Thomas Wilhite

Lieut Thomas Wilhite

Birth: Sep. 23, 1836 - Washington County - Arkansas, USA

Death: Apr. 10, 1864 - Washington County - Arkansas, USA

Thomas Wilhite was the son of Hiram & Mary Ann (Strickler) Wilhite. He had three siblings: Martha Elizabeth, John Franklin, & Mary Christine.

Following are excerpts from "The Family of James and Caroline Bell," which contains some information about Thomas & the part he played in the Civil War.

The Wilhite family played an important role in the history of the Bell family; the following pages will show just how important. Twenty four year old Thomas, a widower who had lost his wife, Jane, during childbirth, was very devoted to the cause of the Union. This is the young man who had grown up on the farm next to the Bells, was a special friend of their son, Malichi, and had no doubt spent a lot of time in their home. ... his life, and ending thereof, had a profound influence on the Bells. ...

It's only fitting that Thomas Wilhite's life was immortalized in the pages of Col. Alfred Webb Bishop's book, published in 1863, titled, "Loyalty on the Frontier; or Sketches of Union Men of the Southwest; with Incidents and Adventures in Rebellion on the Border." Col. Bishop, Lieutenant Colonel of the First Cavalry Volunteers, began working on his book in 1862 while on duty at Elkhorn Tavern, Arkansas. When operations were suspended because of inclement weather, he would go into camps or summon particular men to tell about their experiences. That Thomas Wilhite was one of his favorites is shown by an entire chapter devoted to him in which he told of his bravery and adventures. In so doing, he has furnished an insight into those distressful times in Washington County.

Col. Bishop wrote, "Wilhite had now thoroughly committed himself to the Union cause, and it behooved him to look well to his personal safety. The rebel element predominated in his neighborhood, and the ‘strikers' and ‘tools' of the secession leaders were implacable in their resentments. Not considering, however, that his immediate personal peril was so great as to warrant an abrupt departure from the State, and yet feeling that he must never go about unarmed, Wilhite remained at home and prepared to ‘make a crop.' When following the plow a trusty rifle was invariable slung from his back, and a brace of revolvers were belted about him. At night the rifle stood at the head of the bed, and he often slept with his revolvers on. Several times when in the field he decried men coming to take him prisoner. He would then leave the plow in the furrow, slip into the woods and remain there until his enemies went away. There was no danger of their interfering with the horses or plow. They knew too well the deadliness of his aim, and the disagreeable doubt as to who would be his victim, kept them all away from the peril."

Col. Bishop mentions James and Caroline's son, George Bell, in an incident that took place in 1861. He wrote, "One day in June six rebels, whom for the satisfaction of their friends, we will name, Gilhamton Walker, Calvin Walker, George Bell, Alfred Strickler, John King and William Sharp, knowing that he was at home rode hastily up to take him, but he was too quick for them, and dodging around a corner of the house, with his rifle and revolvers, held his advantage while a parley took place. They informed him that they had come to arrest him because he was a Union man. He informed them they would have to reinforce and come again, that six men were not enough for the business, and that if any of them ‘dropped a gun,' one man would fall sure, and they would not know beforehand who it was to be. Like their predecessors who scouted the corn-field, they returned as wise as they came, even requesting that they might ride away unharmed."

During the following summer and fall, Thomas was occasionally harassed in minor incidents, but by November he became increasingly aware of greater danger. Thinking there might be trouble that winter, he found a cave in a secluded place in the Boston Mountains where he could hide. By night, he secretly hauled one hundred bushels of corn and other provisions to the cave. No doubt this was a tedious process but was necessary to provide enough food for him and his horses. He was there all winter and occasionally slipped home to see his parents. In May 1862, he and a friend, William Zinnamon, who had stayed with him in the cave for a while, secretly make their way to Springfield, Missouri. They met with Colonel M. LaRue Harrison who was organizing what became known as the First Regiment of Arkansas Cavalry Volunteers. Shortly afterwards, Thomas was given authority to become a recruiting officer.

