John Thompson, Company K

“John Thompson” or “John Thomas” or “John Tompkins”? Company K or Company L? Infantry, Cavalry, or Artillery? Conflicting facts call for additional research and careful analysis.

Invalid — 793, 596 / —–

Letter from Andrew Davidson, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions to J.F. Kearney, Esq. 13 East Thrid St., Cincinnati, Ohio, 14 August 1890
“It will be necessary for you to state whether the regiment referred to was Infantry, Cavalry, or Artillery.”

General Affidavit, John Thompson, 26 September 1891
“citizen of the town of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, State of Ohio
“I am the identical person who enlisted in Co K 1st Regt US Cold Cavalry. My name may appear on the rolls of said Company as John Thomas as I was called by that name sometimes. I enlisted in Cincinnati, Ohio with Henry Triplett & reported to Provost Marshall Jones who assigned us to the aforesaid Company & Regiment. Triplett & I joined our company at Gallatin, Tennessee. Triplett was killed at the Battle of Nashville. I was discharged at Louisville, Kentucky. I lost my discharge right after I was discharged by having my valise stolen from me at Sycammore [sic] Indiana. This is the best identification I can give of myself.”
[Note: The endorsement on the back reads “John Tompkins was a private in Company K, 1st Regt, USC Cavalry, Respectfully returned with the information called for J.F. Kearney. Aug 18, 1890″ — Leslie]

War Departement, Record and Pension Division, 23 October 1891
“The rolls show that John Thompson Co L 1 USC Cav mentioned in the preceding endorsement, was enrolled Dec 28, 1864, and deserted as pvt Oct 20, 1865.
“Henry Trip, Co A said Regt killed in action at Jones Ford, Va.
“There is a John Thomas in Co K 1 USC Inf enrolled in Va.
“No other John Thompson or Thomas in either Regt.”

[Note: according to C.R. Gibbs’s Black, Copper, & Bright: The District of Columbia’s Black Civil War Regiment, there was a John Thomas, born in Prince George’s County, Maryland, who enlisted at Mason’s Island, Virginia on June 30, 1863. Thomas was 23 years old. — Leslie]