1ST LIGHT ARTILLERY WEST VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR MEDAL CAPTURED AT NEW CREEK NOVEMBER 1864 BUT ESCAPED AND BACK TO DUTY DECEMBER 1864

WEST VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR MEDAL‘HONORABLY DISCHARGED’ TYPE, ‘WILM H COX BATTY H 1ST REG LT ARTLY VOLS’

William H Cox, an 18 year old nailor from Capleine, Ohio, enlisted into ‘H’ Battery, 1st West Virginia Light Artillery on 13th August 1864. He was captured and made prisoner of War at New Creek on 28th November 1864. However he escaped captivity, reporting back for duty in December 1864. He was mustered out of service on 11th July 1865.

Battery H, 1st West Virginia Light Artillery was organized September, 1863. The battery is assigned to Maj. G. F. Merriam's artillery brigade, Genl B. F. Kelley's department. May 6, 1864, the battery is ordered from Wheeling to New Creek, where it was assigned to man the guns of the fort at that place, which position it occupied until December 31, 1864. On August 4, 1864, took part in the engagement of the attack upon New Creek, and November 28, 1864, were victims of the capture of that place by the Confederate Generals Rosser and Payne. The battery remained in General Kelley's department during its term of service, and was mustered out July 11, 1865.

Condition VF, disc only, scarce POW to unit.