MARCH 29, 1928

BLACK SEMINOLE MEDAL OF HONOR (MOH) WINNER POMPEY FACTOR DIED

Born in Arkansas in 1849, Factor, like many Black Seminoles, fled to Mexico which did not permit slavery. After the Civil War, Black Seminoles were allowed to join the U.S. Army as Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts. Factor joined in August 1870 and served in the Red River War. He earned his MOH near the Pecos River on April 25, 1875. With the 24th Infantry under Captain John Bullis, Black Seminole scouts Factor, Isaac Payne & John Ward engaged a band of 25 Comanche. Dismounted, they opened fire killing 3 and wounded another. Nearly surrounded, they withdrew to the horses. When Captain Bullis’ horse broke away, the scouts turned into hostile fire, rescued Bullis, and carried him to safety. All 3 received the MOH. Following the fatal shooting of his former fellow scout and MOH recipient Adam Paine, Factor deserted to Mexico. Later, he surrendered, rejoined the Army, and was discharged in November 1880. Factor is buried in the Seminole-Negro Indian Scout cemetery at Brackettville, Texas.

Sources:

Art Leatherwood, “Factor, Pompey,” Texas History Online, 1/1/1995. Retrieved 10/26/2023, Factor, Pompey (tshaonline.org)

Wikipedia

Photo:  U.S. Army, pre-3/29/1928.  Public Domain. Photograph taken by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of that person’s official duties under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code. Source: Carney, John T. (2003) U.S. Special Operations Forces, Levin, Hugh Lauter Associates, pp. 328pp Page 4, last line: “All photography and illustrations are courtesy United States Special Operations Command unless otherwise credited.”