Pompey Factor, PVT

Pompey Factor (1849 – 1928) was a Black Seminole who served as a United States Army Indian Scout and received America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Indian Wars of the western United States.

Biography

Factor and other Black Seminoles joined the Army as "Seminole Negro Indian Scouts". On April 25, 1875, he was serving as a private by the Pecos River in Texas where, "with 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol." A month later, on May 28, 1875, Factor was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the engagement. Two of the other men who took part in the charge, Isaac Payne and John Ward, both Black Seminoles, also received Medals of Honor.

Factor died at age 78 or 79 and was buried at the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery in Brackettville, Texas.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Private, Indian Scouts. Place and date: At Pecos River, Tex., April 25, 1875. Entered service at:------. Birth: Arkansas. Date of issue: May 28, 1875.

Citation:

With 3 other men, he participated in a charge against 25 hostiles while on a scouting patrol