Brig. General Thomas W. Hyde (USA)

Battle of Antietam (for which he later received the Medal of Honor),

Thomas W. Hyde (1841–1899) was a Union Army general in the American Civil War, a state senator from Maine, and the founder of Bath Iron Works, one of the major shipyards in the United States.

Biography

Born in Florence, Italy, to parents who were natives of Bath, Maine, Hyde graduated from Bowdoin College in 1861 and then from Chicago University. Starting as a major of a company of the Seventh Maine Infantry, Hyde rose through the army ranks, ultimately becoming a brigadier general in 1865. Serving under General John Sedgwick, he was present at several key Civil War battles, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam (for which he later received the Medal of Honor), and the Battle of Gettysburg. He was also present at General Robert E. Lee's 1865 surrender.

Starting in 1873, Hyde served three terms in the Maine Senate, including two as president. He became mayor of Bath in 1878.

In 1884, he founded Bath Iron Works and became general manager of it in 1888. The shipyard has executed more than 425 shipbuilding contracts, including 245 for the U.S. Navy.

Hyde died on November 15, 1899, after a short illness.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Major, 7th Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Antietam, Md., 17 September 1862. Entered service at: Bath, Maine. Birth: Italy. Date of issue: 8 April 1891.

Citation:

Led his regiment in an assault on a strong body of the enemy's infantry and kept up the fight until the greater part of his men had been killed or wounded, bringing the remainder safely out of the fight.

Thomas Worcester Hyde was a Union Army colonel who subsequently received brevets of brigadier general of volunteers and major general of volunteers in the American Civil War, a state senator from Maine, and the founder of Bath Iron Works, one of the major shipyards in the United States. He wrote two books about his experiences during the war and at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Born in Florence, Italy, to parents who were natives of Bath, Maine, Hyde graduated from Bowdoin College in 1861 and then from Chicago University.

Hyde began his Union Army service on April 2, 1861, as a major in the 7th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. On February 26, 1863, he became Assistant Inspector General of the Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac, which was commanded by Major General William F. "Baldy" Smith. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on December 1, 1863. In 1864, he became provost marshal general of the Sixth Corps. On September 24, 1864, Hyde transferred to the 1st Maine Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment and was promoted to colonel on October 22, 1864. Hyde commanded Brigade 3, Division 2, VI Corps of the Army of the Shenandoah between October 30, 1864, and December 6, 1864, and the same brigade in the Army of the Potomac from December 6, 1864, when the Army of the Shenandoah returned from its detached duty to the Army of the Potomac, until June 28, 1865. Despite this service, Hyde did not receive promotion to full rank brigadier general.

While serving under Major General John Sedgwick early in the war, Hyde was present at several key Civil War battles, including the Second Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam (for which he later received the Medal of Honor), and the Battle of Gettysburg. He was also present at Confederate General Robert E. Lee's 1865 surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Hyde was mustered out of the volunteer army on June 28, 1865.

On January 13, 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Hyde for appointment as a brevet brigadier general of volunteers to rank from April 2, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866. On February 17, 1869, President Johnson nominated Hyde for the brevet grade of major general of volunteers, to rank from April 2, 1865, and the U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment on March 3, 1869, one of the last brevet major general awards for Civil War service.

Starting in 1873, Hyde served three terms in the Maine Senate, including two as president. He became mayor of Bath in 1878.

In 1884, he founded Bath Iron Works and became general manager of it in 1888. Since it was founded, the shipyard has executed more than 425 shipbuilding contracts, including 245 for the U.S. Navy.

Hyde wrote Following the Greek Cross (1894) and Recollections of the Battle of Gettysburg (1898).

Hyde died on November 15, 1899 at Fort Monroe, Virginia, after a short illness. He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Bath, Maine.

Rank and organization: Major, 7th Maine Infantry. Place and date: At Antietam, Md., 17 September 1862. Entered service at: Bath, Maine. Birth: Italy. Date of issue: 8 April 1891. His citation read: Led his regiment in an assault on a strong body of the enemy's infantry and kept up the fight until the greater part of his men had been killed or wounded, bringing the remainder safely out of the fight.