Thomas was born on his Grandfather's, John McCarty, farm on 20 August 1841. His father was in hope that he would be born on his birthday, but he was born a few days late. Best guess is August 26, 1841. On November 16, 1843 his grandfather died. Soon after John's death his parents moved to Madison County, AR. Next they moved to Grainger County, TN and lived there for a few years. By 1849 they had returned to Greene County, MO. In January 1950 his mother became sick and died. His father struggled with his family trying to make a living. Then he was taken in by stories of easy riches and joined the California Gold Rush. Thomas ended up in the care of his sister Elizabeth (McCarty) Cunningham. Thomas was a happy and a well liked person, a favorite of his Aunt Elizabeth. When his father abandoned his family in 1851 or 1852 his aunt raised him like her own son. Two of his brothers, Sanders and Levi, were bonded out. He had a way with horses and learned to ride at a young age.
When the Civil War started Thomas wanted to do his part. He joined the same unit as his Uncle Andrew Sterling McCarty, the 6th Regiment Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, Union. Because he joined at a later date he was put in a different company than his uncle. He was in Company B while his uncle was in Company G. Thomas joined the cavalry because he loved horses. He thought the war was going to be a great adventure. Where he could ride all over and be paid for it. He joined on November 25, 1861 in Greene County, MO. And mustered in on December 8, 1861 in Rolla, MO. Soon after he joined he became sick. He was sent to the hospital in St Louis, MO. He returned to his unit and later became ill again. Once again he returned to the hospital where he died on January 16, 1863. His sister Martha would name a son, Thomas Siegal Vaughn in his honor. He died in Jefferson Barrack Hospital and is buried there in the National Cemetery. His descriptive Roll for the 6th Cavalry list him as 5' 4" with brown hair, blue eyes. His complexion was fair. Thomas was born in Springfield, Greene County, MO.
When the Civil War started Thomas wanted to do his part. He joined the same unit as his Uncle Andrew Sterling McCarty, the 6th Regiment Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, Union. Because he joined at a later date he was put in a different company than his uncle. He was in Company B while his uncle was in Company G. Thomas joined the cavalry because he loved horses. He thought the war was going to be a great adventure. Where he could ride all over and be paid for it. He joined on November 25, 1861 in Greene County, MO. And mustered in on December 8, 1861 in Rolla, MO. Soon after he joined he became sick. He was sent to the hospital in St Louis, MO. He returned to his unit and later became ill again. Once again he returned to the hospital where he died on January 16, 1863. His sister Martha would name a son, Thomas Siegal Vaughn in his honor. He died in Jefferson Barrack Hospital and is buried there in the National Cemetery. His descriptive Roll for the 6th Cavalry list him as 5' 4" with brown hair, blue eyes. His complexion was fair. Thomas was born in Springfield, Greene County, MO.
Thomas was born on his Grandfather's, John McCarty, farm on 20 August 1841. His father was in hope that he would be born on his birthday, but he was born a few days late. Best guess is August 26, 1841. On November 16, 1843 his grandfather died. Soon after John's death his parents moved to Madison County, AR. Next they moved to Grainger County, TN and lived there for a few years. By 1849 they had returned to Greene County, MO. In January 1950 his mother became sick and died. His father struggled with his family trying to make a living. Then he was taken in by stories of easy riches and joined the California Gold Rush. Thomas ended up in the care of his sister Elizabeth (McCarty) Cunningham. Thomas was a happy and a well liked person, a favorite of his Aunt Elizabeth. When his father abandoned his family in 1851 or 1852 his aunt raised him like her own son. Two of his brothers, Sanders and Levi, were bonded out. He had a way with horses and learned to ride at a young age.
When the Civil War started Thomas wanted to do his part. He joined the same unit as his Uncle Andrew Sterling McCarty, the 6th Regiment Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, Union. Because he joined at a later date he was put in a different company than his uncle. He was in Company B while his uncle was in Company G. Thomas joined the cavalry because he loved horses. He thought the war was going to be a great adventure. Where he could ride all over and be paid for it. He joined on November 25, 1861 in Greene County, MO. And mustered in on December 8, 1861 in Rolla, MO. Soon after he joined he became sick. He was sent to the hospital in St Louis, MO. He returned to his unit and later became ill again. Once again he returned to the hospital where he died on January 16, 1863. His sister Martha would name a son, Thomas Siegal Vaughn in his honor. He died in Jefferson Barrack Hospital and is buried there in the National Cemetery. His descriptive Roll for the 6th Cavalry list him as 5' 4" with brown hair, blue eyes. His complexion was fair. Thomas was born in Springfield, Greene County, MO.
When the Civil War started Thomas wanted to do his part. He joined the same unit as his Uncle Andrew Sterling McCarty, the 6th Regiment Missouri Cavalry Volunteers, Union. Because he joined at a later date he was put in a different company than his uncle. He was in Company B while his uncle was in Company G. Thomas joined the cavalry because he loved horses. He thought the war was going to be a great adventure. Where he could ride all over and be paid for it. He joined on November 25, 1861 in Greene County, MO. And mustered in on December 8, 1861 in Rolla, MO. Soon after he joined he became sick. He was sent to the hospital in St Louis, MO. He returned to his unit and later became ill again. Once again he returned to the hospital where he died on January 16, 1863. His sister Martha would name a son, Thomas Siegal Vaughn in his honor. He died in Jefferson Barrack Hospital and is buried there in the National Cemetery. His descriptive Roll for the 6th Cavalry list him as 5' 4" with brown hair, blue eyes. His complexion was fair. Thomas was born in Springfield, Greene County, MO.
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