Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A West Virginia ‘Honorably Discharged’ Civil War Medal awarded to Private H. West, 5th West Virginia Infantry Regiment, later 1st West Virginia Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment, who served throughout the Civil War and who was twice wounded, firstly in the Battle of Kernstown (Second Winchester) on 24 July 1864, and secondly in the Battle of Opequan (Third Winchester) on 19 September 1864

West Virginia Civil War Medal, ‘Honorably Discharged’ type, bronze (Harrison West. Co. G 1st. Reg Vet Inf Vols.) in original named card box of issue, good very fine £300-£400

Harrison West, a farmer from Ohio, enlisted in Company C, 5th West Virginia Infantry as a private soldier, on 12 August 1864, and was mustered in at Ceredo, West Virginia on 2 September 1864, for three years. On 15 February 1864, he was mustered in as a veteran volunteer. After the 5th was mustered out in September, its later recruits and its veteran volunteers continued in service as a battalion of the 5th, and West served with Company G of that battalion until 9 November, when this battalion and another from the 9th West Virginia Infantry were consolidated to form the 1st West Virginia Veteran Infantry.

West served with the 1st in Company G until 22 July 1865 when he was mustered out with the regiment at Cumberland, Maryland. The 5th and its successor the 1st served in West Virginia, Virginia and Maryland. Highlights in the 5th’s history include: Confederate General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s Shenandoah valley campaign, including the Battles of McDowell and Cross Keys, the Battles of Cedar Mountain, Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia (including the Second Battle of Bull Run); Crook's Raid on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, including the Battle of Cloyd's Mountain; Hunter's Expedition to Lynchburg; the Battle of Kernstown (or Second Winchester); and Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign, including the Battle of Opequan (or Third Winchester).

On 24 July, West suffered a gunshot wound to his right heel and was admitted to the General Hospital, Patterson Park, Baltimore on 1 August. He was back in September in time to be wounded again (on the 19), but he seems to have remained with the 5th and later the 1st until he was mustered out the following year.

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