A SCARCE WEST VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR CASUALTIES MEDAL FOR BATTERY ‘G’ WEST VIRGINIA LIGHT ARTILLERY, LATE SECOND VIRGINIA INFANTRY WHO HAD HIS LEG SHOT OFF AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER AT THE CAVALRY BATTLE OF ROCKY GAP 26 AUGUST 1863, A BATTLE IN WHICH ‘G’ BATTERY WERE CONSPICUOUS FOR THEIR GALLANTRY

WEST VIRGINIA CIVIL WAR MEDAL ‘HONORABLY DISCHARGED’ TYPE ‘JOHN N TAGGART BATY G 1ST REG LT ARTLY VOLS’

John N. Taggart a 21 year old teacher was born in Allegheny, PA and enlisted into the Union Army on 15 May 1861. Mustering into Company ‘G’ (Capt Ewing), Second Virginia Infantry on 13 June 1861, ‘G’ Company was permanently detached from the Regiment from May 1862, becoming Battery ‘G’ West Virginia Light Artillery, of ‘Ewing’s Battery’. From 1863 ‘G’ battery was serving in West Virginia as part of General W. W. Averell's Cavalry Division, and under that gallant leader did grand service at Rocky Gap, Droop Mountain and Salem raid, not to mention numerous other engagements and expeditions. The Rocky Gap fighting by this battery has few parallels in the history of the Rebellion. The history of the Second Virginia and Averell's cavalry is the history of Battery ‘G.’

Private Taggart was severely wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Rocky Gap, VA on 26 August 1863. The entry in his musters noting:

“Absent prisoner leg shot off Aug 26/63. Sept 1863 – absent without leave, taken prisoner. Oct 1863 absent wounded & left in the hands of the Rebels at Rocky Gap Aug 26 63..”

It also notes: “ He has been engaged in the following battles & skirmishes: Allegheny Mt, VA Dec 13/61, Beverly July 2/63, Rocky Gap, VA Aug 26/63 where he lost his left leg”.

Towards the end of 1863, he was released by the Confederates in and sent to General Hospital, Pittsburgh where he remained until discharged due to his wounds on 14 June 1864.

The battle of Rocky Gap, better known as the battle of White Sulphur Springs, fought on the 26-27 August 1863 was fought in West Virginia between a Confederate Brigade under Colonel George S Patton and a smaller Union Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier General William W Averell. ‘G’ battery were the only Union artillery unit present and were conspicuous for their gallantry during the action, loosing heavily in killed, wounded and captured.

The battle itself was a confederate victory:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_White_Sulphur_Springs

Condition EF. Sold with copy musters for Taggart and a ‘History of the Fifth West Virginia Cavalry, formerly the Second Virginia Infantry, and of Battery G, First West Va. Light Artillery’ on CD.

A very scarce medal artilleryman casualty.