SCARCE MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMAN MEDAL TO 5TH INFANTRY. SERVED AT 1ST BULL RUN AND WITH THE 9TH ‘IRISH’ INFANTRY, HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL WHERE HIS REGIMENT SUFFERED OVER 50% CASUALTIES

MASSACHUSETTS MINUTEMAN ‘NATHAN D PARKER, PRVT. B 5TH REGIMENT.’

Nathan D. Parker aged 29, a druggist from Reading Massachusetts, enlisted into "B" Company, 5th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Militia) on 1st May 1861 as a Hospital Steward. Initially stationed for the defence of Washington, the Regiment was one of just three Massachusetts regiments to see action at 1st Bull Run, the first battle of the Civil War. During the battle the regiment the regiment was heavily engaged, loosing 9 killed and 11 wounded and 22 prisoners. Of the 3 Massachusetts regiments at Bull Run, the 5th was the only 3 month Militia unit and as such were the only regiment to receive the Minuteman medal. Parker and his regiment was Mustered Out just days after Bull Run on 31st July 1861 at Boston, MA.

On 8th February 1862, Parker mustered in to service as a Hospital Steward in the 9th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. With the 9th Parker took part in the siege and capture of Yorktown, Hanover Court House, May 27th 1862, at Mechanicsville, June 26th, Gaines' Mill, June 27th, and Malvern Hill on July 1st. In the two last named battles the regiment lost 111 killed and mortally wounded and 286 wounded and missing, well over half the Regiment!

Parker was one of those wounded at Malvern Hill and being hospitalised after the battle, he was discharged for disability on 28th November 1862, though the reason seems to have been from symptoms contracted whilst recovering from his wounds.