Thomas Henry WHITE

                   Thomas was captured 6-9-1863 during the Battle of Brandy Station(aka Beverly Ford) the first and practically only cavalry combat of the war-certainly the only one in which the 35th Battalion fought. This was the most devastating defeat for the battalion-with a loss of 90 officers and men KIA, WIA, and captured.
Records of the National Archives do no indicate how long he was held as a POW, however he did sign the third quarter clothing issue record for 7-1-1863. Of course if he signed it on that date he was a POW for only 21 days. It is likely he did not remain a POW even that long as it was usual to exchange prisoners after a battle to relieve the capturing force of the burden of caring for wounded and guarding the fit prisoners. The taking of prisoners usually indicated a total rout of one of the forces in the combat. The routed force of course would leave the field without being able to remove its woundede or straggling troops.
He served as personal courier for his battalion commander. This is proved by his pay vouchers. He served for a time as special courier to General Lee's headquarters. He was next listed as prisoner on 5-5-1865 and detained at Washington DC until 5-17-1865. Upon his release he gave his Parole of honor at Edward's Ferry, Maryland 5-20-1865 to Lt Charles Grant, Asst PM, Nj Cav Comand.
After leaving the farm in 1898 he moved to 219 Howard ave, Hagerstown, Maryland. He and Laura remained there until late in 1925 when as a result of age they were unable to care for themselves. At this time they moved to Glenolden, Pennsylvania with his only daughter. Laura lived only a few months following the move.
As the years rolled by Thomas promised himself he would live to be a 100 years old. As he approached his goal he became confused in his calculations. On his birthday 9-20-1929 he believed he had reached his goal-though in fact he was just 99. Under the assumption he had reached his goal he decided it was now time to meet his maker. Thus just shy of 100  years he died 1-19-1930.
Thomas was 24 at first marriage, 64 at his second marriage and was married for 66 years.
On page 125 April 1925 issue of the Confederate Veteran he is pictured on his 93rd birthday-balding, but alert.
His granddaughter Mary White Elgin Senat who was 90 years old in Dec 1979 kindly consented to take the time to record her recollections of her grandfather. As you will see from her remarks she is an acute observer and remembers well much of the detail of her grandfathers long life.
He was an old style southern gentleman who never uttered an oath and who was a non-drinker. He was educated she believes, though she soes not remember ever hearing shere he might have received his education. He kept himself interested and informed on national issues throughout his lifetime and even in his later years read many books.
He had some knowledge of music. He organized and directed the Poolesville's town band. She believes he played a horn. She has several musical arrangements he wrote out hy hand from that time.
At the time of his marriage He received from his father Joseph Chiswell White a 500 acre farm between Poolesville and White's Ferry (which would then have been Conrad's Ferry). With the farm he was also given slaves and implements.
When he left to join the southern cause in the war amongst us he left his farm in the care of his trusted black overseer Henry Leak and wife Liza. The farm was quickly occupied by Union troops and the house taken for officer quarters. Her grandmother Mary remained in the house because she was big with child and unable to travel. She gave birth to her fourth child and only daughter Mary Estelle on 12-18-1861 in a large closet under the front stairs. After the birth and when Mary and the new baby were able to travel by wagon the overseer put them all into a farm wagon and covered them with sheets. As he passed the Union pickets he is reported to have said he was hauling hog meat to market for sale. Apparently he was believed as he was allowed to pass without inspection and therefore Mary and children made it to Bucklodge where they remained until the war was over.
When he returned to the farm after the war he paid wages to the former slaves who had remained on the farm during the war. They were furnished cabins on Hickory Hill which was located at the end of the farm. He gave Henry Leak land, logs to build a house and some livestock. Henry Leak's son Henry took over as overseer after his father became too old to work. Henry Leak Sr. died during the childhook of Mary Senat.
After he moved to Glenolden, Pennsylvania with his daughter he always accompanied her family to the beach each summer at Ocean City, New Jersey. He especially enjoyed re-fighting the Civil War with an old Yankee soldier who lived nearby.
His remarks about the war concerned l. If reinforcements had arrived on time at Gettysburg the south would have been victorious ther. 2. Part of the 35th B went to Kentucky to secure recruits and had to hide in the Lurray Cavern. 3. He was assigned to General Lee's headquarters as a guide for that command enroute to Gettysburg. 4. The Barbara Fritchie incident did not occur (with General Jackson in 1862). Incidentally Barbara Fritchie was a first generation German who spoke no English and in 1862 was bedridden.
In the Confederate Veteran magazine and in her recollections he is referred to as 1st Lt.(remember his second wife wrote the article). This is not so. I have the entire National Archives file on him including his payrolls and an affadavit in which he referred to himself as orderly for Lt. Col. White. There are probably 2 reasons for this error 1. there was a Lt Tom White in Co C of the 35th B 2. and Laura probably used the bestest school techniques we have seen so often in genealogy.