Thornton F. Brodhead

Thornton Fleming Brodhead (December 5, 1820 – September 2, 1862)^[1][2] was a brevet brigadier general during the American Civil War.

Thornton F. Brodhead
Brodhead, c. 1860–1862
Born	December 5, 1820 South New Market, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	September 2, 1862(1862-09-02) (aged 41)
Allegiance	United States (Union)
Branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1847–1862
Rank	Brevet Brigadier general
Unit	15th Infantry Regiment
Commands	1st Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Battles / wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War Second Battle of Bull Run (DOW)

Biography

Thornton Fleming Brodhead was born in South New Market, New Hampshire, on December 5, 1820. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in law. He then moved to Pontiac, Michigan. He soon was appointed prosecuting attorney and then deputy Secretary of State.

At age 29, he became a state senator for Michigan.^[1] He served two terms. During his first term, he served on the judiciary, printing, and public lands committees.^[3] During his second term, he served on the state library and expiring laws committees.^[4]

Brodhead enlisted in April 1847 as 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant in the 15th U.S. Infantry during the Mexican War, and he was brevetted to the rank of captain on August 20, 1847. He was made a full captain on December 2, 1847, and was mustered out on July 31, 1848, when the troops were disbanded. In 1852 he was appointed postmaster of Detroit.

At the beginning of the civil war he raised the 1st Michigan cavalry regiment,^[5] at the head of which he served under Generals Banks and Pope.^[6] He died on September 2, 1862 of gunshot wounds received at Lewis Ford^[5] during the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862.^[2][7]

Personal life

Brodhead married Archange Macomb, a daughter of general Macomb and they had six children.^[8]