Col. Bishop wrote, "Recruiting in Arkansas for the Union Army was at that time a perilous undertaking. Loyal men avowed their principles at the hazard of life, and the greatest difficulty to be overcome was in getting recruits to the rendezvous of the regiment for which enlistments were being made. The Provost Marshal's department of Arkansas was organized by Major General Hindman, then commanding the trans-Mississippi district, was in active operation. Numerous companies of provost guards had been formed, and under color of orders, were robbing Union men and committing all manner of outrages. They were especially zealous in their efforts to check the growing tendency to enlist in the ‘Abolition Army,' as they termed it, and hunted with the eagerness of a bloodhound those Union men who, first cautious, and then expeditious, abandoned their homes for the woods, and the woods for the Federal pickets."

Thomas became so adept at recruiting soldiers for the Union that General Hindman posted notices along Cove, Fall, and Lee's Creek offering a reward of $7,000 and three honorable discharges from the Confederate service to any man who brought him in, dead or alive. Thomas found one of these notices tacked to a tree and claimed the right to "cross-notice." He wrote a note in the margin and informed Hindman that he and his men claimed 40 square miles of the Boston Mountains; that if he and Hindman's provost guards trespassed in their territory, he and his men would drive them into the valley below. A few days after this incident, Thomas was camped in the woods near the summit of the Boston Mountains. Much to his delight, he received word that Hindman was in the vicinity traveling in a carriage to Fayetteville with only six bodyguards. Thomas gathered a few of his men and an exciting chase began. However, the carriage was almost to Hog Eye, where Rebel pickets were stationed, before they could catch up with it. Knowing that he had no time to lose, Thomas and his men fired three shots toward the carriage but to no avail. Even though Hindman was safe, he and his men didn't end the chase until Hindman's pickets, his body guards, and carriage went "pell-mell" into the little village.

Thomas led a life of wild adventure in the Boston Mountains and demonstrated superior knowledge of the woods while recruiting men and evading hundreds of Rebels who surrounded them. He was determined to stay in the mountains until it was safe to take his recruits north. During this time he harassed the Rebels and took vengeance on those who had robbed and mistreated Union men. In October 1862, he safely led his men and reported to General Herron at Cross Hollows, 28 miles south of the Missouri line. From there he went to Elkhorn Tavern, where he rejoined his company and was appointed its First Lieutenant.

He continued in active service until he was discharged in January 1864. Three months later, April 10, 1864, he and his father were killed at the Wilhite farm by raiders. Some have claimed they were shot, and others have claimed they were hung. The answer can be found in the affidavit which follows.

Thomas's mother, Mary Wilhite, tried to get reimbursed for property the Union soldiers took from her family. Keep in mind that the Bells lived on a neighboring farm. The following is a partial account in answer to questions during a deposition given March 6, 1873: "My name is Mary Wilhite. My age is 60 years. My residence is Washington Co., AR. My occupation is a housekeeper. I am the claimant and have a beneficial interest in the claim. I resided with my husband in Washington Co., AR, on a farm owned by him, consisting of 80 acres, thirty of which was in cultivation throughout the war. I was at home all the time of the war. A party of Rebel Bushwhackers arrested me about 1/4 of a mile from home and took me back home to make me tell where my son was. They drug me about right smart and got a rope and threatened to hang me, but finally went off and left then. I never was arrested by the Federals. Prices Army in 1862 took 3 head of horses from us. Took our corn, hogs and nearly swept me clean of property. They never paid me a cent. My house was searched 21 times by the Rebels and robbed whenever there was anything to take. They threatened to hang me, to burn and everything else that they could think of. I was robbed time and time again. My husband and son ware murdered at home because they ware Union men. My husband was taken from the house and shot and hung. My son was shot down in my presence. I did everything in my power for the Union cause. I found the soldiers and carried them news whenever I could. That the rebels well knew and that is why they treated me so bad. I had one brother in the Rebel Army is all I know of, except two nephews. My brother's name was John Strickler. I contributed nothing to equip them for the service. I had two brothers and one son besides a great many other relatives in the Union Army and my brother, John, is now one of the strongest Radicals in this country."

