Brig. General Thomas F. Toon (CSA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_F._Toon

Thomas Fentress Toon (June 10, 1840 – February 19, 1902) was a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.

Early life

Tomas Fentress Toon was born June 10, 1840, in Columbus County, North Carolina, to Anthony F. Toon and Mary McMillian Kelly. He attended Wake Forest College but left school as a senior when the Civil War began.

Civil War

Toon enlisted in a company that became a part of the 20th North Carolina Infantry Regiment. He returned to Wake Forest in June and graduated. Toon was elected his company's first lieutenant and then its captain in July. From 1862 to March 1865, he fought in all the major engagements of the Army of Northern Virginia and suffered seven wounds in the process. Following his performances at the Battle of Seven Pines, in the Seven Days Battles, at the Battle of South Mountain the Battle of Fredericksburg he was elected colonel of the 20th North Carolina on February 26, 1863, when the senior officers in the regiment waived their rights to the command. He led the regiment at the Battle of Chancellorsville, at Gettysburg, and at the Battle of Mine Run in 1863. Toon famously wrote of his brigade's slaughter at Gettysburg under the leadership of Alfred Iverson, Jr., "...initiated at Seven Pines, sacrificed at Gettysburg, surrendered at Appomattox."

During the bloody Overland Campaign of 1864, Toon continued to display solid leadership. When his brigade commander, Brigadier General Robert D. Johnston, was wounded at the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse in May, he succeeded to command of the brigade. Following promotion to brigadier general, Toon led the brigade during Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's July raid on Washington. In August Johnston returned, and Toon reverted to his former rank of Colonel and command of the 20th North Carolina. He led his regiments in the Valley Campaigns of 1864 and during the Siege of Petersburg. On March 25, 1865, he was severely wounded during the Confederate attack during the Battle of Fort Stedman ending his active duty in the field remainder of the War.

Post-War career

After the War, Toon returned to North Carolina where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was elected superintendent of public instruction for North Carolina in 1900, serving for one year until his death in Raleigh, North Carolina, on February 19, 1902. He is buried at Historic Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh.

https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/toon-thomas-fentress

Thomas Fentress Toon, farmer, teacher, soldier, and superintendent of public instruction, was born in Columbus County, the son of Anthony and Mary McMillan Fentress Toon. He attended county schools and Wake Forest College. When the Civil War began during his senior year, he enlisted immediately but completed the term and was graduated with high honors.

On receiving his diploma, Toon joined the Columbus Guards No. 2, which later became a part of the Twentieth North Carolina. He was elected first lieutenant in his company, and a month later his men chose him captain. Toon's command served in various campaigns of Robert D. Jackson, Jubal Early, and John B. Gordon, during which his distinguished performance led to his elevation to colonel in 1863. At Spottsylvania General R. D. Johnston was injured, and Toon was temporarily promoted to brigadier general; he returned to the rank of colonel when Johnston was well enough to resume command. Wounded several times during the war, Toon was permanently removed from the fighting ranks during the attack on Fort Stedman in March 1865.

After the war he returned to Columbus County, where he had a many-sided career in teaching, farming, and working for the Atlantic Coast Line Railway system. He also served as county school examiner, mayor of Fair Bluff, and member of the state legislature (lower house, 1881–82; senate, 1883–84).

In January 1866 Toon married Carrie E. Smith, the daughter of Alva Smith of Fair Bluff. They had two sons and three daughters. After his wife's death Toon married, in 1891, Rebecca Cobb Ward and moved to Lumberton in Robeson County. Well known in her own right, the new Mrs. Toon was chosen first superintendent of Robeson Baptist Women's Missionary Union at the time of its creation in 1896 and served for five years. Her husband taught at the Robeson Institute.

In 1900 North Carolina elected as its governor Charles B. Aycock, who planned to revamp and drastically improve the state's education system. Aycock called T. F. Toon to Raleigh to become state superintendent of public instruction. These two men and Charles D. McIver made plans to canvass the state in order to gain support for the "Declaration against Illiteracy." During the strenuous campaign Toon contracted an illness that ended his career in 1902. He was a Democrat and a Baptist. Of him his church people said: he was "a humble and faithful servant of His Master and Lord, an exemplary father and companion and a statesman of rare merit."