Company G.James Danforth Thompson, son of Captain Isaac K. and Emily D. Thompson, is a native of Fredonia, Chautauqua county, New York, and was born on the 19th day of September, 1832. His early life was passed on the farm of his father, attending the common school, and subsequently the academy in his native village. Like many young men having their own way to make in life, he engaged at the age of seventeen in teaching during the winter months, to secure means to defray his expenses at the academy during the remainder of the year. At the age of nineteen years he entered the law office of Hon. O. W. Johnson, in Fredonia, New York, where he continued until he was compelled by ill health to discontinue his studies, and in the fall of 1852 he visited Cincinnati, and subsequently spent the winter in Kentucky. In the summer of 1853 he engaged in civil engineering on railroads in southern Ohio, and in the spring of 1854 for awhile on the Michigan Southern railroad in northern Ohio.
Having regained his health, he resigned his position as engineer and started for Iowa, arriving at Eldora, county seat of Hardin county, on the 10th day of June, A. D. 1854, when he at once engaged in practice of his chosen profession. In the fall of that year he was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, and in April, 1857, as an independent democrat, was elected judge of that judicial district.
In 1861, at the first intimation of war, he announced himself unconditionally in support of the general Government, and as chairman of the democratic central committee united in a call for a public meeting to endorse its action, and was one of the most active at the special session of the State Legislature, in May, 1861, to urge that body to authorize the Governor to tender the United States a regiment of cavalry, armed and equipped at the expense of the members of the regiment. So soon as it was known that the Governor would be authorized to offer the regiment he returned from Des Moines, and at once began enlisting men for a company, buying and furnishing a number of horses to those unable to buy. When the order came to go into rendezvous he marched his command across the country to Burlington, Iowa, at which place he was, on the 31st day of July, 1861, mustered into the army of the United States as Captain of Company G, First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Volunteers. Upon General Fremont refusing to order the regiment into service unless the men would sell their horses and equipments, he was ordered by Colonel Warren to St. Louis to secure a modification of the order, which he was largely instrumental in accomplishing.
On his return Captain Thompson was sent to Davenport to induce Adjutant General Baker to order Captain Heath's and Captain Ankeny's companies to join the First Regiment at Burlington. In this he succeeded. and Companies L and M completed the First Iowa Cavalry.
Being absent from his regiment when ordered to St. Louis, he only joined it after his company had marched with General Fremont to Springfield. and was ordered to escort a supply train from Tipton to Springfield, but upon reaching the Osage river was ordered back to Syracuse, and soon after joined his company.
Was with General Pope in his march to cut off General Raines, and commanded his company at the battle of Milford, on the 19th day of December, 1861, and was present at the capture of Colonels Robinson and McGoffin and their command of 1,500 troops. The next day he escorted General Pope back to Sedalia.
He commanded his company in the march into Howard county. which resulted in the defeat of Colonel Poindexter, at Silver Creek. January 8th, 1862.
When Major Torrence was relieved of the command of the First Battalion, Captain Thompson was placed in command, and on the 22d day of February commanded the cavalry on the march toward the Missouri river.
In April, 1862, he commanded the troops sent to defend Warrensburg from Quantrell [sic], and on the following day defeated Colonel Parker, captured him and fifteen or twenty of his command, and then returned to Sedalia.
In May he was ordered to Lexington. and thence to Clinton. Missouri, He was then detailed to serve on military commission at Butler. Bates county, serving till the commission was ordered to Sedalia. in August, 1862.
In October of that year he resigned (on Surgeon's certificate of disability) from the First Iowa Cavalry.
In 1863, having improved in health, was commissioned Major of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry, and was subsequently breveted Lieutenant Colonel for gallant and meritorious services.
Commanded sub-district west of Nashville in 1863 and 1864. In February, 1864. was ordered to Iowa to escort recruits to their commands, along the railroad from Nashville, Tennessee, to Huntsville, Alabama.
In March was detailed on military commission at Nashville. His health having again yielded to the effects of the hard service and exposure, he was sent to the Nashville hospital, and in the summer of 1864 honorably discharged on Surgeon's certificate of permanent disability.
Returning home. Colonel Thompson engaged in agriculture until 1866, when ho was induced to accept the nomination of the people's party for Congress and was defeated.
In the spring of 1867 he was appointed and confirmed United States Pension Agent at Des Moines.
In 1875 he left Iowa and has since made his home in California. For a time he practiced his profession in San Francisco, but of late years has been engaged in mining, railroading and real estate. His headquarters are rooms 23 and 24, 230 Montgomery street, San Francisco.
SOURCE: Charles H. Lothrop, A History Of The First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, p. 336-9
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