Site Content

This link has a great history of his life and narrative from his battles with the Union. https://vermontcivilwar.org/get.php?input=3469 

He is pictured to the left. 

Thomas served nearly 4 years in the Union Army, and was shot at the battle of Cedar Creek, where he lay on the battlefield for nearly a day. He also was a merchant in Fairfield, and served as a Vermont Legislator, and also on the military affairs committee.  His ethnic heritage and military experience might have been considered valuable on the Committee, given the prior Irish nationalist (Fenian) raids in Quebec, organized in Boston and staged through Vermont in 1870 and 71. Although Kennedy was not a Fenian supporter, the father-in-law of his sister Ellen (Patrick Ryan's father) briefly harbored one of the Fenians before their 1871 raid. 

St. Germain, Marshall

Marshall, born of French parentage in Canada, November 20, 1836, came to Fairfield, Vt., in boyhood. He enlisted, September 20, 1861, in Company B, First Vermont Cavalry, Capt. George G. Conger, was under General Hatch in the Army of the Potomac, and served under Generals Custer and Kilpatrick with Sheridan. He participated in many battles, among which were the second battle of Bull Run, a cavalry fight at Brandy Station, Va., October 11, 1863, and at Gettysburg, where he distinguished himself for his bravery. He also saved his captain's life and his company from capture by his brave action. He went through the battles of the Wilderness in 1864 (May), the first engagement being at Mine Run. He was taken prisoner in March, 1863, and confined in Libby Prison. Mr. St. Germain was again taken prisoner in May, 1864, was in the hospital at Richmond, was afterwards taken to Andersonville, thence to Camp Florence, S. 0, and was paroled in the following autumn. He was at Savannah and afterwards at Annapolis while under parole. His discharge from the service was dated at Brattleboro, Vt., February 6. I860. He married Philena M., daughter of Aleck and Mary Bashaw, February 18, 1868.

TBD