Allen and James Thompson

Brothers Allen Thompson (October 1, 1847 – February 27, 1906)

Allen Thompson
and James Granville Thompson (December 25, 1849 – May 23,
1921) were Union Army soldiers during the American Civil War
and recipients of the highest decoration of the United States
military, the Medal of Honor. They are one of only a few pairs of
brothers to have received the medal.

Contents
Biography
Medal of Honor citation
Allen Thompson
James Thompson
See also
Allen Thompson, Medal of Honor
Notes recipient
References Born October 1, 1847
Sandy Creek, New
York, US[1]
Biography
Died February 27, 1906
Both brothers enlisted as privates in the 4th New York Heavy (aged 58)
Artillery Regiment; Allen joined from Port Jarvis, New York in Allegiance United States
June 1863, and was assigned to Company I, while James joined Union
from Sandy Creek, New York in February 1864, and was assigned
Service/ United States Army
to Company K; both brothers claimed to be 18 years old at the
branch Union Army
time of their enlistments. Allen mustered out with the regiment in
September 1865. James, who was wounded 2 days after their Years of 1863–1865
MOH actions, was discharged the following month.[2] service
Rank Private
During the Appomattox Campaign of March and April, 1865, their
regiment served as infantry rather than artillery and was attached to Unit 4th New York
a brigade in the 1st Division, II Corps, under division commander Heavy Artillery
General Nelson A. Miles. Regiment
Battles/wars American Civil War
On April 2, 1865, the Thompsons' brigade was pursuing
Confederate forces outside of Petersburg, Virginia, following the Awards Medal of Honor
Union victory at Five Forks the previous day.[3] Upon coming
across seemingly deserted enemy fortifications at White Oak Road James G. Thompson
and fearing an ambush, General Miles called for volunteers to
reconnoiter the area. Seven men, including both Thompson
brothers, stepped forward. Miles instructed them to advance
through the trees to a designated spot in the distance and, once
there, to signal back that the way was clear. If they encountered
Confederate soldiers, they were to alert the brigade of the enemy's
presence by opening fire immediately. The seven men advanced
through the trees and were approximately one-fourth of the way to
the designated spot when they were surprised by a group of about
50 Confederate soldiers. Ordered to lay down their guns and
surrender, the Union men instead chose to fire, even though they
were less than 100 feet from the numerically superior enemy
force.[4] James Thompson explained:

We had the secret of a signal that would have drawn

that brigade of brave boys in our rear into this death-
trap, where the enemy could have shot them down at
their leisure. We knew very well that if we
surrendered without giving the alarm we would be James G. Thompson, Medal of
compelled to give up the signal or die, so we decided Honor recipient
our only course was to give the alarm and die where Born December 25,
we were.[4]
1849
Sandy Creek, New
Five of the group of seven were killed by the Confederate return York, US
fire, only the Thompson brothers survived. Allen Thompson Died May 23, 1921
retreated back to the Union lines, uninjured, while James
(aged 71)
Thompson lay severely wounded.[5] Alerted by the rifle fire, the
San Diego County,
Union forces commenced an attack; the Thompsons' brigade held
California, US
its position while the 2nd Division flanked and routed the enemy
force. A burial detail sent to inter the dead of the small Allegiance United States
reconnaissance party found James Thompson still alive.[4] Union
Service/ United States Army
Thirty-one years after the battle, on April 22, 1896, Allen and
branch Union Army
James Thompson were each issued the Medal of Honor for their
actions at White Oak Road. The Thompsons' official Medal of Years of 1864–1865
Honor citations are nearly identical; James' citation reads: service
Rank Private
Made a hazardous reconnaissance through timber and Unit 4th New York
slashings, preceding the Union line of battle, signaling Heavy Artillery
the troops and leading them through the obstructions. Regiment
Battles/wars American Civil War
Allen Thompson died at age 58 and was buried in Lakeview Awards Medal of Honor
Cemetery, Cheyenne, Wyoming. James Thompson died fifteen
years later at age 71 and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery, San Diego, California.

Medal of Honor citation

Allen Thompson

Rank and organization: Private, Company I, 4th New York Heavy Artillery. Place and date: At White Oak
Road, Va., April 1, 1865. Entered service at: Port Jarvis, N.Y. Birth: New York, N.Y. Date of issue: April
22, 1896.
Citation:

Made a hazardous reconnaissance through timber and slashings preceding the Union line of
battle, signaling the troops and leading them through the obstruction.

James Thompson

Rank and organization: Private, Company K, 4th New York Heavy Artillery. Place and date: At White Oak
Road, Va., April 1, 1865. Entered service at: Sandy Creek, N.Y. Birth: Sandy Creek, N.Y. Date of issue:
April 22, 1896.

Citation:

Made a hazardous reconnaissance through timber and slashings, preceding the Union line of
battle, signaling the troops and leading them through the obstructions.

See also
List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: T–Z

Notes
1. Sources are inconsistent on Allen Thompson's place of birth. His Medal of Honor citation
gives New York City, while the book Deeds of Valor gives Sandy Creek, New York.
2. Regimental roster (http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/rosters/Artillery/4thArtCW_Roster.
pdf)
3. The Thompsons' Medal of Honor citations incorrectly give the date of their action as April 1,
1865
4. Deeds of Valor, p. 502
5. Deeds of Valor, pp. 501-502

References
Beyer, W. F. and O.F. Keydel (eds.) (2000). Deeds of valor: How America's Civil War heroes
won the Congressional Medal of Honor (https://archive.org/details/deedsofvalorhowa0000un
se_f4c5/page/501). New York City: SMITHMARK Publishers. pp. 501–502 (https://archive.or
g/details/deedsofvalorhowa0000unse_f4c5/page/501). ISBN 0-7651-1769-X. {{cite
book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
"Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (M-Z)" (https://web.archive.org/web/20090629002749/h
ttp://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html). Medal of Honor citations. United States
Army Center of Military History. June 8, 2009. Archived from the original (http://www.history.a
rmy.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html) on 29 June 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2009.

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