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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Major · U.S. Army

Hampton Sidney Thomas

Major Hampton Sidney Thomas, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 5, 1865 at Amelia Springs, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 5, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Major Hampton Sidney Thomas received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 5, 1865 at Amelia Springs, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 1st Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry. Thomas was 27 years old.

13 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on January 15, 1894, 28 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Colonel.

Thomas was born on November 3, 1837 in Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Thomas died on May 21, 1899 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 61. He is buried at Lawnview Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Thomas is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Conspicuous gallantry in the capture of a field battery and a number of battle flags and in the destruction of the enemy's wagon train. Maj. Thomas lost a leg in this action.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

Maj. Thomas lost a leg in this action.

Battles and campaigns

1865 · Civil War

Battle of Amelia Springs

Result: Inconclusive

2 Medal of Honor recipients

Places

  • Born: Quakertown — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map
  • Buried: Rockledge — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. November 3, 1837
    Born in Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
  2. April 5, 1865
    Act of valor — Amelia Springs, Virginia
    Age 27. 1st Pennsylvania Veteran Cavalry
  3. January 15, 1894
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 21, 1899
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 61.
  5. Resting place
    Lawnview Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

Hampton Sidney Thomas (November 3, 1837 – May 21, 1899) was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army as a major in the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry during the American Civil War. He received his country's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his "conspicuous gallantry" on April 5, 1865, in the Battle of Amelia Springs, Virginia during which he captured an artillery battery and several enemy flags while also helping to destroy a wagon train of the Confederate States Army. The award was conferred on January 15, 1894.

From the Wikipedia article “Hampton S. Thomas”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on April 5, 1865

JC James A. Campbell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Edwin Chandler Quartermaster Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JD John A. Davidsizer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Alexander Elliott Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JL James Parker Landis Chief Bugler · Army Civil War · 1865 Lewis Locke Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JP James Kastor Peirsol Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 GS George William Schmal Blacksmith · Army Civil War · 1865 GS George W. Stewart First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CS Christian Streile Private · Army Civil War · 1865 AT Aaron B. Tompkins Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Henry Clay Warfel Private · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 14 recipients for April 5, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

CS Charles Shambaugh Corporal · Army Civil War · 1862 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 GR George W. Reed Private · Army Civil War · 1864 JD James K. l Duncan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JT James B. Thompson Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Galusha Pennypacker Colonel · Army Civil War · 1865
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.