Sergeant William P. Thompson was a soldier in the U.S. Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on May 6, 1864 at Wilderness Campaign, Virginia during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 20th Indiana Infantry. Thompson was 20 years old.
12 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on December 1, 1864. He later rose to the rank of First Lieutenant.
Thompson was born on January 11, 1844 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Thompson died on October 7, 1864 in Wilderness, Virginia, at the age of 20. He is buried at Greenbush Cemetery in Lafayette, Indiana.
Thompson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 75 credited to Indiana.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Capture of flag of 55th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Timeline
- January 11, 1844Born in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
- May 6, 1864Act of valor — Wilderness Campaign, VirginiaAge 20. Company G, 20th Indiana Infantry
- October 7, 1864Died in Wilderness, VirginiaAge 20.
- December 1, 1864Medal of Honor presented posthumously
- Resting placeGreenbush CemeteryLafayette, Indiana
Biography
William P. Thompson (January 11, 1844 – October 7, 1864) was a sergeant in the American Civil War and a recipient of the Medal of Honor for action at Battle of the Wilderness during which he was killed on May 6, 1864, with an award being issued to him on December 1, 1864.
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