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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

Allen Thompson

Private Allen Thompson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 1, 1865 at White Oak Road, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 1, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Allen Thompson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1865 at White Oak Road, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company K, 4th New York Heavy Artillery. Thompson was 17 years old.

21 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 22, 1896, 31 years after the action.

Thompson was born on October 1, 1847 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York. Thompson died on February 27, 1906, at the age of 58. He is buried at Lake View Cemetery in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Thompson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

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

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Timeline

  1. October 1, 1847
    Born in New York, New York
  2. April 1, 1865
    Act of valor — White Oak Road, Virginia
    Age 17. Company K, 4th New York Heavy Artillery
  3. April 22, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. February 27, 1906
    Died
    Age 58.
  5. Resting place
    Lake View Cemetery
    Cheyenne, Wyoming

Further reading

Also honored for actions on April 1, 1865

William Henry harrison Benyaurd First Lieutenant, Engineers · Army Civil War · 1865 Wilmon Whilldin Blackmar Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HB Henry G. Bonebrake First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 HD Hiram Adolphus Delavie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 DE David Edwards Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AE Adelbert Everson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Albert E. Fernald First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 Eugene W. Ferris First Lieutenant & Adjutant · Army Civil War · 1865 Charles N. Gardner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 James G. Grindlay Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865 AK August Kauss Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Jacob Koogle First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 22 recipients for April 1, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from New York

CB Charles Baker Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 JC James Connors Private · Army Civil War · 1864 BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TB Terrence Begley Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ Robert Summers Chief Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 LC Luman Lewis Cadwell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.