Captain Joseph Pembroke Thom

Born at "Berry Hill"in Culpepper County, Virginia; March 13, 1828. Thom graduated from Fredericksburg Academy and appointed Lieutenant in 11th United States Infantry in 1847. After service in the Mexican War, Thom resigned in 1848 and attended the University of Virginia and the Jefferson Medical College. From 1853 to 1857 Thom serverd as an asst. surgeon in the United States Navy. In May of 1861, Thom was appointed Captain of Company C, First Virgiria Battalion. At the Battle of Kernstown on March 23, 1862 Thom was wounded in the hand and another bullet struck a bible carried in his breast pocket saving his life. In the summer of 1862, Thom was transferred to the Ordnance Department for reasons of ill health. Later he would run the blockage to Bermuda and went to Canada until 1866. After his return, Thom settled in Baltimore to practice medicine, becoming active in civic and veteran affairs. He died August 21, 1899.

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