Washington's cosmopolitan population includes many persons whose lives have been crowded with events of importance; but it is probable that very few, even in this city, in the evening of life and with the eyes of memory review a more eventful or career than that which has been the portion of Thomas Bradley Thornett, late captain in the United States army and some time a soldier in every geographical division save South America and Australia. Captain Thornett will be eighty-eight years old on February 21 next—as he puts it, “the day before George Washington’s 175th birthday.” And until a few ago, when a severe fall down a flight of stone steps injured him, he was as erect as in the days when, as a young dragoon in India, he helped to capture the great Koh-i-noor diamond, which is now the chief gem in the diadem of England’s King and of the Emperor of India, and when, with 119 others, he cut his way through an army and helped to win an empire for his mother country. Indeed, save for a slight stoop and a barely perceptible difficulty in walking, he might answer a call to arms tomorrow and sit his horse as martial a figure as any other man.

India, the Crimea, the west coast of Africa, Canada, and the United States have in turn been the scenes of his military service. He has served at various times in every branch of the military service and has been In command of as many as men at one time He has been thrice decorated by England’s late Queen for distinguished gallantry under fire holds a medal for the best swordsmanship of his day in the Royal Canadian Rifles awarded him by Sir William Eyre, GCB, was designated by Gen. Stoneman during the civil war as the Prize man of the Harris Light Cavalry for drill swordsmanship and riding and prizes a number of highly laudatory testimonial from high officers in both the English and American armies as to his ability and distinction as a soldier. Among these are recommendations from Col. David Campbell, Gen. Chauncey McKeever, and Col. Puleson for signal gallantry on several occasions. Only severe wounds received in the service of the Union during the early years of the civil war terminated his military career.

Comes of Military Stock
Captain Thornett comes of a family which has had a part in the military history of two centuries and half a dozen countries. Born at Wishytown [Wishawton], twelve miles from Glasgow, Scotland, he was a son of Thomas Thornett and Elizabeth Bradley. His father was an officer in the British fleet at the Battle of New Orleans when Andrew Jackson won one of the most decisive battles of the War of 1812. His mother was of the guests at the ball given by the Duchess of Richmond at Brussels the night before the battle of Waterloo, and the guns which sounded the first deep note of the great Napoleons doom awoke her from the deep sleep following the fatigue of that historic social affair. Noble German blood flows in the captain’s veins, for his mother’s mother was born in the castle of Messingham on the Rhine. Incidentally, this noble lady would have delighted the heart of President Roosevelt and other foes of race suicide, for the captain’s mother was one of her thirty-three children.

Captain Thornett’s career seems to have been predestined from his earliest years, for when he was but two years old he was found astride a gun on a British man-of-war. A vessel of Admiral Cochran’s fleet had been wrecked on the coast near Plymouth, and as the future captain’s father was an officer on board the flagship, his mother took him to the dock to await the arrival of intelligence as to the safety of the husband and father. While they were waiting there with other anxious relatives of the officers and men of the fleet, the flagship came Into the harbor and docked and the admiral came ashore to reassure the waiting throng. While he was assuring Mrs. Thornett that her husband was safe, the two-year-old boy toddled off and wandered, probably with the help of some friendly “jackie,” aboard the ship. After his worried mother had searched everywhere else, she sought him on the vessel and found him astride one of the big smooth bore guns surrounded by a group of admiring tars, and oblivious to everything else but his pleasant and appreciative audience. Thus did he get his first experience of a military life. 

Was Student at Oxford
The elder Thornett and his family had removed from their Scottish home to London when the boy was but a few months old, and when he had completed his earlier studies, he was sent to the ancient university town of Oxford to complete his education. There he formed one of those friendships which are, perhaps, the chief delight of college life, and he and Lord Dudley Ward became “chums.” Having completed his education, young Thornett went into the world to make his fortune, and as a railroad superintendent in Ireland and in mercantile life in England, he was in a fair way to make it when financial reverses, and a difference with his young wife, to whom he had been married when but twenty three years old, caused him to form the sudden resolution to enter the army for service in India, where the English government was just then having serious trouble in the Punjab, the northernmost portion of that vast empire, with the warlike Sikhs, who have since become the chief ally of their conqueror, and were her salvation during the Sepoy Rebellion.

