Chronological History of the American Civil War

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And as Paul Harvey, the famous radio commentator would say, Here’s the Rest of the Story…

Whatever happened to Lieutenant J.H. Thayer?

His biography is included on pages 501-505 of the “Story of the Service of Company E and of the Twelfth Wisconsin Regiment of Veteran Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion” by Hosea W. Rood (1895).

Lieutenant J. H. Thayer

James Harvey Thayer, son of Ezra and Thirza Sheldon Thayer, was born at Marlborough, Windham County, Vermont, on the 4 th day of September 1833. He was one of a family of eight children, five girls and three boys. He remained at home, working on his father’s farm, till he was twenty years old, attending the district school till he was eighteen. After this he spent some time in attendance at a select school at Newfane. He also taught school a part of the time before moving, in June 1856, to Newport, Sauk County, Wis., where he engaged in lumbering, which business he followed till the breaking out of the war. As already recorded, on page 20 of this book, he enlisted Sept. 7, ’61, as a member of what became Company E, of the 12 th Wisconsin. He was thus one of the first men in the Company, only one enlistment being recorded before that day; that one was Captain Vanderpoel, Sept. 4.

When the election of officers was held, Thayer was chosen First, or Orderly, Sergeant. No better choice could have been made, for Sergeant Thayer was one of the best officers any company ever had. He was a good business man, prompt, methodical and faithful. He was always at his post of duty from the time of enlistment till he was wounded, at Atlanta, on the 14 th of August, ’64. When Captain Vanderpoel resigned, in May, ’62, Sergeant Thayer became our Second Lieutenant, which rank he held at the time of his death, Oct. 7, ’64. As a commissioned officer his good qualities were just as marked as they were when he marched at the head of the company with a musket. Too much cannot be said of his efficiency, his good judgment, his manly bearing. Prompt and energetic himself in the discharge of every duty, he expected every man in the company to do whatever was assigned him. Lieutenant Thayer’s worthy character not only deserved, but won and held, the highest esteem of the men of the

company. He had a cool, quiet manner that he did not lose in the presence of danger, and this made him a particularly good officer to take charge of any perilous enterprise. Had the way been opened for him, he would have been worthy of any promotion, and fit for any official position.