However, with the omnibus promotions of leading generals at the close of the war, Thayer wasbrevettedmajor generalof volunteers in 1865.

Postbellum career

After the Civil War, Thayer served as a member of the 1866 State Constitutional Convention. Upon the admission of Nebraska into theUnionas a state, he was elected as one of its first two United States senators. He served as a member of the Senate from 1867 to 1871,when he was unsuccessful in winning reelection.

PresidentUlysses S. Grantappointed ThayerGovernor of the Territory of Wyomingin February 1875 and he took the oath of office March 1, 1875. His service ended on May 29, 1878, and he returned to Nebraska to resume his law practice.

In 1886, Thayer secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination and was electedGovernor of Nebraskaby popular vote. He served two full terms as Governor of Nebraska, from 1886 to 1888. He was the seventh governor of Nebraska.

Thayer ran for a third term, but lost toJames E. Boyd.Thayer contested the results of the election, and served part of the term (May 5, 1891 – February 8, 1892) until the election was ruled in favor of Boyd. Thayer then retired from public life to follow literary pursuits.

Death and legacy

John M. Thayer died inLincoln, Nebraska,and was buried inWyuka Cemeteryin Lincoln, Nebraska.

Thayer County, Nebraska,is named for Thayer.A bust of Thayer is located on the grounds of theVicksburg National Military ParkinMississippi.The bust was erected in May 1915 and was sculpted by T.A.R. Kitson.

See also

• List of American Civil War generals (Union)

Further reading

• American National Biography
• Dictionary of American Biography
• Curtis, Earl G.John Milton ThayerNebraska History29 (March/June 1948): 134-50.
• Warner, Ezra J.,Generals in Blue: Lives of the Union Commanders.Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1964,ISBN0-8071-0822-7.

External links

• United States Congress."John Milton Thayer (id: T000148)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.Retrieved on February 12, 2008
• John Milton ThayeratRootsWeb.com
• Governor Thayer's papers^[usurped]at theNebraska State Historical Society
• John Milton ThayeratFind a Grave
• The Encyclopedia of Nebraska
• National Park Service

This article incorporatespublic domain materialfrom theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress