Private Henry A. Thompson, a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Minnesota. Thompson was about 24 years old.
30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Thompson was born in 1841 in England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Thompson died on February 16, 1889, at the age of about 48. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York. Records also list him as Connelly, Roderick P..
Thompson 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
On board the U.S.S. Minnesota in the assault on Ft. Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Pvt. Thompson advanced partly through a breach in the palisades and nearer to the fort than any man from his ship despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark, when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms and its colors.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1841Born in England
- January 15, 1865Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North CarolinaAge about 24. U.S.S. Minnesota
- February 16, 1889DiedAge about 48.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryWoodside, New York
Biography
Henry A. Thompson (1841 – February 16, 1889) was a U.S. Marine stationed aboard the USS Minnesota during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry A. Thompson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
