Colonel A. P. Thompson

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Historical Marker #963 in Paducah marks the death of Confederate Colonel A. P. Thompson, who was killed while attacking his hometown.

Born in Green County on March 3, 1829, Thompson was a Paducah lawyer who served as McCracken County's commonwealth's attorney. During the Civil War, Thompson commanded the 3rd Kentucky Confederate Infantry Regiment and was severely wounded at the Battle of Baton Rouge. By early 1864, his troops had been converted to mounted infantry, and Thompson led them in a brigade under Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

On March 25, 1864, while raiding Kentucky to strike Union supply lines, Forrest's command attacked Paducah. Thompson's men hit Fort Anderson, the main Union stronghold, and were forced back. Soon thereafter, Thompson was killed when an artillery shell exploded as it struck him. He was killed within sight of his home.

Initially buried in Paducah's Oak Grove Cemetery, he was reinterred at Bowman Graveyard near Murray. Thompson's immediate commander, fellow Kentuckian Abraham Buford, stated that Thompson "will long be remembered by all who knew his noble deeds and heroic death."