Thomas Wilson Bradley (April 6, 1844 – May 30, 1920) was a United States Representative from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

Biography

Born in

Yorkshire, England Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

, Bradley immigrated to the United States in 1846 with his parents, who settled in

Walden, New York Walden is the largest of three villages of the town of Montgomery in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,818 at the 2020 census. It has the ZIP Code 12586 and the 778 telephone exchange within the 845 area code. Walden ...

. He attended school until nine years of age, and then began working for his family's business, the New York Knife Company, as a "shop boy." Bradley enlisted in the Army from Walden in August 1862, advanced to become a

sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

, and later received a commission. After the Battle of Chancellorsville, he was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

and became the aide-de-camp to Major General

Gershom Mott Gershom Mott (April 7, 1822 – November 29, 1884) was a United States Army officer and a General in the Union Army, a commander in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. Early life General Mott was born in Lamberton, New Jersey, a to ...

, 3rd Division,

II Corps 2nd Corps, Second Corps, or II Corps may refer to: France * 2nd Army Corps (France) * II Cavalry Corps (Grande Armée), a cavalry unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars * II Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French ...

. He later received a

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

promotion to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

of Volunteers. Bradley was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, the

Battle of the Wilderness The Battle of the Wilderness was fought on May 5–7, 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the first battle of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Arm ...

, and the Battle of Boydton Plank Road, and was mustered out with his regiment in June 1865.Regimental roster
/ref> After the war Bradley was active in the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and other veterans organizations and reunion societies. Bradley also continued his military service as assistant inspector general of the

New York National Guard The New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs (NYS DMNA) is responsible for the state's New York Army National Guard, New York Air National Guard, New York Guard and the New York Naval Militia. It is headed by Adjutant General of New ...

with the rank of

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

, later receiving promotion to colonel. Bradley was a member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

(Orange Co., 1st D.) in

1876 Events January–March * January 1 ** The Reichsbank opens in Berlin. ** The Bass Brewery Red Triangle becomes the world's first registered trademark symbol. * February 2 – The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs i ...

; and a delegate to the

1892 Events January–March * January 1 – Ellis Island begins accommodating immigrants to the United States. * February 1 - The historic Enterprise Bar and Grill was established in Rico, Colorado. * February 27 – Rudolf Diesel applies for ...

1896 Events January–March * January 2 – The Jameson Raid comes to an end, as Jameson surrenders to the Boers. * January 4 – Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state. * January 5 – An Austrian newspaper reports that Wil ...

and

1900 Republican National Convention The 1900 Republican National Convention was held June 19 to June 21 in the Exposition Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Exposition Auditorium was located south of the University of Pennsylvania, and the later Convention Hall was constr ...

s. Bradley was elected as a Republican to the 58th, 59th, 60th, 61st and 62nd United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1903, to March 4, 1913. Bradley was a member of the board of directors, vice president and president of the Walden National Bank. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Columbus Trust Company and the Walden Savings Bank. Bradley was employed by the New York Knife Company for more than 50 years, and rose through the company's ranks to become president and treasurer. Bradley died in

, at age 76 and was interred there in Wallkill Valley Cemetery.

Medal of Honor citation

He received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 3, 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Rank and organization: Sergeant, Company H,

124th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment The 124th New York Infantry Regiment, commonly known as the Orange Blossoms, was a volunteer regiment from Orange County, New York, during the American Civil War. Formed in Goshen during the summer of 1862, The unit was officially mustered ...

. Place and date: At Chancellorsville, Va., May 3, 1863. Entered service at: Walden, N.Y. Born: April 6, 1844, England. Date of issue: June 10, 1896. Citation:

Volunteered in response to a call and alone, in the face of a heavy fire of musketry and canister, went and procured ammunition for the use of his comrades.

Notes

References

Retrieved on 2007-11-07

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bradley, Thomas W 1844 births 1920 deaths United States Army Medal of Honor recipients English emigrants to the United States English-born Medal of Honor recipients People from Walden, New York Union Army officers Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Biography

Medal of Honor citation

See also

Notes

References

External links