On March 6, 1873, Mary's son, John Wilhite, gave a deposition on behalf of his mother. He stated, "My age is 23 years. My residence is Washington Co., AR. My occupation - a farmer. Claimant is my mother. I make no claim to any interest in this claim. I want my mother to have the benefit of whatever is collected. I was at home when the property was taken and saw the cows taken. When the Union Army returned from the Van Buren raid shortly after the Prairie Grove Battle, they camped one mile from our house. My brother was a Lt. in that army. In the evening directly after the army went into camp, I heard the shouting and me and Father went down there near camp and found the soldiers skinning the cattle. 1 (a cow) was Fathers and the other 4 (1 cow & 3 steers) were my brothers. Father told the soldiers the stock was Lt. Wilhites. They said they thought they was Stricklers (Strickler was a Rebel). The cattle were all fat and good size. The steers were well worth $25.00 each. The cows $20.00 each. The corn was taken a good while after that by a scout of the 2nd Ark. Cavalry under Maj. Melton which camped one night near our house. Maj. Melton measured the corn out of the crib and it was taken away in a wagon. I saw Melton give my mother a receipt for 15 bushels of corn at $1.00 per bushel. I know my mother never got any pay for the cattle or the corn."

Another Deposition was given by David Richardson on March 6, 1873. He stated, "My age is 60 years. My residence is Wash. Co., AR. My occupation - a farmer. I am not related to claimant and have no interest in her claim. I have been acquainted with claimant for 28 years. I lived one mile from her during all the war except one year that I lived three miles from her. I met her and her husband often, and had a good many talks with them about the war. She, her husband and son were noted in the country as being among the strongest and most uncompromising Union people in the country. That was a matter of public talk. Her son was a (?) to Rebels in time of the war. Her husband, though an old man, was very outspoken in his loyalty and was also murdered by the Rebels on account of it. Mrs. Wilhite was noted for her zeal in the Union cause and was bitterly hated by the Rebels, and it was common (?) in the country that she was robbed, threatened and abused in every way by the Rebels. I knew their cattle well and one morning when Mounts Army camped in the neighborhood. I was in their camp in the morning just after they left and I saw near the camp ground the heads and hides of two steers that I knew to belong to the family (either Mr. Wilhite or his son). These were work steers good size, weighed, I suppose about 400 lbs net. They were well worth $25.00 each."

On March 17, 1873, William R. Dye provided a deposition on Mary's behalf. He stated, "My age is 38 years. My residence Washington Co., AR. My occupation - a farmer. I am not related to claimant and have no interest in her claim. I have been acquainted with her ever since I was a small boy. I lived four miles from her when the war came up, and until I left the state in June 1862 to go to the Union Army. I met her often before I left the country. I lay out three months of the time hiding from the Rebels and waiting for a chance to go to the Union Lines, and I went to her house many a night and she gave me provisions, and I know of her packing provisions and giving information to other Union men who were hiding out. After I became a soldier my regiment (the 1st Ark Cavalry) was stationed at Fayetteville most of the war and I was at her house frequently. Her son was Lieutenant of my company and her husband was as strong a Union man as there was in the country. Him and his son Thomas Wilhite were both brutally murdered by the Rebels on account of their loyalty and Mrs. Wilhite was as true a Union woman as there was in the government and she was robbed, abused, insulted and threatened on account of it clear through the war."

Shortly after Thomas & Hiram's deaths, James & Caroline Bell & some of their children left AR and returned to Cooper Co, MO, where they had lived 18 years before moving to AR.