Veteran in crisis? Dial 988 then press 1 · Text 838255 Next observance: Navy Birthday · October 13
Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Army

James Granville Thompson

Private James Granville 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 James Granville 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 15 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 December 25, 1849 in Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York. Thompson died on May 23, 1921, at the age of 71. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California.

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. December 25, 1849
    Born in Sandy Creek, Oswego County, New York
  2. April 1, 1865
    Act of valor — White Oak Road, Virginia
    Age 15. Company K, 4th New York Heavy Artillery
  3. April 22, 1896
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. May 23, 1921
    Died
    Age 71.
  5. Resting place
    Mount Hope Cemetery
    San Diego, California

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

GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 JB John Brown Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 BT Benjamin Thackrah Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ZN Zachariah C. Neahr Private · Army Civil War · 1865 WS Walter B. Smith Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 GS George William Schmal Blacksmith · Army Civil War · 1865
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.