Richard Foster Thomas (My Gr-Gr-Grandfather)on the 5th. Of July 1861 enlisted into the Confederate Army at Camp Boone, Tennessee. He was assigned to Company K, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry. Richard was under the command of Captain G. W. Ray and Lieutenant Colonel Thomas G. Woodward and Lieutenant Robert Bibb.

This unit was known as “Woodard’s Battalion of Kentucky Partisan Rangers.” Lieutenant Woodward organized this unit in the southwestern part of Kentucky on August 1st. 1862. The men of this unit were signed up for only twelve months of service.

Woodward’s Rangers participated in numerous scouting outings and were involved in several small skirmishes. This saw action at Clarksville, Tennessee on August 18th. 1862. And they also saw action at Fort Donnellson, Tennessee on August 25th. 1862.

Information shows that Richard was reported on the muster roll as “deserted while on furlough” from March to April, 1864. His records were later found and showed that he was cleared.

After his twelve months of service with this unit, Richard Foster Thomas was honorably discharged in April 1862 at Williamsport, Tennessee located on Duck’s River. Richard was never taken prisoner during his time of service. After the war he took the oath of allegiance to the United States Government at Springfield, Tennessee in April 1865.