★

Loading archive…

★Victoria Cross

A comprehensive archive of decorated military heroes from Commonwealth, American, and allied traditions, ranked by the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25). Honouring valour through history.

USM-25.2Scoring Standard

Scored under the Unified Scoring Matrix (USM-25)

James M. Cumpston — Victoria Cross

< Back to Heroes

Service Profile

Branch: U.S. Army
Rank: Private
Service Era: American Civil War, Valley Campaigns of 1864
Medals Recorded: 2

James M. Cumpston

Private, U.S. Army

Support & adopt this hero ↓

American Civil WarValley Campaigns of 1864

Awards & Decorations

Medal of Honor 1862-1895 Army
Civil War Campaign Medal 1862–1895 Army

Ribbon Rack

Biography

Captured an enemy flag during the Shenandoah Valley campaign

During the 1864 Shenandoah Valley campaign, Private James M. Cumpston captured an enemy flag, the act for which he received the Medal of Honor.

Born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1837, Cumpston served in Company D, 91st Ohio Infantry. CMOHS also records the surname as Compston.

His Medal of Honor action is recorded broadly within the Shenandoah Valley campaign in August 1864. The official citation is exceptionally brief and identifies the decisive act as the capture of a flag.

Medal of Honor Citation

Capture of flag.

Cumpston died on May 24, 1888, at Coalton, Ohio, and was buried in Coalton Cemetery.

His record is presented to the level supported by the sources reviewed, without filling gaps by inference.

Support & adopt

Become the named supporter for this profile and edit the tribute biography and portrait (Owner account required). Proceeds help keep the archive online.

$25 USD / year — annual sponsorship renewal. Keeps the page online and, where enabled, the family anniversary remembrance emails active.