Thomas O. Seaver
Encyclopedia
Thomas Orville Seaver rose to the rank of Colonel
in the U.S. Army
during the American Civil War
and received the Medal of Honor
, America's highest military decoration, for his actions at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
. After the war Seaver was admitted to the Vermont
bar and practiced law, serving as a judge
for many years, until his death.
but after his first year of school his parents moved to Pomfret
seeking better educational opportunities for their son. He ultimately attended Green Mountain Academy in South Woodstock, graduating in 1855. He matriculated at Tufts University
later that year, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi
fraternity, but left Tufts in 1856 to attend Norwich University
, a Vermont military academy
. He left Norwich without a degree in 1858, completing his studies at Union College
and receiving a B.A.
in 1859. On June 30, 1861, he wed Nancy Taylor Johnson Spaulding.
On the outbreak of the Civil War, Seaver mustered on July 16, 1861 in Newbury
, where he was given command of the 3rd Vermont Infantry
as a captain, serving as commander until July 1864. He was raised to major
on August 13, 1861; to lieutenant colonel
on September 17, 1862; and to full colonel on January 13, 1863. He served in the Battles at Antietam
and Gettysburg
, among many others.
After the war, Seaver settled in Cavendish once more and began work as an attorney, serving as a public defender
. He was made a judge of the probate court in 1886. He received the Medal of Honor on April 8, 1892 for valor in the Battle of Spotsylvania, and died in Woodstock in 1912 from a heart attack
and was buried at River Street Cemetery in Windsor County, Vermont
. He was survived by his wife Nancy and two children, a girl and a boy (two daughters had predeceased him).
Rank and Organization:
Citation:
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during 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...
and received the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, America's highest military decoration, for his actions at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
. After the war Seaver was admitted to the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
bar and practiced law, serving as a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
for many years, until his death.
Biography
Seaver was born in Cavendish, VermontCavendish, Vermont
Cavendish is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The town was named after William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire. The population was 1,470 at the 2000 census...
but after his first year of school his parents moved to Pomfret
Pomfret, Vermont
Pomfret is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 997 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was named after the Earl of Pomfret...
seeking better educational opportunities for their son. He ultimately attended Green Mountain Academy in South Woodstock, graduating in 1855. He matriculated at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
later that year, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi
Zeta Psi
The Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was founded June 1, 1847 as a social college fraternity. The organization now comprises about fifty active chapters and twenty-five inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North-American...
fraternity, but left Tufts in 1856 to attend Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
, a Vermont military academy
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
. He left Norwich without a degree in 1858, completing his studies at Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
and receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1859. On June 30, 1861, he wed Nancy Taylor Johnson Spaulding.
On the outbreak of the Civil War, Seaver mustered on July 16, 1861 in Newbury
Newbury, Vermont
Newbury could be either of the following places in the U.S. state of Vermont:*Newbury , Vermont*Newbury , Vermont...
, where he was given command of the 3rd Vermont Infantry
3rd Vermont Infantry
The 3rd Regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry was a three-years infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the VI Corps, Army of the Potomac, from July 1861 to July 1865...
as a captain, serving as commander until July 1864. He was raised to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on August 13, 1861; to lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
on September 17, 1862; and to full colonel on January 13, 1863. He served in the Battles at Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
and Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, among many others.
After the war, Seaver settled in Cavendish once more and began work as an attorney, serving as a public defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
. He was made a judge of the probate court in 1886. He received the Medal of Honor on April 8, 1892 for valor in the Battle of Spotsylvania, and died in Woodstock in 1912 from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and was buried at River Street Cemetery in Windsor County, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. He was survived by his wife Nancy and two children, a girl and a boy (two daughters had predeceased him).
Medal of Honor citation
- Colonel, 3d Vermont Infantry. Place and date: At Spotsylvania Courthouse, Va., May 10, 1864. Entered service at: Pomfret, Vt. Born: December 23, 1833, Cavendish, Vt. Date of issue: April 8, 1892.
Citation:
- At the head of 3 regiments and under a most galling fire attacked and occupied the enemy's works.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: Q–S