Major General George Thomas Statue

Gazing up at the Major General George Thomas Statue, imagine the excitement of the dedication ceremony in 1879. A crowd of 50,000 gathered at the newly christened Thomas Circle. President Rutherford B. Hayes himself graced the event, alongside Generals Sheridan and Sherman. The Major General George Thomas Statue, a magnificent bronze work by John Quincy Adams Ward, dominates the circle. It’s a tribute to the “Rock of Chickamauga,” Major General George Henry Thomas. This Virginian-born Union general stood firm at the Battle of Chickamauga, saving the Union Army from a devastating defeat. The Society of the Army of the Cumberland, veterans who served under Thomas, commissioned the statue. They even used captured Confederate cannons for the bronze. Ward, known for his George Washington statue on Wall Street, captured Thomas surveying a battlefield atop a hill. The horse, originally designed as a mare, was later modified to reflect Thomas’s preference for stallions. Notice the detail: the horse’s tense muscles, flared nostrils, and windblown mane and tail. These details bring the moment to life. The Major General George Thomas Statue stands on an oval granite pedestal, adorned with Baroque scrolls and the badge of the Army of the Cumberland. Inscribed on the pedestal are the words, “ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES / OF THE SOCIETY OF / THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.” It’s a testament to the respect and admiration these soldiers held for their unwavering leader. The Major General George Thomas Statue isn’t just a monument. It is a symbol of resilience, leadership, and the enduring legacy of a true American hero.