Thomas Long Philips was born May 1833 to Henry Hultz Philips and Adaline Long (1811-1908). Henry was one of 12 children born to David and Sichey (Hultz) Philips. Sichey was the niece of Richard Hultz.
Thomas and his wife, Nancy, had five children, the last of whom was born in 1869.
Thomas enlisted in Company D, 149th Pennsylvania Volunteers when it was organized in August 1862, by Col. James Glenn). However, Thomas left the unit to serve as a Regimental Armorer through the campaigns of 1863 and 1864; he rejoined Company D on September 1, 1864, and was appointed corporal. He must have made it home at least once during his service as his second child was born in 1864.
He served through the battles of Yellow Tavern, Hatcher’s Run, the Weldon Railroad campaign and the Battle of Dabney’s Mills where he was severely wounded by a bursting shell on February 27, 1865. But Thomas returned to the company on April 5 of that year and continued to serve until the end of the war (the company was mustered out June 25, 1865).
A book about Company D says: Thomas was “an excellent soldier, cheerful and full of life. He was popular among his comrades both in company and regiment.”
After the war, Thomas returned to Pittsburgh. The 1870 census lists him as an engine builder living with four children ages 1 to 13. By the 1900 census he was an unemployed machinist married to Rachel McElherren (1842-1921).
He died of pneumonia on Christmas Day, 1901.
Thomas’ uncle was Issac H. Phillips (1818-1890). Isacc married Margaret Williams (1825-1896).
St. Clair Cemetery 