Gideon W. Thompson

Gideon W. Thompson (February 28, 1823 – January 8, 1902)^[1] was a colonel in the Missouri State Guard and the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. He assumed command on the field after the fall of Brigadier General John T. Hughes at the First Battle of Independence.

Gideon W. Thompson
Born	(1823-02-18)February 18, 1823
Died	January 8, 1902(1902-01-08) (aged 78)
Place of burial	Barry Cemetery, Platte Co., MO
Allegiance	Missouri  Confederate States of America
Service / branch	Missouri State Guard  Confederate States Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Colonel
Battles / wars	American Civil War *Siege of Lexington *Battle of Pea Ridge *First Battle of Independence *Second Battle of Springfield *Battle of Hartville *Battle of Helena

Early life

Gideon W. Thompson was born in Todd County, Kentucky, to Robert C. Thompson and Eveline (Roberts).^[2] They relocated to Howard County, Missouri, while Gideon was a toddler.^[3] Gideon became a farmer and livestock trader in Platte County, Missouri.^[4]

Civil War

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Thompson was elected captain of a company in the 5th Division of the Missouri State Guard.^[5] Serving in the major battles of Price's 1861 Missouri campaign he was elected major then colonel in November 1861.^[6] In August 1862 he was recruiting a new regiment in Missouri and suffered a wound to the foot or leg at the First Battle of Independence.^[7][8]

Thompson was appointed Colonel of the 6th Missouri Cavalry (Confederate) November 9, 1862, as a result of John T. Coffee's removal from command on charges of drunkenness. The regiment participated in three large Missouri raids in 1863, including the Battle of Hartville and the defense of Little Rock, Arkansas. At the Battle of Hartville, he was reported as doing his duty "well and nobly"^[9] while commanding his regiment. After the Battle of Hartville, he was mistakenly reported dead in enemy communications by Union Brigadier General Fitz Henry Warren.^[10] After his many exploits during these campaigns, a command reorganization in December 1863 resulted in his replacement by another commander.^[11]

Post-war

At the close of hostilities, Thompson returned to his farm in Platte County, Missouri. He died January 8, 1902, and is buried in the Barry Cemetery in Clay County, Missouri.^[12]

References

1. "Gideon W. Thompson Sr. (1823-1902) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
2. Annals of Platte Co., p. 804
3. Eakin, Battle of Independence, p. 79
4. Allardice, p. 370
5. Allardice, p. 370
6. Sterling Price's Lieutenants, Rev. ed., p. 292
7. Eakin, Battle of Independence, p. 77
8. Eakin, Battle of Lone Jack, p. 10
9. “Marmaduke’s Expedition into Missouri”. Index to the Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives. Congressional edition, Volume 2580. United States Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1889, p. 204.
10. “Marmaduke’s Expedition into Missouri”. Index to the Miscellaneous Documents of the House of Representatives. Congressional edition, Volume 2580. United States Congress. U.S. Government Printing Office, 1889, p. 188.
11. McGhee, Guide to Missouri Confederate Units, pp. 94,95
12. Allardice, p. 370

See also

• Allardice, Bruce S., Confederate Colonels: a Biographical Register Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 2008.
• Eakin, Joanne Chiles, Battle of Independence, August 11, 1862, Independence, MO: Two Trails Publishing, 2000
• Eakin, Joanne Chiles, Battle of Lone Jack, August 16, 1862, Independence, MO: Two Trails Publishing, 2001
• Peterson, Richard C.; McGhee, James C.; Lindberg, Kip A.; & Daleen, Keith I., Sterling Price's Lieutenants, Rev. Ed., Independence, MO: Two Trails Publishing, 2007
• McGhee, James E., Guide to Missouri Confederate Units, 1861-1865, University of Arkansas, 2010
• Paxton, William M., Annals of Platte County, Missouri: From its Exploration Down to June 1, 1897, Platte County, MO: Hudson-Kimberly Publishing Co., 1897