United States. Army Congressional Medal of Honor, to George F. Thompson, Company K, 27th Maine Volunteers

Type 1. In bronze, finely cut dies for various components of the medal, engraver marked "Paquet F." on the obverse, engraved "The Congress - to - George F. Thompson Co. K. 27th. Me. Vol", measuring 53 mm (w) x 68.8 mm (h) inclusive of its eagle above crossed cannons and cannonballs suspension, variation of the American flag in the original ribbon, bronze pinback hanger with U.S. shield, near mint.

 
Footnote: The 27th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment involved 949 soldiers in the defense of Washington, D.C., 1862-1863. The 27th Maine is not known for any feats in battle, as it participated in no action with the enemy, but is instead known for the controversial issuing of the Medal of Honor to all surviving members of the unit. The 27th Infantry Regiment was comprised by men raised almost entirely in York County, Maine, reporting to camp in Portland on or around the September 10, 1862. On the 19th, the officers were elected, followed by the mustering in of the troops on the 30th. They left by train for Washington, DC on October 20th, arriving there two days later and setting up camp on East Capital Hill. From there, they went on to Camp Chase at Arlington Heights, afterwards to Camp Seward, where they held picket duty from October 26 to December 12, 1862. Following this, they were sent to Camp Vermont at Hunting Creek,Virginia, to relieve a Vermont brigade  of their picket duty, an "eight mile long line from the Orange & Alexandria Railroad to the Potomac River near Mt. Vernon". It was here where they spent the winter, reported to be a severe one, and they lost several men due to the weather. The next spring, March 24, 1863, they left camp and moved on to Chantilly, Virginia, where they were placed on the outermost line of infantry in the defense of Washington. They stayed here until June 25th, when they returned to Arlington Heights. At this time, their nine month term of service had expired (they were told they would be released on June 10th, nine months from their reporting to camp) and they were preparing to ship home. It was then reported that General Lee and the Confederate Army was due to invade Pennsylvania, with the Army of the Potomac marching off to meet them. This left the Capital unguarded, and the President and Secretary of War asked for volunteers to stay beyond their nine month term. With the 25th Maine Infantry first refusing, and marching home, some 312 men (or 315 by another account) of the 27th Maine did choose to stay behind when they were asked. On July 4th, with the Union winning the Battle of Gettysburg, they then boarded the trains in Washington and were back in Portland, Maine on the July 6, 1863. They were then mustered out on the 17th. The 27th Maine Infantry, at their mustering in, had 949 men. Of this, 20 men died on duty (though none by enemy fire), 8 officers resigned, and 54 men were discharged or had deserted. For their voluntary defense of the nations capital, the 312 were initially rewarded the Medal of Honor. What happened after this, with an inconclusive list of who actually did volunteer to stay behind, resulted in the entire regiment receiving the medals, including George F. Thompson, one of eight Thompsons in the Regiment. This would in turn result in the 1917 purge of all men of the 27th Maine from the Medal of Honor rosters.