Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

United States of America, West Virginia, Civil War Service Medal 1861-65, bronze (Cleb Taylor Co. G 17th Reg Inf Vols.) impressed naming, complete with integral ‘Honorably Discharged’ brooch bar, riband clamp on suspension missing, otherwise very fine £240-£280

Caleb C. Taylor was born in Preston, Virginia (now West Virginia), on 14 February 1822, and attested for one year’s service in the West Virginia Volunteer Infantry on 24 February 1865, being posted to ‘G’ Company, 17th Regiment. This regiment was raised in September 1864 to guard the railways and to serve in garrison, and it was mustered out on 30 June 1865. His 1882 application for a pension was approved, and he died in 1897.

A year after the end of the war and the disbandment of its troops, the State of West Virginia authorised a medal for those of its citizen soldiers who had been killed, died or honourably discharged during the war. Three types were awarded, distinguished by the suspension bar which read either ‘Honorably Discharged’; ‘Killed in Battle’, or ‘For Liberty’ (for those who died of wounds or disease).

Sold with extensive copied research.