Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private Peter Thompson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 25, 1876 in Little Big Horn, Montana during the Indian Campaigns. At the time he was serving with Company C, 7th U.S. Cavalry. Thompson was 21 years old.
22 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on October 5, 1878, 2 years after the action.
Thompson was born on December 28, 1854 in Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Thompson died on December 4, 1928 in Hot Springs, South Dakota, at the age of 73. He is buried at West Lead Cemetery in Lead, South Dakota. His medal is held by High Plains Western Heritage Center, Spearfish, SD.
Thompson is one of 426 Medal of Honor recipients from the Indian Campaigns and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
After having voluntarily brought water to the wounded, during which effort he was shot through the head, he made two successful trips for the same purpose, notwithstanding remonstrances of his sergeant.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Indian Wars.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Occupations: miner
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- December 28, 1854Born in Scotland
- June 25, 1876Act of valor — Little Big Horn, MontanaAge 21. Company C, 7th U.S. Cavalry
- October 5, 1878Medal of Honor presented
- December 4, 1928Died in Hot Springs, South DakotaAge 73.
- Resting placeWest Lead CemeteryLead, South Dakota
Biography
Peter Thompson (September 1, 1853 – December 3, 1928) was a Scots-American soldier who was awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
From the Wikipedia article “Peter Thompson (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
