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| Thomas M. Canton at a 1911 reunion of Union veterans The evening world newspaper, April 18, 1911. |
Thomas Meridith Canton (b. May 1829; d. March 13, 1913)
Ireland. White.
Occupation: lawyer, trial justice.
Thomas was born in Dublin, Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1849. Thomas's move was a common one. The late 1840s saw massive emigration out of Ireland as people sought to escape the devastation wrought by the Great Famine. Thomas would remain in the U.S. for the rest of his life, and he became a US citizen in 1855.
Thomas first settled in New York City. By the late 1850s, Thomas was working in the shoe industry. However, he also became involved with the military during this time. According to the Historical Register and Dictionary of the United States Army, he enlisted in the state militia in 1855. He entered as a private in the 69th New York State Militia. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 1858.
It was natural for Thomas to have joined the 69th NY State Militia. The regiment was organized by Irish nationalists and was largely comprised of Irish immigrants like Thomas. The regiment's founders wanted to organize Irish immigrants into a military force that could contribute to efforts to secure the independence of Ireland from the United Kingdom. The state militia system provided a convenient way of organizing.
The 69th NY State Militia was federalized and sent to Washington D.C. at the start of the Civil War, in April 1861. According to both the Historical Register and the Military Record of Civilian Appointments in the United States Army, Thomas was serving in the regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant at this time, although it is unclear if he'd been in the militia when the war broke out or if he'd reenlisted shortly afterwards.
Thomas fought with the 69th at the First Battle of Bull Run (in July 1861). The next month, he was honorably mustered out of army service, presumably because his term of enlistment had ended. (Initially, army volunteers signed up for a short term of a few months service.)
Thomas reenlisted in the Union army in September 1862, this time for a three year term. In November, he was assigned to the 182nd New York Infantry Regiment. This regiment had just been organized and was largely formed by men who had been serving in the 69th State Militia. Thomas served the 182nd with distinction. He was promoted to adjutant in January 1863 and to captain in February 1863.
Thomas saw considerable combat action, especially in 1863. He fought with the 182nd at the Siege of Suffolk and the Battles of Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Deep Bottom (the Second Battle) and Ream's Station. He was later honored for "gallant and meritorious service" at Spotsylvania and at Ream's Station.
Thomas was injured several times, at Spotsylvania, Deep Bottom, and Ream's Station. His injuries at Ream's Station were serious enough that he served out the remainder of his enlistment term hospitalized and then as a Judge-Advocate of General Court-Martial (rather than in a combat role). He was discharged for injuries on May 15, 1865.
Thomas reenlisted again on August 5, 1865. By this time, Confederate military forces had largely surrendered. Thomas was assigned to the 4th US Veteran Volunteers. He remained with the unit until May 16, 1866, when he was honorably mustered out.
The entire 4th US Veteran Volunteers regiment was mustered out shortly after Thomas left the army. He reenlisted on July 28, 1866. He was initially assigned to the 25th Infantry Regiment and stationed in Columbus, Kentucky. However, in April 1869, he was transferred to the 18th Infantry Regiment.
The 18th was part of the Union occupation forces in the south. Thomas was first stationed in Atlanta, Georgia, but in fall 1871, he and his company were moved to Columbia, South Carolina. Thomas's company encamped next to the University of South Carolina campus, roughly at the location of the current Thomas Cooper Library.
Thomas remained in Columbia with the 18th Regiment until 1873. That year his military career came to an ignominious end. On October 8, 1872, Thomas was found drunk while on duty. After being relieved of duty, he proceeded to "assail" the Acting Post Adjutant with "offensive and ungentlemanly language." He was reported to have said words to the effect of: "You are a lick-spittle. You would kiss your commanding officer's arse if he wanted you to."
The commanding officer (Captain R. L. Morris) had Thomas arrested and preferred charges against him. The commanding officer was serving in that role on a temporary basis, and after being arrested, Thomas wrote a letter to the permanent commanding officer, H. M. Black. In his letter, Thomas wrote that he had been arrested on on account of a "personal difficulty" with a "brother officer." He further wrote that the acting commanding officer had advised him to write Black to inform of this. Thomas's letter caused him further difficulties as the acting commanding officer alleged that his statement was false. He denied both that he had advised that Thomas write his letter and that the charges concerned personal difficulties between Thomas and another officer. Thomas was accused of knowingly writing these false statements in the hope of obtaining an "abeyance" of the legal proceedings.
A General Court Martial found Thomas guilty on three charges (two charges of "Conduct unbecoming an officers an a gentleman" and one charge of "Drunkenness on duty") related to his behavior. As his sentence, Thomas was cashiered (or dismissed) from the army on July 17, 1873.
Thomas's dismissal from the army left him in his mid-40s and without employment. For a brief period, Thomas was able to continue to work as a military professional. By the summer of 1874, he'd been appointed Assistant Adjutant-General for the Fourth Division State National Guard (part of the South Carolina state militia). It is unclear from existing records how long Thomas held this position for, but he soon left the military to work in law
In August 1874, Thomas received an appointment as a trial justice for Richland County. The appointment was made by the outgoing governor Franklin J. Moses but he was reappointed by Moses's successor Daniel H. Chamberlain.
On October 7, 1874, a few month after being appointed trial justice, Thomas matriculated into the University of South Carolina's law school. He was in distinguished company. Also matriculating on that day were Francis L. Cardozo, Richard T. Greener, Gil Dixon Fox, and Mortimer A. Warren. He graduated with his LL.D. degree in spring 1876.
Thomas left South Carolina after Reconstruction. By May 1877, he had returned to New York City. He soon began working a lawyer. He also received an appointment as a Commissioner of Deeds for New York City. (This is a position similar to a notary public.) Thomas saw considerable professional success. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at $40,000 (roughly the equivalent of a million dollars in 2021).
Thomas was very active in Union veteran societies despite his humiliating dismissal from the army. For example, Thomas led the 69 Regiment New York Veterans (the regiment's veterans association) in a parade of veterans held as part of General William T. Sherman's funeral.
On April 23, 1912, the Veterans' Corps held a banquet in Thomas's honor. The event was held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 69th Regiment's departure from New York City to fight in the Civil War. At the time, Thomas was the regiment's only surviving officer
The year after the banquet, on March 13, 1913, Thomas died.
Sources
1) Columbia City Directory, 1875.
2) 1860; Census Place: New York Ward 4 District 3, New York, New York; Page: 732
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