Thomas Headquarters

Thomas Headquarters. . Union Major General George H. Thomas had a hard decision to make here at his headquarters in the early afternoon of June 27, 1864. Frustrated that the Confederates had foiled Federal attacks that morning, Major General William T. Sherman prodded Thomas to stage a head-on assault. Confederate earthworks are "so strong," Thomas bluntly replied, "that they cannot be carried by assault except by immense sacrifice, even if they can be carried at all… We have already lost heavily to-day…one or two more such assaults would use up this army." Thomas had suffered losses of 2,000 men and officers, including two brigade commanders., Do you think you can carry any part of the enemy's line to-day?… , I will order the assault if you think you can succeed at any point. , William T. Sherman's message to George H. Thomas, 1:30 p.m. June 27, 1864, …I do not think we can carry the works by assault at this point to-day… , George H. Thomas's reply to William T. Sherman, 1:40 p.m. June 27, 1864, (caption) George H. Thomas (seated) confers with two of his officers at his headquarters, which was known as a "Traveling Circus" because of the great number of tents Thomas carried with him into the field. His officers used the nearby tents.