Thornett, self-exiled, was enrolled as a private and assigned to the Third Light Dragoons, the famous “King’s Own.” Arriving in Calcutta, Thornett and his fellow recruits marched 1,178 miles to Join their regiment, and then began their part in the great Punjab campaign. They joined at Umballah [Ambala] shortly before the Battle of Ramnugger, in which the intrepid Havelock was killed within sight of Thornett while pressing a daring cavalry charge beyond the point of safety.

Prodigies of Valor
General Campbell’s and General Gilbert’s divisions were doing prodigies of valor. Often the regiments under their command had to fight back to back, the front and rear rank blazing away at the same time, taking and spiking guns, which were retaken not having been effectually spiked, and were fired at us again. Our right had been turned, and the center broken, which placed them both on the defensive. To make matters worse, Sheresing and Ottersing were concentrating some twenty thousand men, with artillery to attack and turn our left, in order to get in the rear of our army. As I before stated the left flank was guarded by two regiments of cavalry, with a complement of infantry and guns, but was rather weak, as three squadrons of the Third Dragoons had been ordered away to support the center. The enemy outflanked us, and was advancing, so that our left had to be thrown back. Every moment matters became more critical and threatening, when General Sir Joseph Thackwell ordered the Fifth Bengal Cavalry to charge, supported by the remaining squadron of the Third Light Dragoons. The Fifth dashed into the jungle but was assailed by such a storm of bullets that they could not stand and retreated. Many of their officers were wounded in endeavoring to stop the men, but to no purpose. This unforeseen retrograde movement did not deter Captain Unett and his squadron of the Third, of which I was a member. The order given was, “Trumpeter, sound walk, trot, gallop, three cheers for the Queen, charge!” and in went that gallant one hundred and twenty men.

Squadron Charges an Army
“The Sikh cavalry was drawn up in front to receive the charge, with infantry and guns on each flank, but nothing daunted, the one squadron of the Third rode through their cavalry like a wedge, paying no attention to the heavy firing on their flanks, although it had dropped a score out of their saddles. Onward went the remainder of the squadron, never drawing rein until they had gone clear through the right of the Sikh army.

“Capt Unott now found his men scattered, but ordered them to cut their way back. The two armies seemed partially to cease firing, expecting the total annihilation of those brave men and the consequent advance of Shere Sings forces. But when everything was at its greatest tension the remnant of the squadron was seen cutting their way, and eventually joined the army covered with glory, with the loss of two officers and sixty men killed or wounded, and on the authority of Gen. Sir Richard Airy, the charge of the 600 at Balaklava was nothing compared to this one squadron of the Third King’s Own Light Dragoons at Chillianwalla. This charge checked the Sikhs, and as it was getting dark, the battle ended, with now and then a shot of defiance on either side.

“Lord Gough was very loath to draw his army away from the field of battle, for he knew full well that all the wounded would be slain, but he had no alternative, therefore the recall was sounded. Many of the wounded got away with the aid of others, the cavalry, especially, dismounting. The loss of the Anglo-Indian Army in this battle was eight-six officers and 2,700 men killed or wounded, with two sets of six guns, in the short space of two hours and thirty minutes.

Saved India to Britain
The battle of Chillianwalla will be remembered, for the supremacy of the British in India received a fearful shock by the partial defeat of our army. What might have happened it is hard to conjecture, but for the timely charge of the heroic band of 120 Spartans belonging to the Third King’s Own Light Dragoons, as there was hardly any force to fail back upon between Chillianwalla and Calcutta. The Bombay troops had not arrived; then there was the Rajah of Cashmere, with his large army who might have assisted Shere Sing. Had he done so the army under Gen. Lord Gough would have been doomed, not taking into consideration the doubtful loyalty of the Sepoys.

“All night long the jackals could be heard howling, and the feeling in camp was horrible, knowing they were devouring the killed and wounded. The misty morn broke, and a detachment was ordered out to bring in the wounded to hospital, and bury the dead. There they lay where they had fallen, in heaps—a ghastly sight—some of the poor fellows with their arms raised as if to ward off the blows. After performing the obsequies, the men raised mounds from which could be seen the Sikh army, and a battery was erected opposite the enemy’s. The army now continued to occupy the ground where we encamped after the battle and was kept at work throwing up entrenchments and reconnoitering the Sikh position.

