Thomas T. Fauntleroy (soldier)

Thomas Turner Fauntleroy (6 October 1796 in Richmond County, Virginia – 12 September 1883 in Leesburg, Virginia) was a lawyer, state legislator, Regular U.S. Army officer, briefly a Virginia military officer at the beginning of the American Civil War.

Fauntleroy was born in Richmond County, Virginia. His parents were Joseph and Betsy Fauntleroy. He was commissioned a lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812.

After the War of 1812, Fauntleroy studied law in Winchester, Virginia, then practiced law in Warrenton, Virginia. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from Fauquier County, Virginia in 1823.

Commissioned a major of dragoons, June 8, 1836, Fautleroy served in the Second Seminole War. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel, Second Regiment of Dragoons, June 30, 1846. In the Mexican–American War he first served in Major General Zachary Taylor's command at the Rio Grande. Later, he commanded the cavalry of Major General Winfield Scott's army in the campaign to capture Mexico City. In 1849 he was in command of the First Regiment of Dragoons, commanding troops on frontier duty in Texas. From here, he was assigned to the Post at Mission San Diego de Alcalá at San Diego and was promoted to colonel, July 25, 1850. In the winter of 1854-1855 he conducted a campaign against the hostile Utes of the Rocky Mountains and made another mid-winter campaign against the Apache in New Mexico. He led several expeditions against the Apaches in the company of Kit Carson and from 1859 - 1861 commanded the Department of New Mexico.