CSS General M. Jeff Thompson was a warship which served in the River Defense Fleet of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

Her wreck remained on the floor of the Mississippi River until it was removed by a snagboat in July 1867; it had caused a shipwreck about six months earlier when another vessel struck it.

In 1862, the Confederate States of America purchased 14 civilian vessels for conversion into warships to serve in the River Defense Fleet.

[3] The ship was named for M. Jeff Thompson, a senior officer in the Missouri State Guard.

The process of converting the civilian vessel into a ram began on January 25, and took place at New Orleans, Louisiana.

[1] General M. Jeff Thompson was sent to Fort Pillow, where she participated in the naval defense of Memphis, Tennessee,[3] which was roughly 50 miles (80 km) to the south.

[3] Montgomery and the River Defense Fleet reached Memphis on June 5, with fuel supplies low.

[1] General M. Jeff Thompson was struck by Union cannon fire during the battle and began to burn.