Pvt. French enlisted on August 1, 1862 as a Private. He served the entire war, mustering out on June 17, 1865.

In the summer of 1862 Capt. Frederick W. Alexander organized a battery at Baltimore under the president's call for 300,000 men to serve for three years.  It soon became known as "Alexander's" battery and within a month after it was mustered in to service it was ordered to Monocacy Junction, where it was assigned to the Maryland brigade, commanded by Brig.-Gen. John R. Kenly.  It remained on the upper Potomac until the early part of Dec., 1862, when it was ordered with the brigade to Maryland heights, where it went into winter quarters.  Toward the last of April, 1863, it moved to Berryville, Va., to relieve two sections of Battery B, W. Va. artillery, and remained with Gen. Milroy until that officer was surrounded with his command at Winchester, where the battery lost 48 men captured.  The battery was then reassembled at Baltimore, where it was furnished with new horses and equipments, including 3-inch rifled guns, soon after the battle of Gettysburg and it remained there on garrison duty until the summer of 1864, when Early reached the Potomac on July 4, 1864, in his demonstration against Washington, Alexander's battery joined the Union forces under Gen. Lew Wallace at Monocacy, where on the 9th Early was checked by a force about equal to one-third of his army, Alexander's battery being the only artillery on the Federal side.  The battery was mentioned in complimentary terms by Gen. Tyler in his report.  On July 30, 1864, the battery was dismounted at Halltown, Va., its horses, which were in good condition, being taken to supply the batteries of the 6th corps by order of Gen. Wright, and broken down horses were supplied to the Maryland battery, which was then attached to the defenses of Harper's Ferry, where it remained until Jan., 1865.  It then marched to Camp Barry near Washington, D. C., and was mustered out on June 17, 1865.  During its service the battery was engaged at Berryville, Opequan Creek, Winchester, Martinsburg pike, Middletown, Catoctin Mountain, Frederick and Monocacy.  In these actions it lost 1 man killed and while in service 7 died from wounds or disease.

This small pocket testament printed by The American Bible Society in New York on in 1862 has a label affixed to the inside front cover. The pre-printed label is filled in by Pvt. French in ink. It reads, “Bible House, Baltimore, Oct 31, 1862. From the Maryland State Bible Society to Mr. Thomas A. French Soldier in Comp. Balt. Light Battn. Vols. Should I die on the battle field or in Hospital, for the sake of humanity, aquaint Mrs. Sarah Jane France , my wife, residing at 152 Franklin St. Balt., of the fact, and where my remains may be found”.  Pvt. France also signs the Testament in ink on the back inside cover “Baltimore Md”. Worthy of additional research.

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