History of Fort Bayard, (Grant County) New Mexico United States of America

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Thomas Gamble Pitcher, soldier, was born in Rockport, Ind., Oct. 23, 1824; son of Judge John Pitcher of Watertown, Conn., who settled in Indiana in 1820. He was graduated at the U.S. Military academy and assigned to the 5th infantry July 1, 1845. He served in Texas, 1845-46; was promoted 2d lieutenant in the 8th infantry, Sept. 21, 1846; served in the Mexican war in the battles leading up to and including the assault and capture of the city of Mexico, 1846-47; and was brevetted 1st lieutenant Aug. 20, 1847, for conduct at Contreras and Churubusco. He served in garrison at Jefferson barracks, Mo., as quartermaster and adjutant, 1848-54; was promoted 1st lieutenant June 26, 1849; was quartermaster, 1854-57, and served in Texas, 1849-60. He was promoted captain Oct. 19, 1858; reported at Washington in 1861, and served in the defence of Harper's Ferry, Va., in June, 1862. He was severely wounded at Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862, was brevetted major for gallant and meritorious conduct in that battle, and was on sick leave till January, 1863, having been appointed brigadier-general of U.S. volunteers, Nov. 29, 1862. He served on commissary and provost duty in New York and Vermont, 1863-64, and was promoted major and transferred to the 16th infantry Sept. 19, 1863, and was assistant to the provost marshal general in Indiana, 1864-66. He was brevetted lieutenant-colonel and colonel March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war, and brigadier-general of the U.S. army, for gallant and meritorious services in the field during the war. He was mustered out of the volunteer service April 30, 1866; was promoted colonel and transferred to the 44th infantry July 28, 1866; was superintendent of the U.S. Military academy 1866-70; transferred to the 1st infantry Dec. 15, 1870; and was governor of the Soldiers' Home, near Washington, D.C., 1870-77. He served on court martial duty at Omaha, Neb., in 1878; and was retired from active service June 28, 1878, for disability contracted in the line of duty, and was superintendent of the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 1880-87. He died at Fort Bayard, New Mexico, Oct. 21, 1895.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Fort Bayard, (Grant County) New Mexico

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