Editing George Henry Thomas (section)

===Remaining with the Union===
At the outbreak of the Civil War, 19 of the 36 officers in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry resigned, including three of Thomas's superiors—[[Albert Sidney Johnston]], [[Robert E. Lee]], and [[William J. Hardee]].<ref>Einolf, pp. 93, 97.</ref> Many [[Southern United States|Southern-born]] officers were torn between loyalty to their states and loyalty to their country. Thomas struggled with the decision but opted to remain with the United States. His Northern-born wife probably helped influence his decision. In response, his family turned his picture against the wall, destroyed his letters, and never spoke to him again. During the economic hard times in the South after the war, Thomas sent some money to his sisters, who angrily refused to accept it, declaring they had no brother.<ref>Einolf, pp. 87–88.</ref>

Nevertheless, Thomas stayed in the Union Army with some degree of suspicion surrounding him, despite his action concerning Twiggs. On January 18, 1861, a few months before [[Battle of Fort Sumter|Fort Sumter]], he had applied for a job as the commandant of cadets at the [[Virginia Military Institute]].<ref>Einolf, p. 81.</ref> Any real tendency to the secessionist cause, however, could be refuted when he turned down [[List of Virginia Governors|Virginia Governor]] [[John Letcher]]'s offer to become chief of [[wikt:ordnance|ordnance]] for the Virginia Provisional Army.<ref>Einolf, p. 83; Cleaves, pp. 64–66.</ref> On June 18, his former student and fellow Virginian, Confederate Col. [[J.E.B. Stuart]], wrote to his wife, "Old George H. Thomas is in command of the cavalry of the enemy. I would like to hang, ''hang'' him as a traitor to his native state."<ref>Einolf, p. 99.</ref>
Nevertheless, as the Civil War carried on, he won the affection of Union soldiers serving under him as a "soldier's soldier", who took to affectionately referring to Thomas as "Pap Thomas".<ref>Civil War letters by Sargeant Sherman Leland, 104th Illinois Infantry, Co.D., a unit which served under General Thomas during the Chattanooga Campaign.  Mr. Leland noted this is the nickname fellow soldiers used to convey genuine respect and affection for the General.  They also referred to General Sherman as "Uncle Billy"  These letters are unpublished.</ref>