Allen and James Thompson Brothers Allen Thompson ( October 1 , 1847 – February 27 , 1906 ) and James Granville Thompson ( December 25 , 1849 – 1921 ) were Union Army soldiers during the American Civil War and recipients of the highest decoration of the United States military , the Medal of Honor . They are one of only a few pairs of brothers to have received the medal . Biography . Both brothers enlisted as privates in the 4th New York Heavy Artillery Regiment ; Allen joined from Port Jarvis , New York in June 1863 , and was assigned to Company I , while James joined from Sandy Creek , New York in February 1864 , and was assigned to Company K ; both brothers claimed to be 18 years old at the time of their enlistments . Allen mustered out with the regiment in September 1865 . James , who was wounded 2 days after their MOH actions , was discharged the following month . During the Appomattox Campaign of March and April , 1865 , their regiment served as infantry rather than artillery and was attached to a brigade in the 1st Division , II Corps , under division commander General Nelson A . Miles . On April 2 , 1865 , the Thompsons ' brigade was pursuing Confederate forces outside of Petersburg , Virginia , following the decisive Union victory at Five Forks the previous day . Upon coming across seemingly deserted enemy fortifications at White Oak Road and fearing an ambush , General Miles called for volunteers to reconnoiter the area . Seven men , including both Thompson brothers , stepped forward . Miles instructed them to advance through the trees to a designated spot in the distance and , once there , to signal back that the way was clear . If they encountered Confederate soldiers , they were to alert the brigade of the enemy ' s presence by opening fire immediately . The seven men advanced through the trees and were approximately one - fourth of the way to the designated spot when they were surprised by a group of about 50 Confederate soldiers . Ordered to lay down their guns and surrender , the Union men instead chose to fire , even though they were less than 100 feet from the numerically superior enemy force . James Thompson explained : Five of the group of seven were killed by the Confederate return fire , only the Thompson brothers survived . Allen Thompson retreated back to the Union lines , uninjured , while James Thompson lay severely wounded . Alerted by the rifle fire , the Union forces commenced an attack ; the Thompsons ' brigade held its position while the 2nd Division flanked and routed the enemy force . A burial detail sent to inter the dead of the small reconnaissance party found James Thompson still alive . Thirty - one years after the battle , on April 22 , 1896 , Allen and James Thompson were each issued the Medal of Honor for their actions at White Oak Road . The Thompsons ' official Medal of Honor citations are nearly identical ; James ' citation reads : Made a hazardous reconnaissance through timber and slashings , preceding the Union line of battle , signaling the troops and leading them through the obstructions . Allen Thompson died at age 58 and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery , Cheyenne , Wyoming . James Thompson died fifteen years later at age 71 or 72 and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery , San Diego , California . Medal of Honor citation . Allen Thompson . Rank and organization : Private , Company I , 4th New York Heavy Artillery . Place and date : At White Oak Road , Va . , April 1 , 1865 . Entered service at : Port Jarvis , N . Y . Birth : New York , N . Y . Date of issue : April 22 , 1896 . Citation : Made a hazardous reconnaissance through timber and slashings preceding the Union line of battle , signaling the troops and leading them through the obstruction . James Thompson . Rank and organization : Private , Company K , 4th New York Heavy Artillery . Place and date : At White Oak Road , Va . , April 1 , 1865 . Entered service at : Sandy Creek , N . Y . Birth : Sandy Creek , N . Y . Date of issue : April 22 , 1896 . Citation : Made a hazardous reconnaissance through timber and slashings , preceding the Union line of battle , signaling the troops and leading them through the obstructions .