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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Sergeant · U.S. Army

Charles Augustus Thompson

Sergeant Charles Augustus Thompson, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War May 12, 1864

Sergeant Charles Augustus Thompson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 12, 1864 in Spotsylvania, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company D, 17th Michigan Infantry. Thompson was 21 years old.

34 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 27, 1896, 32 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant.

Thompson was born on February 16, 1843 in Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio. His Medal of Honor is credited to Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Thompson died on August 24, 1900 in Rutland, Vermont, at the age of 57. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Rutland, Vermont.

Thompson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 112 credited to Michigan.

★ Single-Handed Actions

Official Medal of Honor citation

After the regiment was surrounded and all resistance seemed useless, fought singlehanded for the colors and refused to give them up until he had appealed to his superior officers.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Buried: Evergreen Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Michigan →

Timeline

  1. February 16, 1843
    Born in Perrysburg, Wood County, Ohio
  2. May 12, 1864
    Act of valor — Spotsylvania, Virginia
    Age 21. Company D, 17th Michigan Infantry
  3. July 27, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 24, 1900
    Died in Rutland, Vermont
    Age 57.
  5. Resting place
    Evergreen Cemetery
    Rutland, Vermont

Biography

Charles A. Thompson (February 16, 1843 – August 24, 1900) was an American soldier who fought for the Union Army as an Officer in the American Civil War. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on 12 May, 1864 at The Battle of Spotsylvania. He served with Company D of the 17th Michigan Infantry. He is now buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Rutland, Vermont.

From the Wikipedia article “Charles A. Thompson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 12, 1864

FA Frederick Alber Private · Army Civil War · 1864 RA Robert Wesley Ammerman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 NB Nathaniel C. Barker Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 John P. Beech Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 FB Francis A. Bishop Private · Army Civil War · 1864 EB E. Michael Burk Private · Army Civil War · 1864 DC Dayton P. Clarke Captain · Army Civil War · 1864 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 CF Charles S. Fall Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles H. Fasnacht Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Archibald Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1864 GH George W. Harris Private · Army Civil War · 1864

See all 35 recipients for May 12, 1864 →

More Civil War recipients from Michigan

JR James H. Robinson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 HF Henry M. Fox Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 Orlando Bolivar Willcox Colonel · Army Civil War · 1861 Alonzo Smith Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1864 WW William Henry Ward Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 FB Frederick A. Ballen Private · Army Civil War · 1863
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.