Thomas J.C. Amory


Thomas Jonathan Coffin Amory was an officer in the Regular Army of the United States prior to and during the Civil War. After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1851, he served in the American West and was involved in the Utah War. Soon after the outbreak of the Civil War, he assumed command of the 17th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as colonel. He died of yellow fever in New Bern, North Carolina on October 7, 1864. Amory posthumously was awarded the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general.

Early service and Utah War

After graduating from West Point in 1851, as 30th out of 42 graduates, Amory received the rank of brevet second lieutenant and was assigned to the 7th U.S. Infantry Regiment. The 7th Infantry served in the American West. In 1857, Amory participated in the Utah War—an armed dispute between the U.S. government and the Mormon settlers in Utah Territory.

Civil War

Early in 1861, Amory returned to Massachusetts from active duty with the Regular Army to act as a recruiting officer. In May 1861, he was promoted to captain in the Regular Army. On September 2, 1861, he was commissioned a colonel of Massachusetts volunteers by Gov. John Andrew and placed in command of the 17th Massachusetts.
The 17th Massachusetts was assigned to the Department of North Carolina and shortly after the regiment arrived in North Carolina, Amory was promoted to command the 1st Brigade, 1st Division of the XVIII Corps under the overall command of Maj. Gen. John G. Foster. Early in 1864, he was promoted to the command of the army District of Beaufort, North Carolina. In the fall of 1864, an epidemic of yellow fever swept through Beaufort. Amory and his wife both fell victim to the epidemic. Amory's wife died a few days before him.
Amory was posthumously awarded the grade of brevet brigadier general. It made retroactively effective to the date of his death; October 7, 1864.