Battle of Googerat
About the middle of February the Bombay army joined us. On the 20th it was rumored that the enemy had stolen a march on us and evacuated their position in out front. On the 21st we broke camp In pursuit and marched to Googerat, where we found the Sikhs drawn up to give battle. Orders were given for the Sixtieth Rifles to deploy as skirmishers, when the enemy opened a cannonade along his whole line. This continued on both sides for some time before the infantry deployed for closer action, and the battle became general and lasted until 2 p.m., when the enemy retreated. Then a simultaneous advance was made along our whole line, and the battle of Googerat was won. About 5,000 cavalry and twenty guns pursued the flying Sikhs, and, on passing the commander-in-chief, he raised his helmet, closed his telescope, and exclaimed, “That Is the way to beat them!”

“The line of retreat taken by the enemy was difficult to follow, as a number of deep ravines had to be crossed, and the guns had to be drawn through them by the dismounted cavalry. The pursuit was kept up until dark, when we returned to camp, after being eighteen hours in the saddle. The enemy’s Ioss must have been terrific, as we were cutting and shooting them down for hours, sparing none, as the soldiers bore in mind the cruel massacre of their wounded comrades at Chillianwalla.

“The next day Gen. Sir Walter Gilbert was sent with his division after the remnant of the Sikh army, and, after forced marches, he came up with them, when they agreed to an unconditional surrender, and their army filed back through our lines.

Spoils for the Victors
“The campaign was now virtually ended, and the annexation of the Punjab to Great Britain was determined upon, and the order to that effect was promulgated. Previous to this, Mooltan, with its fortress and its dependencies, had been captured by the Bombay army, with an immense quantity of stores, ammunition, guns, and other valuables, with mint containing gold bars and coins of great value. In addition, the merchants gave several millions of rupees to prevent the town from being sacked. The soldiers, on joining our army, were loaded with gold, offering a gold mohur for a little arrack. The Kohinoor Diamond was one of the gems taken, and was afterward presented to the Queen of England.

The army marched back into their several cantonments, and each officer and man was given six months’ batta, equal to six months’ pay. As soon as the money was paid, the canteens were thrown open for several days, and leave was given to the men for that period. After the activity of the campaign barracks life became unendurable, and I paid £30, the purchase money, for my discharge.

Enters Civil Life Again
Sailing for England, ex-Corporal Thornett accepted a position as “collector of goods” on an Irish railroad, and was once more a civilian for four years. Then the war in the Crimea broke out, as a result of Russia’s attempt to bully the Sick Man, and Thornett offered his services to the secretary of war and was given a commission in the Engineers as brigade quartermaster. Arriving in the field, he was put in charge of the transportation of supplies for Gen. Vivian’s brigade, which consisted of a body of French cavalry, a Highland regiment, and about 30,000 Turkish and Tartar troops. The brigade headquarters were at Kertch, a health resort midway between the straits of Kertch and the Sea of Azov. Again ancient history made the region famous, for within a mile was the tomb of Mithradates, and other ancient royal tombs were scattered in the vicinity.

Quartermaster Thornett was put in command of a wagon train to forage on the Arrarat road as far as what was known as the Spanish farm, and on arriving there was ordered to take command of a large body of troops and reconnoiter along the front of the formidable Cossacks of the Don, who were present in force. He was instructed to avoid provoking a general engagement, but to develop the strength of the enemy; and he performed this delicate duty with such success as to elicit personal commendation of the commanding general, and to assure the mention of his services in general orders. It was unusual then, as it would be to-day, for a quartermaster to be placed in command of a brigade, especially in front of the enemy, and the honor thus bestowed upon him indicates the regard in which his abilities were held by his superior officers.

“My brother officers,” remarks Capt. Thornett in his whimsical way, “thinking to jolly me, said I was a lucky fellow to be promoted to brigadier general, and I retorted, ‘No, but I should have been had I been allowed to come in contact with the Cossacks.’”

