William Thompson (Medal of Honor, 1861)

A shell wound did not drive Signal Quartermaster William Thompson from the wheel of USS Mohican. He kept the ship under control beneath the Confederate batteries until blood loss finally forced him down.

Born in Cape May County, New Jersey, in 1812, Thompson served in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Mohican. On 7 November 1861, during the Union naval attack on Forts Walker and Beauregard at Port Royal, South Carolina, he steered under heavy fire. A shell fragment wounded him, but he remained at his station until he collapsed. The wound ultimately cost him a leg.

Medal of Honor Citation (condensed): While Mohican fought the batteries at Hilton Head on 7 November 1861, Thompson continued to steer steadily under fire after being wounded, remaining at his post until loss of blood caused him to fall.

Thompson received the Medal of Honor during the Civil War. He died in Philadelphia on 12 September 1872 and was buried in the naval plot at Mount Moriah Cemetery.

His verified rack consists of the Medal of Honor and the Navy Civil War Campaign Medal. No clasp, service star, or other ribbon device is supported.