Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare West Virginia ‘For Liberty’ Civil War Medal awarded to First Sergeant W. H. Malsed, Company A, 11th Regiment West Virginia Infantry, who died of disease at home on 1 July 1864 whilst on furlough as a veteran volunteer; previously, on 2 September 1862 he was captured with the regiment and paroled on the same day at Spencer, Roane County, Virginia, by Confederate General Albert G. Jenkins in the notorious incident that led to the dismissal from service of Colonel J. C. Rathbone and Major George C. Trimble of the 11th West Virginia in January 1863

West Virginia Civil War Medal, ‘For Liberty’ type, bronze (Wilm. H Malsed 1st Sergt. co. 1 11th. Reg Inf Vols.) in original named card box of issue, good very fine £600-£800

William Henry Malsed, a farmer, aged 21 years, was mustered in at Wheeling, West Virginia, on 29 June 1861 for three years, as a private in Company A, 11th West Virginia Volunteers. He was with the regiment until his death three years later save for certain absences, not all fully documented. On 2 September 1862, he was captured with his regiment and paroled at Spencer, Roane County, Virginia, the same day by Confederate General Albert G. Jenkins in an incident that led to the dismissal from service of Colonel J. C. Rathbone and Major George C. Trimble of the 11th West Virginia in January 1863.

The incident is commemorated locally by a metal historical marker-plate which reads:
‘On September 2, 1862, during the Jenkins Raid, Union Col. Rathbone (11th West Virginia Volunteers) surrendered the town [Spencer] to Jenkins without firing a shot in its defense, much to the disdain of men under his command. As a result of their actions, Rathbone and his subordinate, Maj. George Trimble, were dismissed from the service in January 1863 for “cowardly conduct” in a “burlesque” of operations.’

Malsed was advanced to the rank of Sergeant on 1 May 1863 and First Sergeant on 15 September 1863. In February 1864, he absented in charge of recruits and he was hospitalised as sick, on 8 March 1864. He evidently re-enlisted as a veteran volunteer since he was absent from the hospital and May and June having gone on veterans’ furlough on 8 May 1864. Whilst at home he died of disease on 1 July 1864. Unaware of this, he was recorded as a deserter on the hospital rolls on 29 July 1864 for failing to report back!

The 11th Regiment, West Virginia Volunteer Infantry served in West Virginia mainly as a railroad guard but it was engaged in several skirmishes whilst Malsed was with the regiment.