Thomas Cass (colonel)

Thomas Cass
Colonel Thomas Cass
Born	1821 Farmly, Queen's County, Ireland
Died	July 12, 1862 (aged 40–41) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Place of burial	Mount Auburn Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Rank	Colonel
Commands held	9th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers
Battles/wars	American Civil War Mechanicsville Gaines Mill Malvern Hill

American Civil War

Colonel Thomas Cass (1821 – July 12, 1862) founded and was commander of the 9th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, which saw extensive service in the American Civil War. Cass was wounded at the Battle of Malvern Hill and died shortly after from his wounds in Boston, Massachusetts. A memorial statue to him stands in the Boston Public Garden.

Colonel Cass was born in Ireland, in Farmly, Queen's County in 1821, and moved to America with his parents, landing in Boston. They settled in the North End of Boston, and after a few years at school, he learned the currier's trade. Later, he joined his father in business, became well known as a businessman in the North End, and served with ability on the school committee.

He was an active member of the Columbian Artillery, Co. B., Fifth Regiment Artillery, M. V. M., and advanced through all the grades in his company to that of captain.

The Ninth Regiment was created on June 11, 1861 under the command of Colonel Cass in Boston, recruiting primarily Irish-Americans. Initial funding for the regiment came from Patrick Donahoe, publisher of the Boston Pilot. Initially bivouacked at Boston's Faneuil Hall, they later camped at Long Island in Boston Harbor.

On June 30, 1861, the unit arrived in the Washington, D.C. vicinity and was welcomed by President Abraham Lincoln. They remained in the vicinity of Arlington, Virginia performing picket duty and built a fort on the Potomac River named Fort Cass after their commanding officer. As a unit of the Army of the Potomac under the command of Major General George B. McClellan, the Ninth Regiment moved south with the rest of the Army in pursuit of Confederate forces.