He was born in Port Elizabeth, New Jersey (11). He was 22 years old when he was enlisted (5, 11).
He was a glassblower (5). He was living at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enlisted (5).
He was 5 feet 6 inches tall, and had a light complexion, light eyes, and light hair (5, 11).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 24 September 1861 (1, 5, 10, 11). He was enlisted for three years, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (5, 11). He was mustered into company D, as fourth sergeant, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1, 5, 9, 10 [promoted to serg]). He had rifle number 3 (9, 11).
He was transferred to company H on 31 October 1861 (4, 5 [transferred from H to D], 10).
He was reduced to the ranks by regimental order, on 18 May 1862 (9).
He was George Black's tent-mate, and threw him to the rear when the regiment was charging Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on 13 December 1862 (12).
On 19 March 1863, he returned to the regiment from duty with the cattle guard (3).
He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg (13). He and Jim Thompson were detailed as pickets on the night of 2 July 1863 (15). They were placed about 125 feet in front of the wall the regiment built, and quickly built their own wall from loose rocks (15). Because they were having trouble staying awake, despite rubbing onion juice, pepper, and tobacco in their eyes they requested temporary relief (15). The officer of the guard, Joseph Jones, granted their request, and returned with Stephen Whinna (H) and George S Phillips (15). Reiff and Thompson slept for two hours, before being awakened about 2 AM and standing the watch until the sun rose (15). Thompson was ordered back before Reiff, who had to run a gauntlet of shot and shells back to the regiment's line (15).
He reenlisted as a veteran volunteer on 26 December 1863 (1, 5).
On 15 April 1864, he returned from being absent without leave (7).
He was wounded on 18 [?] June 1864 at Petersburg, Virginia (1, 8, 11). He died on 23 or 24 June 1864 of those wounds (1, 2 [20 Jun], 5, 8, 11). He was buried at City Point, Virginia (14).
On 8 August 1864, his widow, Joanna Thompson, applied successfully for a pension (16, 17).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster) (James Thompson (D) and James I Thompson (H))
2 City Point National Cemetery, interment index (searched 5 October 2000)
3 consolidated morning report, 91st PA, 19 March 1863 (Pri Thompon)
4 company D, register of men transferred, entry 17 (James Thompson)
5 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (James Thompson [co.D]--merely refers to co.H card]
6 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 10 August 2004 (James I Thompson [co.H])
7 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 15 April 1864 (James Thompson)
8 company H, register of deaths (James Thompson)
9 company H, list of non-commissioned officers (James Thompson)
10 company H, register of men transferred (James Thompson)
11 company H, descriptive roll, #17 (James Thompson)
12 William C Reiff, 'A boy hero: a young drummer made of the right kind of stuff'. National tribune 3 August 1905, page 3, columns 1-2 (Jim Thompson)
13 Pennsylvania Memorial, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (J L Thompson)
14 'Our illustrious dead', Philadelphia Inquirer 20 July 1865 page 2 (James S Thompson)
15 William C Reiff. 'Josie and I at Gettysburg'. Gettysburg Compiler 9 August 1911. (Jim)
16 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (James L Thompson)
17 pension index, by name (James L Thompson)
[I did not find an entry for him in Ancestry's index to the 1890 veterans' census (searched 5 June 2009)]