b. 1841 England. d. 16/02/1889 Queens County, New York.
DATE OF MOH ACTION: 15/01/1865 Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
Emigrating from his native England, Thompson volunteered for service in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1863 and was assigned to the Union frigate USS Minnesota. His enlistment is credited to the state of Pennsylvania. Like many sailors of his day, Thompson used a pseudonym. His real name was Roderick P. Connelly.
On January 15, 1865, the North Carolina Confederate stronghold of Fort Fisher was taken by a combined Union storming party of sailors, marines, and soldiers under the command of Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Alfred Terry. Thompson was one of nine crewmen from the USS Minnesota who received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle.
MOH CITATION:
On board the U.S.S. Minnesota in the assault on Ft. Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Pvt. Thompson advanced partly through a breach in the palisades and nearer to the fort than any man from his ship despite enemy fire which killed or wounded many officers and men. When more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, he remained with the party until dark, when it came safely away, bringing its wounded, its arms and its colors.
BURIAL LOCATION: CALVARY CEMETERY, WOODSIDE, NEW YORK.
SECOND CALVARY, SECTION 11, RANGE 35, PLOT 0, GRAVE 9.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
