Although his actual birthdate is a matter of dispute, Peter Thompson was born in Scotland. He enlisted in the army on September 21, 1875, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He listed his previous occupation as miner. He was transferred to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri and was assigned to Company C, 7th Cavalry at Fort Lincoln. He had brown eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion, and was 5’ 8 ¾” in height.
Thompson and the rest of Company C were assigned to the battalion under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. His horse gave out and he fell back and eventually joined Major Reno and the troops on the hilltop. He was wounded in the right hand while with the water party on June 26th. He was transported to Fort Lincoln aboard the steamer Far West.
He was discharged on September 20, 1880, at Fort Meade, Dakota, upon expiration of service, as a private of excellent character. He was issued the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, as a member of the water party with the citation”… after having voluntarily brought water to the wounded in which effort he was shot through the hand, he made two more successful trips for the same purpose notwithstanding the remonstrances of his sergeant.”
Thompson later became a well-respected rancher and land owner. He ran a ranch northeast of Alzada, Montana.
In 1914 Thompson had his recollections of the Custer Fight published in the Belle Fourche Bee. The first appeared on Thursday, February 19 and continued for eight consecutive weeks. The final installment was published on April 9, 1914.
Thompson died in December of 1928 in Hot Springs, South Dakota and is buried in the West Lead Cemetery in Lead, South Dakota, about 5 miles from famous Deadwood.
I have transcribed Peter Thompson’s story as it appeared in the Belle Fourche Bee in 1914. You can download and read the entire story here. Please feel free to post comments below.
Thompson and the rest of Company C were assigned to the battalion under Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer. His horse gave out and he fell back and eventually joined Major Reno and the troops on the hilltop. He was wounded in the right hand while with the water party on June 26th. He was transported to Fort Lincoln aboard the steamer Far West.
He was discharged on September 20, 1880, at Fort Meade, Dakota, upon expiration of service, as a private of excellent character. He was issued the Medal of Honor on October 5, 1878, as a member of the water party with the citation”… after having voluntarily brought water to the wounded in which effort he was shot through the hand, he made two more successful trips for the same purpose notwithstanding the remonstrances of his sergeant.”
Thompson later became a well-respected rancher and land owner. He ran a ranch northeast of Alzada, Montana.
In 1914 Thompson had his recollections of the Custer Fight published in the Belle Fourche Bee. The first appeared on Thursday, February 19 and continued for eight consecutive weeks. The final installment was published on April 9, 1914.
Thompson died in December of 1928 in Hot Springs, South Dakota and is buried in the West Lead Cemetery in Lead, South Dakota, about 5 miles from famous Deadwood.
I have transcribed Peter Thompson’s story as it appeared in the Belle Fourche Bee in 1914. You can download and read the entire story here. Please feel free to post comments below.
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