He was a middle age man,
he had a wife and three
small children, at home

On March 1, 1863, a man age 33, standing 5'9" tall with a fair complexion and blue eyes and light color hair enlisted in the US Army, with the Arkansas Infantry in Newton County, Arkansas under Captain McCoy. Muster Up Roll was at Fayetteville, Arkansas March 10, 1863. Vincent Thomas was now a Private serving in Company F, 1st Regiment of the Arkansas Infantry.  He was a middle age man, he had a wife and three small children, at home in Newton County, Arkansas.

Military records state that Vincent suffered the effects of blood poisoning, a result of impure military vaccinations. Vincent was treated by Dr. Waterman, the regiment's doctor. Eight months after his enlistment, records show that he was at Fort Smith, Arkansas and sick from the effects of a vaccination, from November 17, 1863 to January 2, 1864. The vaccination "resulted in chronic rheumatic affection of his whole system from exposure incident of the service." Vincent was later able to actively serve. He took part in scouting detachments and detachments to apprehend deserters. His service totaled three years.

Vincent Thomas and wife Sarah "Sally" Spivey came to Newton County from Clay County, Kentucky in the late 1850's. They lived the remainder of their lives in Newton County, Arkansas.  In his later years, Vincent could only walk with the aid of a cane. Family recall him saying his legs were bum because of the war.  Vincent died at the age of 73 in 1904.  He is buried in the Mossville Cemetery, Newton County, Arkansas.

 

Wording of the above is as written on the original documents.
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