Captain Samuel Milton Thomas

southernsoulspodca
7 days ago
2 min read

In 1881, Captain Thomas, a former Confederate officer and Louisiana State Senator, road up to his brother-in-law's plantation, went inside, and shot him in the head.

The Graves

The grave of Captain Thomas is small and unnoticeable, nothing to indicate the rich life of the man resting beneath. Photo by Tarah Thomas. — The grave of Captain Thomas is small and unnoticeable, nothing to indicate the rich life of the man resting beneath. *Photo by Tarah Thomas.*

The grave of Victoria Thomas, wife of Captain Thomas. Photo by Tarah Thomas. — The grave of Victoria Thomas, wife of Captain Thomas. *Photo by Tarah Thomas.*

It was Michael Dickson Thomas's grave that drew me to the Thomas plot, with its haunting epitaph, "Death is only a dream." Michael was the only son of Samuel and Victoria Thomas who died at age 16 of unspecified causes. Photo by Tarah Thomas. — It was Michael Dickson Thomas's grave that drew me to the Thomas plot, with its haunting epitaph, "Death is only a dream." Michael was the only son of Samuel and Victoria Thomas who died at age 16 of unspecified causes. *Photo by Tarah Thomas.*

The Soldier

Samuel Thomas organized a company of dragoons and became an officer in the company. After his capture at Port Hudson, he requested temporary parole to visit with his wife who had come to visit him. Photo courtesy of NARA and Fold3.com. — Samuel Thomas organized a company of dragoons and became an officer in the company. After his capture at Port Hudson, he requested temporary parole to visit with his wife who had come to visit him. *Photo courtesy of NARA and* *Fold3.com*.

The Senator

Captain Thomas was elected a Louisiana State Senator in 1870. He was involved in a lot of politics, obviously, but one event he might regret was advocating for the pardon of his brothers-in-law when they murdered a man in Bossier Parish. Photo courtesy of the Bossier Banner and Newspapers.com. — Captain Thomas was elected a Louisiana State Senator in 1870. He was involved in a lot of politics, obviously, but one event he might regret was advocating for the pardon of his brothers-in-law when they murdered a man in Bossier Parish. *Photo courtesy of the Bossier Banner and* *Newspapers.com*.

The Father

In 1881, Captain S M Thomas would learn of the assault on his daughter by his brother-in-law, Hugh Dickson, and in turn, Captain Thomas would ride out to Dickson's plantation and shoot him in the head in his bed. Photo courtesy of The New Orleans Democrat and Newspapers.com. — In 1881, Captain S M Thomas would learn of the assault on his daughter by his brother-in-law, Hugh Dickson, and in turn, Captain Thomas would ride out to Dickson's plantation and shoot him in the head in his bed. *Photo courtesy of The New Orleans Democrat and* *Newspapers.com*.

The Accident

The Josephine Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In June, 1891, Captain Thomas was sitting on the porch, watching rock being blasted across the street, when a large rock landed on his leg, crushing it above the ankle. He would spend months recovering, his wife would die while taking care of him, and he would never walk without crutches again.

The Child

In 1908, after the death of the last of the Dickson siblings, a previously unmentioned grandson of Captain Thomas married a local girl. Captain Thomas's daughter, Carrie Dawes, and her child fathered by Hugh Dickson due to his assault on her, were never mentioned again after the murder trial. Was this the child of Carrie, all grown up? Photo courtesy of the Bossier Banner and Newspapers.com. — In 1908, after the death of the last of the Dickson siblings, a previously unmentioned grandson of Captain Thomas married a local girl. Captain Thomas's daughter, Carrie Dawes, and her child fathered by Hugh Dickson due to his assault on her, were never mentioned again after the murder trial. Was this the child of Carrie, all grown up? *Photo courtesy of the Bossier Banner and* *Newspapers.com*.

After the trial of Captain Thomas, Carrie Dawes, her husband, and the child she bore as a result of the sexual assault perpetrated on her by her uncle, were not mentioned in papers again, either as items of news or in family matters such as funeral announcements. Years later, a young man named Victor Thomas surfaced in Bossier parish as the grandson of Captain Thomas. Born about the time that Carrie's child was born, Victor being the child of Carrie Thomas and Hugh Dickson makes the most sense. Hopefully one day it can be proven one way or another.