Thomas Quinton Donaldson Jr.

Thomas Quinton Donaldson Jr.
Born	(1864-06-26)June 26, 1864 Greenville, South Carolina
Died	October 26, 1934(1934-10-26) (aged 70) New York, New York
Burial place	Arlington National Cemetery
Education	United States Military Academy
Occupation	Military officer
Spouse	Mary Elizabeth Willson ​ ​ (m. 1892)​
Children	4
Signature

Thomas Quinton Donaldson Jr. (1864–1934) was a United States Army Major General, who was a veteran of numerous American Indian Wars, including the Wounded Knee Massacre. His final command was Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Early life

Donaldson was born into a military family at Greenville, South Carolina on June 26, 1864.^[1] After basic education through local schools, he enrolled at Patrick Military Institute. In June 1887, he graduated 34th in a class of 64 from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York.^[2]

He married Mary Elizabeth Willson in 1892, and they had four children.^[1]

Wounded Knee and Indian wars

Donaldson was a veteran of the American Indian Wars, having served in the 7th Cavalry Regiment under James W. Forsyth during the 1890 South Dakota Wounded Knee Massacre, and the ensuing White Clay Creek massacre.^[3] Donaldson subsequently provided a multi-page hand-written account of the battle at Wounded Knee.^[4][5]

Later military service

He was a veteran of the 1898 Spanish–American War, and saw World War I service at Governors Island in New York, as well as at Tours, France.^[2] In 1920, he was made a colonel of the Inspector General's Department, during the pursuit of draft dodger Grover Cleveland Bergdoll who was later arrested for evading Article 58 of the Selective Service Act of 1917.^[6]

Final years

Donaldson was put in charge of Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas in 1928. Due to his ill health, he was replaced the same year by Major General William Lassiter.^[7] He relocated to New York, where he died on October 26, 1934.^[2][6] He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[2]

See also

• Pershing House

References

1. Snowden, Yates, ed. (1920). History of South Carolina. Vol. V. Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 257–259. Retrieved June 29, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
2. "Thomas Quinton. Donaldson, Jr., Major General, United States Army". Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
3. "Donaldson was Indian Fighter". The Greenville News. November 1, 1934. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
4. "Walter Mason Camp notes on the Battle of Wounded Knee". contentdm.lib.byu.edu. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
5. Judiciary, United States Congress Senate Committee on the (1976). Wounded Knee Massacre: Hearings Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, Ninety-fourth Congress, Second Session, on S. 1147 and S. 2900 ... February 5 and 6, 1976. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 92, 115, 127, 129, 401, 417–18, 425–27, 449, 498, 544, 566, 582–83, 590–92.
6. "Sioux Indian Fighter Succumbs at New York". The Baltimore Sun. October 29, 1934. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
7. "Donaldson Takes over Command of 8th Corps Area". Abilene Reporter-News. January 4, 1928. Retrieved February 21, 2022.

External links

• Army at Wounded Knee