Thomas H. Fisher

Thomas H. Fisher was one of the first officers of the 22nd Infantry after it was reconstituted in 1866.
He served with the 22nd Infantry from July 1866 to July 1879.

He was born in New York in 1839, and on September 1, 1861 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant
in the 2nd New York Volunteer Infantry (also known as the Troy Regiment).

Fisher saw action with the 2nd New York at Battle of Big Bethel, Fair Oaks, Malvern hill, Groveton,
the second Bull Run and Chantilly. He also took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville.

He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on December 31, 1862. In May of 1863 the 2nd New York
Volunteer Infantry Regiment ended its service life, being orginally intended to last for two years.
Fisher, along with his Company, was mustered out of service on May 26, 1863.

The official list of the 2nd New York Infantry for the Civil War shows slightly different data and dates
from the US Army Register information above, under the entry for Fisher, as evidenced in the following graphic:

In 1863 the Albany Courier reported the return of the 2nd N.Y. Volunteers to Troy, New York,
and noted that among the returning soldiers was 1st Lieutenant Thomas H. Fisher of Company G. ¹

The Troy Daily Times, in the listing of returning officers from New York, noted that 1st Lieutenant
Thomas H. Fisher of Company G of the 2nd N.Y. Volunteers, had been Aid-de-camp on General Mott's staff. ²
(Brigadier General Gershom Mott, who commanded a Brigade in III Corps of the Army of the Potomac.)

The US Army Registers list Fisher as receiving a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in the
8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry on August 31, 1863. It is known that with this regiment
Fisher took part in the fight at Bristoe Station, and in action at Centreville, VA. The Army Register
states that Fisher was mustered out of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers on October 1, 1864.

The official listing of Company I of the 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry shows Fisher with the following entries:

The above graphic would appear to indicate that Fisher at one time had been captured by Confederate
Forces and paroled back to his unit. It also indicates he served with Company H of the 7th New Jersey
Volunteer Infantry after November 13, 1864, though he was never mustered in to that Regiment. It is assumed
that Fisher finished the war serving in the 7th New Jersey.

On July 28, 1866 Fisher was offered a commission as a 1st Lieutenant in the 22nd Infantry, which he accepted
on October 9 of that year. The Army Register also shows that Fisher was awarded a Brevet Promotion to Captain
on March 2, 1867.

In the Official Army Register for 1879, Fisher is listed with the 22nd Infantry as a 1st Lieutenant in Company C
of the 22nd Infantry, as of January 1, 1879. His lineal rank listing in that Register shows his position as number 40
of 1st Lieutenants in the Army, and indicates that his award of Brevet Captain in 1867, was "for gallant and meritorious
service in the Battle of Deep Bottom, Virginia". (Deep Bottom was fought along the James River, Virginia, in 1864.)

He is also listed in the same Register as being promoted to Captain of the 22nd Infantry, in command of Company C,
on March 4, 1879.

Fisher's final listing in the Army Register of 1879 is the entry that he died at Fort McKavett on July 4, 1879,
with the rank of Captain.

Pay voucher for 1st Lieutenant Thomas H. Fisher, 22nd Infantry,
for the month of April 1871. His pay included his regular salary of $125.00 per month.
plus 10 % for 5 years service, giving a final amount of $137.50 pay for the month of April.

The entry concerning the death of Captain Fisher in the official 1904 history of the 22nd Infantry
is the following short and sad line:

Fort McKavett was made sad and gloomy, July 4, by the death
of Captain T. H. Fisher, a very popular officer in the regiment.

Above: The notice about the death of Captain Thomas H. Fisher, as posted in the
Army and Navy Journal of July 12, 1879.

Above: The entry in the Post Return of Fort McKavett, Texas for the month of July 1879 showing that Captain Thomas H. Fisher
of Company C 22nd Infantry "Died at this Post July 4, 1879 of gastritis followed by pneumonia."

It becomes the sad duty of the commanding officer to announce to the regiment the death of
Captain T.H. Fisher, at this post, on the 4th instant, and hal-past 1 o'clock p.m.

Captain Fisher entered the volunteer service in 1861, having been commissioned a second lieutenant
in the 2nd New York vounteers, in September of that year. He held the positions of second and first
lieutenants in that regiment until May, 1863. He became a first lieutenant of the 8th New Jersey volunteers
in August, 1863, and was honorably discharged October 1, 1864. During these periods he served for several
months as an aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. Patterson, and for nearly two years on that of Gen. Mott.
Subsequently he was breveted a captain for gallant and meritorious service during the war. He has been connected
with the 22d infantry since its organization, and has been on duty with it for nearly its entire existence--serving
either as a company officer or in some staff position of the various posts at which he has been stationed.

The records of his official career throughout this lengthy service, show that he has never receive punishment or censure
for misconduct. For a long time he had been looking forward to promotion earned by the labors incident to many years
of army life, and had finally secured it. He was about to enter upon his superior duties with a zeal, and had determined to
maintain and increase, if possible, the efficiency of the company to which he had been assigned, but his sudden and unexpected
death cut short his honest ambition, and bereft the regiment of a tried and experienced officer.

Socially, Captain Fisher was a courteous gentleman and a genial companion. His presence always increased the brightness and
gaiety of any company with which he mingled. Without enemies, and loyal to his friends, he constantly placed under obligations
those with whom he was connected, either officially or through friendship, by his many attentions and deeds of kindness. His
comrades have lost in him a true and beloved associate.

The officers of the regiment will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

Thomas H. Fisher was originally buried in Grave Number 105 in the cemetery at Fort McKavett. He was reinterred
in the San Antonio National Cemetery at some time between November 23, 1883 and March 1884, as part of
the re-burial of the military graves from Fort McKavett. ³

Burial:
San Antonio National Cemetery
San Antonio
Bexar County
Texas, USA
Plot: A, 152

Grave marker for
Captain Thomas H. Fisher

Photo by Laura T.
from the Find A Grave website