Description
Carte view of Captain Thomas Mills of the 67th New York Infantry, otherwise known as the 1st Long Island Regiment, sporting a pair of spectacular lambchop sideburns. Thomas would be commissioned a 2nd lieutenant with “I” Company beginning in June of 1861. The regiment would attached to Buell’s Division, Army of the Potomac, and play a prominent role at the forefront of the war effort. Starting with the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, the regiment would be engaged in the majority of the battles fought throughout the campaign. Yorktown, Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Richmond and Malvern Hill. They would be in reserve at Antietam but would fight at Fredericksburg in December. Slogging through the “Mud March” in January of 1863, they would next fight through much of the Chancellorsville Campaign. Both Maryes Heights and Salem Heights which then would lead up to the infamous battle of Gettysburg where the regiment would fight from Culp’s Hill. They would end the year fighting in both the Bristoe and Mine Run Campaign’s. After a short stint serving as guards at Johnson’s Island from January to April, 1864, they would return to the front lines in time to take part in the Battle of the Wilderness. It was followed by non-stop combat. Spotsylvania, North Anna River, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor and Petersburg. At some point, Thomas would be captured and was later exchanged in September, 1862, for Amos Hines of the 8th North Carolina Infantry who had been captured at Roanoke Island. Lieutenant Mills was promoted to 1st lieutenant of Company A on January 18, 1862 and captain later that year in August. He would be brevetted a major and mustered out with the rest of the 67th New York on July 4, 1864 at New York City. Back marked out of Brooklyn.
