Confederate Military Officer. He received notoriety serving with the Kentucky "Orphan Brigade" in the army of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. A source states that Thomas W. Thompson was born in Philadelphia on February 28, 1839, was orphaned at age 7, before moving to Louisville, Kentucky, while another one states he was born in Louisville a year later. After being an orphan, he was adopted by his uncle, Thomas Williams. He began his military career at age 21 as a captain on June 7, 1861. He helped raise Company I of the 4th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry of the famous Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade, CSA, during the American Civil War. He commanded his company in such battles as Shiloh and Baton Rouge, and was then promoted to the rank of major and later Lt.-Colonel of the 4th Kentucky. He took command of the regiment during the Battle of Chickamauga, at age 23, being one of the youngest colonels in the service, and commanded it subsequently to the end of the war. According to the text, "Kentuckians in Gray," he was wounded at Shiloh, Chickamauga, and three times during the Battle of Atlanta. Thompson's 4th Kentucky Infantry fought one of the final actions of the war, east of the Mississippi River, on April 29, 1865, in central South Carolina. (General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.) He was paroled on May 15, 1865. After the war, he served for a time as Clerk of the Chancery Court in Louisville from 1874 to 1880. He had a wholesale stove and tin ware business. He married Ophelia Welch. He died at his home.
Confederate Military Officer. He received notoriety serving with the Kentucky "Orphan Brigade" in the army of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. A source states that Thomas W. Thompson was born in Philadelphia on February 28, 1839, was orphaned at age 7, before moving to Louisville, Kentucky, while another one states he was born in Louisville a year later. After being an orphan, he was adopted by his uncle, Thomas Williams. He began his military career at age 21 as a captain on June 7, 1861. He helped raise Company I of the 4th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry of the famous Kentucky "Orphan" Brigade, CSA, during the American Civil War. He commanded his company in such battles as Shiloh and Baton Rouge, and was then promoted to the rank of major and later Lt.-Colonel of the 4th Kentucky. He took command of the regiment during the Battle of Chickamauga, at age 23, being one of the youngest colonels in the service, and commanded it subsequently to the end of the war. According to the text, "Kentuckians in Gray," he was wounded at Shiloh, Chickamauga, and three times during the Battle of Atlanta. Thompson's 4th Kentucky Infantry fought one of the final actions of the war, east of the Mississippi River, on April 29, 1865, in central South Carolina. (General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.) He was paroled on May 15, 1865. After the war, he served for a time as Clerk of the Chancery Court in Louisville from 1874 to 1880. He had a wholesale stove and tin ware business. He married Ophelia Welch. He died at his home.
Bio by: Geoff Walden
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