Major, 7th U.S. Cavalry
Researched & Compiled by Linda Fluharty.
(7th U. S. Cavalry – Major) – Murdered by desperadoes at Fort Mason, Texas on Nov. 14, 1867.
Born in 1832 at Belmont County, Ohio, across the river from Moundsville, John was a son of John Thompson and Sarah Walker, residents of Moundsville at the time of the 1850 & 1860 census enumerations; they apparently didn’t live in the large Thompson estate across the river in Belmont County until after 1860.
John A. Thompson was attending Virginia Military Institute and is not named in the 1850 census of Marshall County but his family was living there, so presumably that was John’s home.
John attended V. M. I. until his senior year but didn’t graduate due to a conflict with another classmate that resulted in what many believed to be an unjust court-martial. In 1855, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the First United States Dragoons but was soon transferred to the 1st U. S. Cavalry Regiment, where he participated in the Sioux expedition that fall. His service was very extensive.
About 1860, as a 1st Lt., he assisted the command in the construction of Fort Wise, Colorado Territory; one of the 2nd Lieutenants in the command was James E. B. Stuart, later a famous Confederate General.
While on leave that year, John married Mary J. Wilson of St. Louis. He served extensively during the Civil War, mainly in the west, but also in the south. When his regiment moved to Texas, he commanded his company at Fort Mason. On August 25, 1867, he was promoted Major of the Seventh Cavalry. He was preparing to join his new regiment when he was murdered:
San Antonio Express (TX), Nov. 18, 1867: “An express from Fort Mason arrived in this City on Saturday morning bringing the intelligence of the brutal murder of Major John A. Thompson, Commander of the Post, on Thursday morning last. Major Thompson was out driving with his wife and two children, and, passing by a store about half a mile from the Post, saw a difficulty taking place between some citizens and soldiers. He stopped his ambulance and ordered a sergeant, who was present, to have the parties arrested, when the desperadoes turned upon the Major and his sergeant, shooting the major through the head, killing him instantly, while by his wife’s side, and mortally wounding the sergeant. - The murderers, having their horses at hand, fled before any attempt for their arrest could be made… Scouts have been sent in all directions to (if possible) catch the murderers. The officers of the regiment have offered one thousand dollars reward for their arrest, and delivery to the military authorities.”The sergeant died that same day. The Acting Assistant Surgeon sent a letter to the Major’s Father, “Colonel John Thompson, Moundsville, W. Va.”
An article in the Daily Register (Wheeling), dated Dec 11, 1869 described the daunting task of having his remains moved to the residence of his father, Col. John Thompson, “opposite Moundsville.”
[Source for some history: Don Caughey]