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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Captain · U.S. Army

Thomas W. Hoffman

Captain Thomas W. Hoffman, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War April 2, 1865

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Captain Thomas W. Hoffman received the Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865 in Petersburg, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company A, 208th Pennsylvania Infantry. Hoffman was 25 years old.

65 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on July 19, 1895, 30 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel.

Hoffman was born on July 21, 1839 in Perrysburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Hoffman died on April 18, 1905 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, at the age of 65. He is buried at Pomfret Manor Cemetery in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

Hoffman 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

Prevented a retreat of his regiment during the battle.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Berrysburg — map
  • Died: Scranton — map
  • Buried: Sunbury — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. July 21, 1839
    Born in Perrysburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
  2. April 2, 1865
    Act of valor — Petersburg, Virginia
    Age 25. Company A, 208th Pennsylvania Infantry
  3. July 19, 1895
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. April 18, 1905
    Died in Scranton, Pennsylvania
    Age 65.
  5. Resting place
    Pomfret Manor Cemetery
    Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Biography

Thomas William Hoffman (July 21, 1839 – April 18, 1905) was an American soldier who fought with the Union Army as a member of the 208th Pennsylvania Infantry during the American Civil War. He was recognized with his nation's highest military honor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for his display of "extraordinary heroism" when preventing the retreat of a regiment during the Third Battle of Petersburg, Virginia on April 2, 1865. That award was conferred on July 19, 1895.

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

Also honored for actions on April 2, 1865

AA Abner Peeler Allen Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 AA Andrew O. Apple Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 William J. Babcock Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 JB James Albert Barber Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 EB Eugene Beauharnais Beaumont Major and Assistant Adjutant General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Robert douglas Blackwood Surgeon · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John W. Boutwell Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JB John E. Buffington Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 CC Carlton N. Camp Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JC John Corcoran Private · Army Civil War · 1865 Stephen Potter Corliss First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865 JC Josiah M. Curtis Second Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1865

See all 66 recipients for April 2, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

WC William C. Connor Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 HD Hiram Adolphus Delavie Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1865 Philip Petty Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 TC Trustrim Connell Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 JJ James T. Jennings Private · Army Civil War · 1864 AM Alexander H. Mitchell First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864
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.