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Signal Quartermaster · U.S. Navy

William Thompson

Signal Quartermaster William Thompson, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on November 7, 1861 in Hilton Head, South Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War November 7, 1861

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Signal Quartermaster William Thompson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 7, 1861 in Hilton Head, South Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Mohican. Thompson was about 49 years old.

2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Thompson was born in 1812 in Cape May County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Thompson died on September 12, 1872 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of about 60. He is buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Thompson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

During action of the main squadron of ships against heavily defended Forts Beauregard and Walker on Hilton Head, 7 November 1861. Serving as a signal quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Mohican, Thompson steadfastly steered the ship with a steady and bold heart under the batteries; was wounded by a piece of shell but remained at his station until he fell from loss of blood. Leg since amputated.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Cape May County — map
  • Died: Pennsylvania — map
  • Buried: Mount Moriah Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1812
    Born in Cape May County, New Jersey
  2. November 7, 1861
    Act of valor — Hilton Head, South Carolina
    Age about 49. U.S.S. Mohican
  3. September 12, 1872
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age about 60.
  4. Resting place
    Mount Moriah Cemetery
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Biography

William Thompson (c. 1812 – September 12, 1872) was an American sailor who was a Signal Quartermaster in the American Civil War and recipient of the Medal of Honor for action at Forts Beauregard and Walker on Hilton Head, South Carolina, on November 7, 1861. He was wounded by a piece of shell which caused his legs to be amputated.

From the Wikipedia article “William Thompson (Medal of Honor, 1861)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on November 7, 1861

GB George H. Bell Captain of the Afterguard · Navy Civil War · 1861 JW John Williams II Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1861

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

David L. Gifford Private · Army Civil War · 1864 John Darling Terry Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 HL Hugh Logan Captain of the Afterguard · Navy Civil War · 1862 DH Daniel C. Harrington Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1862 Charles Wellington Reed Bugler · Army Civil War · 1863
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.