ORION T. THOMAS

Was born in Defiance County, Ohio; is a printer; commenced to learn that trade when twelve years old. Enlisted July 16, 1862, in Company D of the 5th Indiana Cavalry when only sixteen years of age; served as bugler; was first stationed at Glasgow, Ky., taking part in the engagements in that locality; was severely wounded in left leg while on picket duty; was disabled for six months; rejoined his regiment in East Tennessee; being unable to walk on account of wound was detailed as- camp bugler at Camp Nelson; shortly afterward was detailed to work in the Government printing-office at Lexington, Kentucky; rejoined regiment in March, 1864, and took part in the Georgia campaign; was captured while with General Stoneman in Georgia, July 31, 1864; was in prison at Andersonville, Macon, Savannah, and Millen; reported back to the regiment in January, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., being the only one out of about thirty of his regiment who were captured in the Stoneman raid who ever returned; had a father and three brothers in the army, all of whom served three years; was one of thirty-two out of the original 104 who enlisted in 1862 who remained to be mustered out in 1865; was in railroad accident near Andersonville when a train-load of prisoners was wrecked and many killed and wounded; was enrolled among the thousand who were to be exchanged at the time Sherman took Atlanta, but was among the unfortunate half who did not get exchanged after marching'eighteen miles barefooted; was in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw, Dallas, and all the battles and skirmishes in the Georgia campaign, from Dalton to Atlanta; honorably discharged June 15, 1865. Comrade Thomas is a member of Stanton Post, G. A. R., of Los Angeles, Cal., where he resides.

Orion T. Thomas  -  Photographs

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