Brigadier General John L. Thompson (1835 - 1888)
Born at Plymouth (NH); died at Chicago (IL). Lawyer, Civil War hero. Portrait ( by U.D. Tenney, 1898) presented to the state.

John Thompson grew up in Plymouth (NH) and attended Kimball Union Academy. At Age 17 (1852) Thompson entered Dartmouth College as a freshman and completed his freshman and sophomore years there. He then went to Williams College for his junior year, but at the end of his junior year Thompson left college and went to Worcester (MA), where he pursued the study of law with F.H. Dewey. He also studied for a while at Poughkeepsie (NY) and entered Harvard College Law Department in 1856. Thompson received his law degree in 1858 and that same year was admitted to the bar in Worcester (MA). Yet his principal biographical entry is written by (later governor of New Hampshire) Benjamin F. Prescott, for the Dartmouth College Class of 1856, where Thompson is given ample space among "Non-Graduates" (published at Concord, 1888).

After receiving his Harvard degree Thompson studied at universities in Berlin, Munich and Paris (1859-1860). Upon his return to the United States Thompson moved to Chicago (IL) where he was working in the law offices of Scammon, McCagg & Fuller when the Civil War began.

On April 19, 1861 Thompson enlisted as a private in Company A of the First Illinois Light Artillery. He completed his ninety day enlistment as a corporal, but his health was poor and he returned to Worcester (MA) to recuperate. While Thompson was at Worcester, New Hampshire's Governor Berry commissioned him (October 19, 1861) First Lieutenant in Company K of a battalion of cavalry raised for the first all-New England regiment. This new regiment soon became a part of the First Rhode Island Cavalry, and in the spring of 1862 the regiment went to Washington, D.C. There they were attached to Union Army General McDowell's forces at Fredericksburg (VA), and they fought at Port Royal, Port Republic and at Cedar Mountain (all VA) during the fall and early winter of 1862. In the spring of 1863 the regiment fought at Chancellorsville, close by Fredericksburg, and then they moved west to fight at Middleburg (VA) in June, 1863. At Middleburg the regiment, sorely depleted and with only 250 men "under arms", was surrounded by Confederate General Jeb Stuart's forces, and 175 men were either killed or captured. Hast recruiting in New Hampshire brought the regiment up to 200 men, and the regiment fought at this strength at Gettysburg (PA), July 2-4, 1863.

Thompson's military promotions had been steady since being commissioned a First Lieutenant by New Hampshire's Governor Berry (October 19, 1861). Only five days after Berry's commission Thompson was promoted to captain (October 24, 1861). He was promoted to Major (July1, 1862), to Lieutenant Colonel (July 11, 1862), and to Colonel (June 24, 1863). [Officers often received rapid promotions as a result of the wholesale turnovers of officers and men because of old-fashioned military tactics in the face of new and overwhelming firepower used on both sides during the Civil War. Thompson's rapid promotions were not unusual among the Officer Corps of the Union Army.]

In January, 1864 the New Hampshire cavalry battalion separated from the First Rhode Island Cavalry. The survivors headed home to New Hampshire, where they became the nucleus of the new First New Hampshire Cavalry. Thompson resigned his position as Colonel in March, 1864; but in July, 1864 Thompson took command of the First New Hampshire Cavalry while they were at Harper's Ferry (VA). Thompson and his regiment fought with Union Army General Philip Sheridan's forces in the Shenandoah Valley, at Winchester, Waynesboro, Cedar Creek and other Virginia sites. At Waynesboro, the First New Hampshire Cavalry were the first Union troops to breach the Confederate breastworks and to reach the enemy's artillery. Sheridan recognized the bravery of Thompson's men by permitting the regiment to fight its way back to Sheridan's base of operations, 100 miles away, while at the same time they were responsible for guarding 1500 captured Confederate prisoners. The mission was successful, and Thompson was brevetted a brigadier general on March 13, 1865, before the First New Hampshire Cavalry was mustered out of military service. According to Benjamin F. Prescott, the author of the History of the Class of 1856, Dartmouth College (Concord, 1888), Thompson was "universally beloved by all under his command for his uniform courtesy, gentlemanly and soldierly bearing, and constant watchfulness after the welfare of his men." (Prescott, p. 129.)

Thompson returned to his position at his Chicago law firm. He began his own law firm in spring 1866, and in October 1866 he partnered with Norman Williams. Thompson and Williams continued as partners until Thomson's death, in 1888.

Location: First Floor, State House