My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. THOMAS J. LOUDON (deceased) was born in Pleasant Township, Brown County, Ohio, November 15, 1839, and died while in the service of his country, September 23, 1863, in the twenty-fourth year of his age. He was the son of General James and Elizabeth Loudon, the seventh of a family of nine children. He spent his boyhood days on his father’s farm, and was just attaining manhood when the war of rebellion opened. He was impetuous and fearless in nature, and in the early days of the great national struggle entered the army and served on the staff of Gen. W. S. Smith; at the time of his death, he held a Captain’s commission. His early military experience was had in Virginia, where he participated in the battle of Carnifax Ferry and other engagements. His bold, dashing spirit admirably adapted him to the dangerous duties of the various expeditions which his position required him to make. He at one time was with a train, which was captured some distance out from Memphis, Tenn., plundered, and the soldiers aboard taken prisoners. Capt. Loudon and Capt. Lilley, of Columbus, Ohio, were the only two who eluded their captors and escaped. The former climbed a tree in the adjoining woods and was a spectator of the rifling and burning of the train and baggage, including all his own effects. With the assistance of some friendly negroes, he succeeded in finding his way back to the Union lines. He was drowned in the Mississippi, at Milliken’s Bend, at the burning of the steamer Robert Campbell, Jr. Gen. W. S. Smith, in describing the catastrophe of the burning, says: “I looked for Capt. Loudon, my Assistant Adjutant General, confident that he had escaped, as he was an expert swimmer. I knew the noble fellow would be looking for me, but he was nowhere to be found. The last I saw of him, he was standing on the very point of the bow, fully dressed and perfectly cool. He afterward aided all he could in getting planks and staging overboard. To Capt. Rose, who asked him if he could swim, he replied: “Oh, yes, don’t give yourself any trouble on my account.’ On inquiry, I learned from an acquaintance of his that he had swam out to the Captain, who was clinging to a trunk to which another man also clung, and endeavored to help him, but found him sinking. The two rolled the trunk, and I presume the Captain was rolled under. May kind Heaven grant him its sweetest rest from the stormy scenes of his brief life. A gallant, noble spirit was his.”