Full medal write up
WEST VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR MEDAL ‘HONORABLY DISCHARGED’ TYPE ‘WILM H. MURPHY.Co H 1st CAV VOLs. 1st SEgt’
William H Murphy, aged 32, a printer from Uniontown, PA, who had established a newspaper ‘The American Citizen’ in 1855, enlisted as 2nd Lieutenant into Company ‘E’ 1st Virginia Cavalry on 16 June 1861. On 4 July 1862 resigned his commission due to health- his service papers noting he had contracted disease of the lungs during the winter of 1861-2 and that he had been severely injured falling from his horse while in action during the battle of Port Republic on 8 June 1862, suffering internal injuries. They also contain a letter from his Colonel regretting his loss to the Regiment. Murphy further reenlisted as a 1st Sgt Company "H" 1st West Virginia Cavalry on 27 February 1864. The 1st West Virginia Cavalry was his old Regiment that had been officially renamed West Virginia Cavalry when the Unionist State of West Virginia was officially admitted to the Union in 1863. Musters show that Murphy spent much of the time between mid September and December 1864 in hospital and from January 1865, variously on duty, detached service and hospital. He was finally discharged on 30 May 1865 and died on 30 October 1866.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Port_Republic
Condition; GVF. Medal named with rank of 1st Sergeant as this was his later rank. Sold with a good deal of research both printed and on CD, including musters and widow’s pension file.
A fine medal to a soldier in an excellent Cavalry Regiment who’s initial service as an Officer is of particular interest.