caption serviceyears branch death_place death_date birth_place allegiance awards placeofburial_label battles birth_date placeofburial rank image article_title name
charles henry tompkins 1856-1894 united states army union army washington , d.c. 18 january 1915 fort monroe , virginia united states of america union medal of honor place of burial american civil war 12 september 1830 oak hill cemetery , washington , d.c. colonel 35px brevet brigadier general charles henry tompkins.jpg charles henry tompkins
 charles henry tompkins
charles henry tompkins

charles henry tompkins -lrb- september 12 , 1830 -- january 18 , 1915 -rrb- was a union army colonel , who received an appointment to the brevet grade of brigadier general of volunteers during the american civil war .
he was a recipient of the medal of honor for valor in action on june 1 , 1861 in the battle of fairfax court house -lrb- june 1861 -rrb- .
this was the first action in the civil war for which a union army officer would receive the medal of honor , although it was not awarded until 1893 .
he is not to be confused with another union officer , brevet brigadier general charles h. tompkins -lrb- d. 1895 -rrb- who commanded the 1st rhode island light artillery regiment .
