Thomas L. Farish

Capt. Thomas Laughlin Farish

Thomas L. Farish (December 24, 1823–October 2, 1885) was the son of William Pendleton Farish and Millicent Laughlin Farish. He enlisted in 1862 with Robertson's Brigade in Stewart's Division. Captain Farish was acting assistant inspector-general and transferred in the same capacity to General J. A. Walker. Captured near Charlottesville in March of 1865, he was later paroled. Capt. Farish and his family lived at "The Farm" in Charlottesville, built by John A. G. Davis in 1825. "The Farm" has been restored and now is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thomas Laughlin Farish died in Charlottesville on October 2, 1885 and was buried at Riverview Cemetery.

Sheridan's Raid

At the close of the Civil War, Charlottesville was occupied by Sheridan’s Cavalry, U.S.A., arriving March 3rd, 1865, and leaving on the 6th. Their entry was from the West, and troops encamped in many sections of the town: “above the University,” South of the University (Piedmont), Belmont, Park Street, what is now Locust Grove, etc. Col. Sheridan’s headquarters were successively No. 408 and No. 522 Park St. Major-General Wesley E. Merritt was quartered at 303 East High Street, and Major-General George A. Custer at "The Farm"—the beautiful house designed by Jefferson, now 1201 East Jefferson Street. It was at the time the home of Capt. Thomas L. Farish, C.S.A.

Capt. Farish was on Adjutant-General duty in South-side Virginia. He obtained leave to return to Albemarle for the protection of his family. He was captured in civilian dress and taken to the custody of Gen. Custer—in Farish’s own home. Receiving him, Custer said, “Capt. Farish, in these unusual circumstances, I don’t know whether it is my duty to ask you to take a seat or yours to ask me.” The civilian dress classed Farish as a spy, and Sheridan sentenced him to death by hanging. Workmen erected a scaffold beneath one of the giant white oaks on Farish’s lawn. Custer made persistent remonstrance, and in a discussion which lasted until midnight, obtained a change of sentence to parole. (See Farish’s narrative, Weekly Chronicle, Charlottesville, August 4, 1876—Alderman Library.)