{⋆★⋆} BG Thompson, M. Jeff

Meriwether Jefferson "Swamp Fox" Thompson​

Born: January 22, 1826

Birthplace: Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia (West Virginia)

Father: Captain Meriwether Thompson 1790 – 1859

Mother: Martha "Patsy" Slaughter Broadus 1796 – 1880

Wife: Emma Catherine Hays 1825 – 1886

(Buried: East Louisiana State Hospital Cemetery, Jackson, Louisiana)​

Children:

Henry Bolivar Thompson 1852 – 1901​

(Buried: Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana)​

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Marcie Abel Thompson Bailey 1860 – 1937​

(Buried: Mount Mora Cemetery, Saint Joseph, Missouri)​

Education:

Receive basic Training in Military Tactics in Charleston, South Carolina​

Occupation before War:

Store Clerk Employee in Virginia and Pennsylvania​

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Store Clerk Employee in St. Joseph, Missouri​

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Surveyor and City Engineer for the City of St. Joseph, Missouri​

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Supervisor of Construction of Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad​

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1857 – 1860: Mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri​

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1860: Presided of inaugural the first ride of the Pony Express​

Civil War Career:

1861: Cut down United States Flag from St. Joseph Post Office​

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1861: Lt. Colonel of Missouri State National Guard​

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1861 – 1865: Brigadier General of Missouri State National Guard​

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Commander of First Military District in the State of Missouri​

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Declared a counter proclamation to Fremont's Emancipation​

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1861: Led a cavalry attack on Iron Mountain Railroad bridge​

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1861: Defeated at the Battle of Fredericktown, Missouri​

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1862: Commander of rams in the Confederate riverine fleet​

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1863: Accompanied General Marmaduke on his raid into Missouri​

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1863: Captured in Arkansas, Prisoner of War at Gratiot Prison​

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1864: Exchanged for a Union General​

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1864: Served in Major General Price's Missouri Expedition​

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1865: Appointed Commander of Northern Sub District of Arkansas​

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1865: Agreed to surrender his command at Chalk Bluff on May 11th​​

Occupation after War:

Civil Engineer in the town of New Orleans, Louisiana​

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Designer of a program to improve Louisiana Swamps​

Died: September 5, 1876

Place of Death: St. Joseph, Missouri

Cause of Death: Tuberculosis

Age at time of Death: 50 years old

Burial Place: Mount Mora Cemetery, St. Joseph, Missouri

 

[Pollaco]

He is called one of the most shadowy characters of the Civil War. He may have been called the Swamp Fox but his men were known as the "Swamp Rats"

 

[Pollaco]

There was a colorful character by the name of James Ed Montgomery who put together a plan for river defense. His socalled River Defense Fleet was part of the War Department but not the Navy. His 14 rams, protected by cotton bales and each had 1 gun, were partially manned by men from Thompson's troops in the spring of 1862. They mainly served as gunners and marines. But there was bad blood between Thompson's men and Montgomery's boatmen and a transfer was requested by Thompson. By summer He was serving in the Lake Pontchartrain area near New Orleans for the next year.

 

[John Hartwell]

In the summer of 1862,while Ben Butler was at New Orleans, Thompson held command north of Lake Ponchartrain, and the two had occasion to exchange correspondence on one or two occasions. One such is seen in the thread:

A “Yachting” incident on Lake Pontchartrain. | Civil War History Discussion

It took place early in September, 1862, during flag-of-truce negotiations between officers of Major-General Ben Butler and those of Confederate Brigadier-General M. Jeff Thompson, and resulted in the following communications: UNOFFICIAL. Headquarters Department of the Gulf, NEW ORLEANS, Sept...

civilwartalk.com

In mid-1863, after Butler had transferred to Virginia, Thompson was captured in Arkansas. On September 28th, he wrote from Johnson's Island:

"Major General BENJ. F. BUTLER, U.S.A., WASHINGTON, D.C.​

"GENERAL: About this time last year the fortunes of war placed in my hands a Captain Thornton of your command, wounded and a prisoner of war. You will remember that I sent Capt. Thornton, on parole, back to New Orleans in your yacht. "I promised Capt. Thornton that if I was ever captured I would notify him of my whereabouts, that he might return the favors which he thought I extended to him. I do not think that Capt. Thornton is under any obligations to me, as I simply acted towards him as I have to all gentlemen who have been so unfortunate as to be captured by me, but in conformity with my promise I would like to let him know that I am here, and as I do not know his address, and understanding at the time that he was a personal friend of yours, I hope it will not be presuming to request you to forward him this letter, let me know his address, or otherwise let him know that I am at this prison, as may be convenient or agreeable to yourself.​

Yours Most Respectfully, M. JEFF THOMPSON, Brig. Gen. M.S.G."​

On October 6th, Butler replied:

"GENERAL: Your note addressed to me received to-day. I will forward it to Capt.Thornton, now on Brig. General Shepley s staff at New Orleans, as you request. I retain a lively sense of the courtesy and urbanity with which you conducted operations when in command opposed to me in Louisiana, and desire again as before to thank you for your kindness to Capt. Thornton in sending him home wounded, by which kindness I have no doubt his life was saved. Although an outlaw by the proclamation of those whom you serve, for acts which no one knows more surely than yourself were untruly reported and unjustly construed, I will endeavor to have your imprisonment lightened or commuted if possible. I have therefore taken the liberty to forward a copy of your communication to the war department, with a note of which the enclosed shows the contents. Sympathizing with you that the fortune of war has made you a prisoner, yet you will pardon me when I add that I am glad that the enemies of my country are deprived of the services of so effective an officer.​

Respectfully, Your Obdt. Servant, B. F. B."​

On the same date, Butler wrote Secretary Stanton, and also the commander of Johnson's Island Depot, asking that particular arrangements be made for Thompson's parole or exchange, and "enclosed fifty dollars which you will hand to General Thompson. He need not know from whence it comes. If General Thompson has any scruples, tell him to take it as a loan to be paid either to me or to the Union soldier who may have the misfortune to be in his hands hereafter and in need. We will fight all the better for it on both sides if we ever meet."