Next Sent to Africa
The war ended soon after this incident, and Thornett and his wagon train were sent home by way of Malta and through France. Having surrendered his commission in this service, and failing to get a barrackmastership, through a misunderstanding of his desire, he was given a commission as ensign in the Gold Coast Artillery and sent to the west coast of Africa, where, however, as the natives were quiet, there was little to fight save the wild beasts and the deadly fever. On one occasion Ensign Thornett was sent out with 100 men to relieve a lieutenant who was stationed in the interior and arrived only to find that the officer and his entire family had fallen victim to the deadly climate of the jungle. Desiring an exchange from the deadly post, Thornett applied to the War Office for it, and on the strength of the influence of Sir John Burgoyne, whose attention had been drawn to the young officer by his services in the Crimea, he was given precedence on the exchange lists even over officers who had won the Victoria Cross, and was transferred to the Royal Canadian Rifles as lieutenant.

Shortly after arriving at Toronto, he was made adjutant to six companies of the Rifles stationed at Kingston. He was put in command of the guard of honor when the Prince of Wales, now Edward VII, visited that post. Shortly after this, when Prince Arthur of Connaught visited there, Lieut. Thornett was among those invited to dine with the royal guest. At that dinner he sat between the daughter of the Governor General and the Speaker of the House of Commons.

He Enters the Union Army
Lieutenant Thornett, however, was more anxious for active service than for the easy life of military routine and social diversion which he was leading, and when the American consul informed him that he could secure a commission in the United States army he sent in his papers and sold his commission. He went to New York armed with letters from prominent American residents in Montreal to General Phil Kearney and others of influence in circles, and meeting Col. Viele in that city, was offered and accepted the post of adjutant in that officers regiment, with the rank of captain. This force was known as the Union Guards. But Capt. Thornett was not destined to see service in this command, for in a few days he was made captain of cavalry by telegraph from the War Department, and was assigned to command a troop then forming at Hartford, Conn., which, with another troop commanded by Captain Mallory, formed the First Squadron, Connecticut Cavalry. These troops were sent to Camp Scarsdale and placed under command of Gen. Viele, who had been promoted to that rank. Here Capt. Thornett performed the duties of adjutant to Viele, until his squadron was merged in the Harris Light Cavalry and ordered to Washington.

Trick of Volunteer Engineer
Reaching Harrisburg, it was found that further progress was barred, owing to the inability of the railroad to find an engineer who would take a Federal train through Maryland. One of the troopers, however, volunteered to perform the service, but proved to be a Southern sympathizer, and detaching the engine, left the train and its occupants stalled on the track at Cockeysville, Md. after derailing the cars. In the wreck thus caused two men were killed and several wounded and several horses were also killed. One of men killed, a Sergt. Lyon, was a nephew of Gen. Lyon, who was the first Union general killed in the war. Col., afterward Gen., Kilpatrick, was on the train and was talking with Capt. Thornett when the wreck occurred.

The trip, however, was resumed when another engine and a new engineer had been secured, and reaching Washington, Capt. Thornett’s force encamped along the Bladensburg road. Here the horses were received, and Capt. Thornett, owing to his experience, was made inspector of horses for the regiment, and prevented the contractors from palming off several that were unfit for the arduous service for which they were intended. While in camp the Harris Light Cavalry and nine other regiments were inspected by Gen. McClellan, after which Thornett’s regiment was ordered across the Potomac to Arlington Heights, where it encamped near the Lee mansion.

Wounded in Civil War
Capt. Thornett, in addition to serving in the Harris Light Cavalry, was captain in the Seventh U.S. Cavalry, and the Second New York Cavalry. He was present during the seven days’ fighting before Richmond, and fought gallantly in several other battles, on one occasion saving a troop of cavalry from annihilation by carrying orders under fire. He was so badly wounded at the Battle of White Oak Swamp, in 1862, as to be compelled to leave the service, and then took up residence in Washington, where he has since lived.

Capt. Thornett’s misunderstanding with his wife, which led him to take up soldiering as a profession, was adjusted upon his return after the campaign in the Punjab, and she accompanied him to America. They had several children before she died, a few years ago, some of whom now reside in this city. One son was killed in military service in British Burma, and another was a member of the Canadian Rifles. There are several grandsons, and it need not be surprising if, in some future war of this country’s, a Thornett, inheriting the martial spirit of three generations of fighters, should distinguish himself.