Hampton Sidney Thomas (November 3, 1837 – May 21, 1899) was a United States soldier who fought with the Union Army as a major in the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry during the American Civil War.

He received his country's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor,[1] for his "conspicuous gallantry" on April 5, 1865, in the Battle of Amelia Springs, Virginia during which he captured an artillery battery and several enemy flags while also helping to destroy a wagon train of the Confederate States Army.

[4] A resident of Chester County at the dawn of the American Civil War, Hampton S. Thomas became one of Pennsylvania's earliest responders to President Abraham Lincoln's call for volunteers to help defend Washington, D.C. following the mid-April 1861 fall of Fort Sumter to troops from the Confederate States Army.

Enrolling this time for a three-year term at Harrisburg on July 31,[2] he mustered in at Camp Curtin on August 1, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant with Company G of the 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry that same day.

Crossing the Shenandoah River, they then helped to cut off the movements of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's men near Strasburg, and supported Pennsylvania's "Bucktails" in their fight against CSA troops near Harrisonburg on June 6 before moving on to Port Republic.

During the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11–15), they suffered heavily under intense fire from enemy artillery and infantry, losing a number of their current and former members, including Bayard who asked, after being mortally wounded, that David McMurtrie Gregg be placed in command of the brigade.

[7][8] Appointed by Brigadier General Gregg as an inspector-general on the staff of the 1st Brigade on April 1, 1863,[7][9] Thomas participated with the brigade in Stoneman's 1863 raid and then, that summer, led his 1st Pennsylvania Cavalrymen and two companies of the 1st Maryland Cavalry in the recapture of Union artillery at Fleetwood Hill during the Battle of Brandy Station, Virginia on June 9 as Union forces engaged those of Confederate General J.E.B.

[10] In a memoir penned in 1889, Thomas recalled what happened that day:[11] General Gregg was so unfortunate as to lose three guns of the Sixth New York Light Battery through the recklessness of Colonel Percy Wyndham, who commanded my brigade.

Just as the guns were swung into position and unlimbered the enemy made a countercharge, driving back a broken squadron of the First New Jersey and a detachment of the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, both of which passed through the battery to the rear.

The guns had been drawn down to the base of the hill, and while I was trying to collect some men together for the purpose of having them hauled away, a heavy column of rebel cavalry came charging around the corner of the house, with their battle-flag in advance.

The head of this column was badly cut up, leaving a number of horses and men, and the battle-flag, on the slope of the hill.... [Refused help from the First Maine to protect the recaptured battery, Thomas] rode back and told the few cannoneers that were left to save themselves by crossing the railroad, and go over to the woods, where they would find some of our infantry.

They then clashed again in the Battle of Upperville, and attacked the rear of Stuart's army near Westminster (June 30) before heading for Manchester, Hanover Junction, and on into Adams County, Pennsylvania.

After he had made disposition of his command on or near the Stallsmith farm, about three miles east of Gettysburg, he caused several random shots to be fired in various directions.

This firing was no doubt prearranged with Lee, signaling that his position was favorable and that he was ready to move in conjunction with Pickett to strike our infantry in rear.

Then our bold Custer came dashing over the field at the head of the First Michigan Cavalry, with his yellow locks flying and his long sabre brandishing through the air...

Assigned to picket duties the next day, Thomas and his troops were then ordered to pursue the retreating Confederate Army into Maryland and Virginia.

After Thomas and his regiment re-engaged with the enemy near Shepherdstown (July 15) and in the Battle of Culpeper Court House (September 13), he was detailed to oversee the federal elections voting in early October by members of the 6th Ohio Cavalry.

Thomas and his men were then assigned with their brigade to the Union's Overland Campaign, fighting in the Battle of Yellow Tavern (May 11), a key engagement in which Confederate general J.E.B.

[16] Commissioned as a major of the regiment on January 4, 1865,[16] Thomas next led his men on a mission in early March to rid the Blackwater Swamp area of unaffiliated highwaymen who had murdered Union soldiers while they were on picket duty.

Recalling the events in his 1889 memoir, Thomas wrote:[17] About one o'clock that night, as we lay to horse, the First Pennsylvania Cavalry was ordered to mount and report to General Sheridan at once...

We reached some high ground just as the sun was rising, and below at our feet lay the whole rebel army in line of battle, apparently sound asleep...

[12][17][18][19] Transferred to the field and staff officers' corps of the 2nd Provisional Cavalry on June 17, 1865, after successfully recuperating from his injuries, Thomas then honorably mustered out with that regiment at Louisville, Kentucky on August 7, 1865.