Thomas L. Fauntleroy
Encyclopedia
Thomas Turner Fauntleroy (b. in Richmond County, Virginia
on 6 October 1796; d. 12 September 1883 in Leesburg, Virginia
), colonel, US Army. Fauntleroy was born in Virginia
, and was commissioned a lieutenant
in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812
. Commissioned a Major
of Dragoons, June 8, 1836, he served in the Seminole War. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
, Second Regiment of Dragoons, June 30, 1846. In the Mexican–American War
he commanded the cavalry of General Scott's army in Mexico
. In 1849 he was in command of the First Regiment of Dragoons, commanding troops on frontier duty in Texas
. From here, he was assigned to the Post at Mission San Diego de Alcalá
at San Diego and was promoted to Colonel
, July 25, 1850. In the winter of 1854 - 1855 he conducted a campaign against the hostile Utes
of the Rocky Mountains
and made another mid-winter campaign against the Apache
in New Mexico
. He led several expeditions against the Apaches in the company of Kit Carson
and from 1859 - 1861 commanded the Department of New Mexico
.
After the Battle of Fort Sumter
that began the American Civil War
, in May 1861, Fauntleroy resigned his commission and returned to Virginia. There he was appointed by the Governor of Virginia
John Letcher
as Brigadier-General of the Provisional Army of Virginia. But after the organization of the Confederate States of America
he refused to confirm his commission. He was relieved of that rank on his request on August 25, 1861, having never held Confederate rank. However his eldest son, C. M. Fauntleroy was a U. S. Navy officer that joined the Confederate Navy and commanded the CSS Rappahannock
. His second son, also named Thomas T. Fauntleroy, was a Virginia politician and judge of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Another son Archibald Magill Fauntleroy
was a surgeon in the Confederate army and later a physician. A daughter, Mary Thurston Fauntleroy, married U.S. Surgeon-General Joseph Barnes
.
Fauntleroy was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia
.
Richmond County, Virginia
Richmond County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 9,254. Its county seat is Warsaw. The rural county should not be confused with the large city and state capital Richmond, Virginia, which is over...
on 6 October 1796; d. 12 September 1883 in Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
), colonel, US Army. Fauntleroy was born in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and was commissioned a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Commissioned a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
of Dragoons, June 8, 1836, he served in the Seminole War. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, Second Regiment of Dragoons, June 30, 1846. In the Mexican–American War
Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known as the First American Intervention, the Mexican War, or the U.S.–Mexican War, was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S...
he commanded the cavalry of General Scott's army in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. In 1849 he was in command of the First Regiment of Dragoons, commanding troops on frontier duty in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. From here, he was assigned to the Post at Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission San Diego de Alcalá
Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá, in San Diego, California, was the first Franciscan mission in the Las Californias Province of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. It was founded in 1769 by Spanish friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay Indians...
at San Diego and was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, July 25, 1850. In the winter of 1854 - 1855 he conducted a campaign against the hostile Utes
Utes
Utes may refer to:*The fictional island in ARMA 2*Ute tribe, indigenous people of North America*Students of the University of Utah*Utah Utes, athletics team of the University of Utah, named after the Ute tribe...
of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
and made another mid-winter campaign against the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He led several expeditions against the Apaches in the company of Kit Carson
Kit Carson
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson was an American frontiersman and Indian fighter. Carson left home in rural present-day Missouri at age 16 and became a Mountain man and trapper in the West. Carson explored the west to California, and north through the Rocky Mountains. He lived among and married...
and from 1859 - 1861 commanded the Department of New Mexico
Department of New Mexico
The Department of New Mexico was a department of the United States Army during the mid-19th century. At first a part of the Department of the West, it was created as an independent department following the breakup of that Division into various departments during the Civil War...
.
After the Battle of Fort Sumter
Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, that started the American Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the U.S. Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. On...
that began the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, in May 1861, Fauntleroy resigned his commission and returned to Virginia. There he was appointed by the Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
John Letcher
John Letcher
John Letcher was an American lawyer, journalist, and politician. He served as a Representative in the United States Congress, was the 34th Governor of Virginia during the American Civil War, and later served in the Virginia General Assembly...
as Brigadier-General of the Provisional Army of Virginia. But after the organization of the Confederate States of America
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
he refused to confirm his commission. He was relieved of that rank on his request on August 25, 1861, having never held Confederate rank. However his eldest son, C. M. Fauntleroy was a U. S. Navy officer that joined the Confederate Navy and commanded the CSS Rappahannock
CSS Rappahannock
CSS Rappahannock, a steam sloop-of-war, was built on the River Thames in 1855 as an Intrepid-class gunvessel for the Royal Navy and named HMS Victor. Although a handsomely modelled vessel, numerous defects occasioned her sale in 1863...
. His second son, also named Thomas T. Fauntleroy, was a Virginia politician and judge of the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Another son Archibald Magill Fauntleroy
Archibald Magill Fauntleroy
Archibald Magill Fauntleroy was a physician. He graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1856, and in 1857 entered the United States Army as assistant surgeon; but, upon the start of the Civil War, he and his brother, a lieutenant in the navy, resigned at the same time with...
was a surgeon in the Confederate army and later a physician. A daughter, Mary Thurston Fauntleroy, married U.S. Surgeon-General Joseph Barnes
Joseph Barnes
Joseph K. Barnes, M.D. was an American physician and the 12th Surgeon General of the United States Army .-Career and early life:...
.
Fauntleroy was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
.