Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Clifford Thomson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 2, 1863 in Chancellorsville, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 1st New York Cavalry. Thomson was 29 years old.
11 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on November 27, 1896, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Major.
Thomson was born on April 15, 1834 in Fulton, Oswego County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Thomson died on September 29, 1912, at the age of 78. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre St. John & Paul Cemetery in East Orange, New Jersey.
Thomson 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
Volunteered to ascertain the character of approaching troops; rode up so close as to distinguish the features of the enemy, and as he wheeled to return they opened fire with musketry, the Union troops returning same. Under a terrific fire from both sides, Lt. Thompson rode back unhurt to the Federal lines, averting a disaster to the Army by his heroic act.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Buried: Holy Sepulchre Cemetery — map
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Timeline
- April 15, 1834Born in Fulton, Oswego County, New York
- May 2, 1863Act of valor — Chancellorsville, VirginiaAge 29. Company A, 1st New York Cavalry
- November 27, 1896Medal of Honor presented
- September 29, 1912DiedAge 78.
- Resting placeHoly Sepulchre St. John & Paul CemeteryEast Orange, New Jersey
Biography
Clifford Thomson (April 15, 1834 - September 29, 1912) was an American soldier who fought as a First Lieutenant with the 1st New York Cavalry in the American Civil War. He was awarded the medal for actions at the Battle of Chancellorsville. Thomson was later promoted to major and reassigned to the 5th United States Colored Cavalry. After the war, he became a companion of the New York Commandery of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Thomson was born in Fulton, Oswego County, New York and was buried in Holy Sepulchre, St. John & Paul Cemetery in East Orange, New Jersey.
From the Wikipedia article “Clifford Thomson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
