Charles Henry Tompkins

Charles Henry Tompkins
Charles Henry Tompkins
Born	(1830-09-12)September 12, 1830 Fort Monroe, Virginia
Died	January 18, 1915(1915-01-18) (aged 84) Washington, D.C.
Place of burial	Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1856-1894
Rank	Colonel Brevet Brigadier General
Battles/wars	American Civil War
Awards	Medal of Honor

Charles Henry Tompkins (September 12, 1830 – January 18, 1915) was a Union Army colonel, who received an appointment to the brevet grade of Brigadier General of volunteers during the American Civil War. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor for valor in action on June 1, 1861 in the Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861). This was the first action in the Civil War for which a Union Army officer would receive the Medal of Honor, although it was not awarded until 1893. He is not to be confused with another Union officer, Brevet Brigadier General Charles H. Tompkins (d. 1895) who commanded the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Regiment.

Tompkins was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia on September 12, 1830. He was the son of Colonel Daniel D. Tompkins, a career Army officer, and was the grand nephew of Vice President Daniel D. Tompkins.

He received an appointment to West Point from Brooklyn, New York as a member of the class of 1851, though he did not graduate with his class. He resigned in 1849 for unspecified reasons. Tompkins pursued private business interests until enlisting as a Private in the First Dragoons in January 1856, rising to the rank of sergeant before his enlistment ended in January 1861. He served on the western frontier and was recognized for his performance at the Second Battle of Pyramid Lake near Pyramid Lake, Nevada in June 1860.

Tompkins received his commission as a 2nd lieutenant in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Regiment in March 1861. It was in this unit that he gained fame for his heroism in action at the Battle of Fairfax Court House (June 1861) while a 1st lieutenant, to which he was promoted on April 30, 1861.