Thompson was exchanged soon thereafter. And, on October 12, he wrote his appreciation to Butler, including the affirmation that:

"the acts for which my Government blamed you were untruly reported, and unjustly construed. What your intentions were, when you issued the "order" which brought so much censure upon yourself, I of course cannot tell, but I can testify, and do with pleasure, that nearly all of the many persons who passed through my lines, to and from New Orleans during the months of August and September 1862, spoke favorably of the treatment they had received from you, and with all my enquiries, which were constant, I did not hear of one single instance of a lady being insulted by your command. "Thanking you again for your kindness and compliments, and hoping that your Government will soon conclude to 'let us alone' I am, Most Respectfully,​

Your Obdt. Servant, M. JEFF THOMPSON, Brig. Genl. M.S.G."​

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Was war ever more "civilized"?

 

[Pollaco]

I've just read where Thompson was exchanged but it had nothing to do with Butler, He wanted Thompson released on his parol But His request was denied by the War Department because of the Sawyer-Flinn dispute which was going on at this time.

 

[John Hartwell]

I've just read where Thompson was exchanged but it had nothing to do with Butler, He wanted Thompson released on his parol But His request was denied by the War Department because of the Sawyer-Flinn dispute which was going on at this time.

Those documents are in vol. 3 of Butler's Private and Official Correspondence.

 

[JD Mayo]

He is the 2nd cousin (removed) to my great great grandfather William H Gaines from Hot Springs Arkansas.

 

[mofederal]

His general's commission was never from the Confederacy, but from the State of Missouri. He also commanded Joseph Shelby's Iron Brigade during Price's Missouri Expedition in 1864. Shelby had become a Division Commander at this time.

 

[JD Mayo]

I look like him with my beard like that.

 

[jackt62]

Was Thompson considered an independent raider or guerrilla? I know he held command in the Missouri State Guard but I am unclear as to who controlled the nature of his actions and movements.

 

[JD Mayo]

Was Thompson considered an independent raider or guerrilla? I know he held command in the Missouri State Guard but I am unclear as to who controlled the nature of his actions and movements.

He was probably more like a independent, If he is considered to be anybody he be like the Civil Air Patrol, today they go out looking for missing people etc sister unit of the United States Air Force so on. So he probably had a similar roll. He probably sided with his family because they supported more of the Confederate Side than the Union. Also Guerrilla officers like that wouldn't have uniforms like that either. I think one of my great great uncles served under him.

Missouri State Guard - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Thompson wrote a fascinating reminiscence of his war experiences, full of deprecating humor. Years ago I used the book from the MO State Library but I never owned a copy. I see that there are two copies of the Morningside reprint available through Amazon but they are out of my price range. A great source for Missouri and Arkansas.

 

[CowCavalry]

He is the 2nd cousin (removed) to my great great grandfather William H Gaines from Hot Springs Arkansas.

Whats that they say about 6 degrees of separation?

 

[JD Mayo]

Whats that they say about 6 degrees of separation?

I can't remember?

 

[gentlemanrob]

Happy weekend (January 22nd) Birthday Brig. General M. Jeff Thompson! Salutes remembering General Thompson on his birthday weekend.

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

There was a colorful character by the name of James Ed Montgomery who put together a plan for river defense. His socalled River Defense Fleet was part of the War Department but not the Navy. His 14 rams, protected by cotton bales and each had 1 gun, were partially manned by men from Thompson's troops in the spring of 1862. They mainly served as gunners and marines. But there was bad blood between Thompson's men and Montgomery's boatmen and a transfer was requested by Thompson. By summer He was serving in the Lake Pontchartrain area near New Orleans for the next year.

His name was Joseph Ed Montgomery, not James E Montgomery. The ORN is wrong.

 

[Pollaco]

I would like to say I deliberately put the wrong info out there so some sharp-eyed individual could "correct" me and we could extend this thread but not this time. It was a legitimate accident/mistake and not on purpose (this time anyway).Either way "old sharp eye" caught it, thanks .

 

[Missouri Swampfox]

I would like to say I deliberately put the wrong info out there so some sharp-eyed individual could "correct" and we could extend this thread but not this time. It was a legitimate accident and not on purpose (this time anyway).Either way "old sharp eye" caught it, thanks .

Well, I've been called allot of thing but not "old sharp eye." Thanks.

 

[Pollaco]

When Fremont issued his proclamation to free the slaves in Missouri, Thompson issued his own counter-proclamtion.

 

[Pollaco]

Did his wife,Emma, spend anytime in an asylum? A major Fontaine wrote of her situation while Thompson was imprisoned.