Life span: 03/10/1824 to 03/10/1905TabsLife SummaryFull name: Thomas James ChurchillPlace of Birth: Louisville, KYBurial Place: Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, AKBirth Date Certainty: ExactDeath Date Certainty: ExactGender: MaleRace: WhiteSectional choice: SouthOrigins: Slave StateFamily: Samuel Churchill (father), Abby Oldham (mother), Ann Sevier (wife, 1849)Education: TransylvaniaOtherOther Education: St. Mary's College, KYOccupation: PoliticianMilitaryFarmer or PlanterPolitical Parties: DemocraticGovernment: Buchanan Administration (1857-61)GovernorOther state governmentMilitary: US military (Pre-Civil War)Confederate Army Note Cards Thomas James Churchill (American National Bibliography) ScholarshipWhen [Brigadier General Thomas James] Churchill reached Little Rock, Lieutenant General Theophilus H. Holmes assigned him to command troops stationed at Fort Hindman, located at Arkansas Post on the Arkansas River. Union land and naval forces under Major General John A. McClernand and Admiral David D. Porter moved against the fort in January 1863. Of the approximately 6,000 men in the garrison, Churchill estimated that only 3,000 of them were actually available to fight. He asked Holmes for some reinforcements and more weapons but was told "to hold out until help arrived or all dead." Federal troops overran part of the Confederate lines on 11 January, and some of Churchill's troops raised unauthorized white flags, forcing him to surrender the remainder of the garrison. For three months, Churchill remained a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Ohio. He was assigned to the Army of Tennessee after his exchange and assumed command of a brigade in Major General Patrick R. Cleburne's division. Churchill suffered the stigma of the loss of Arkansas Post and was replaced in brigade command in August 1863.Arthur W. Bergeron, "Churchill, Thomas James," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00230.html. Events Date span begin Life span End Event 08/10/1861 08/10/1861 At Wilson's Creek in Missouri, a bold Union attack is thrown back and General Nathaniel Lyon killed 01/09/1863 01/11/1863 Battle of Arkansas Post 04/09/1864 04/09/1864 In Louisiana, after defeat the day before, reinforced Union troops repel further attacks at Pleasant Hill 04/30/1864 04/30/1864 Battle of Jenkins' Ferry Major TopicsRed River Campaign Documents Subject Docs Date Title 01/22/1863 William Elisha Stoker to Elizabeth E. Stoker, January 22, 1863 04/08/1864 Recollection of Richard Taylor, Battle of Mansfield, April 8, 1864 04/09/1864 Recollection of Richard Taylor, Battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9, 1864 Images Thomas James Churchill Thomas James Churchill, detail Bibliography
Thomas James Churchill (American National Bibliography) ScholarshipWhen [Brigadier General Thomas James] Churchill reached Little Rock, Lieutenant General Theophilus H. Holmes assigned him to command troops stationed at Fort Hindman, located at Arkansas Post on the Arkansas River. Union land and naval forces under Major General John A. McClernand and Admiral David D. Porter moved against the fort in January 1863. Of the approximately 6,000 men in the garrison, Churchill estimated that only 3,000 of them were actually available to fight. He asked Holmes for some reinforcements and more weapons but was told "to hold out until help arrived or all dead." Federal troops overran part of the Confederate lines on 11 January, and some of Churchill's troops raised unauthorized white flags, forcing him to surrender the remainder of the garrison. For three months, Churchill remained a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Ohio. He was assigned to the Army of Tennessee after his exchange and assumed command of a brigade in Major General Patrick R. Cleburne's division. Churchill suffered the stigma of the loss of Arkansas Post and was replaced in brigade command in August 1863.Arthur W. Bergeron, "Churchill, Thomas James," American National Biography Online, February 2000, http://www.anb.org/articles/04/04-00230.html.
