This is a very good example of the medal authorized in 1866 by the state of West Virginia for its honorably discharged veterans for service in the Civil War. The two piece medal has its upper pinback bar with “HONORABLY DISCHARGED” on a lined scroll with a WV monogram on the underside, from which is suspended the medal showing Victory crowning a soldier with a wreath and the state seal at bottom flanked by the dates 1861 and 1865. The reverse reads “PRESENTED BY THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA” in a wreath, with the Demarest maker’s mark in small letters at bottom. The upper bar shows some light stains or verdigris as does the suspension, but the motifs are sharp and the medal has a pleasing bronze patina with only a few light dots on the reverse. The original ribbon is place, with some soiling and fading to the colors, but only some short runs or tears at the edge.

The recipient’s name is stamped on the medal’s edge: “WILm. L. DAVIS CO P 6^th REG INF.” The worker marking the medal obviously misread the company letter: William L. Davis served in Company F of the 6^th West Virginia. He was mustered into Company F on 16 January 1865 and served until muster out on 10 June 1865 and was living in Paw Paw, Marion County, WV, in 1890, with Rivesville as a post office address.

The regiment had organized in late 1861 and served for the most part guarding the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad by detachments. It took part is several raids and skirmishes, losing a total of 8 men killed or mortally wounded.

NPS credits it with the following actions: Raid from Fairmont to Valley River and Bootheville April 12, 1862 (Co. "A"). Skirmish at Valley River April 12 (Co. "A"). Skirmish at Big Bend June 7. Skirmish at Weston August 31 (2 Cos.). Skirmish at Weston September 3 (Detachment). Skirmish at Standing Stone September 28. Capture of St. George November 9 (Co. "B"). Skirmish at Johnstown April 18, 1863 (Detachment). Skirmish at Rowlesburg April 23. Rowlesburg and Portland April 26. Oakland, Md., April 26 (1 Co.). Skirmish at Bridgeport April 29 (Detachment). Fairmont April 29 (Detachment). Bridgeport April 30. Sutton August 26 (Cos. "G" and "I"). Ball's Mills and on Elk River August 27 (Detachment). Bulltown, Braxton County, October 13, 1863 (Detachment). Bulltown May 3, 1864 (Detachment). South Branch Bridge July 4 (Detachment). Patterson's Creek Bridge July 4 (Detachment). Back Creek Bridge July 27 (Detachment). Cumberland, Md., August 1 (1 Co.). New Creek August 4 (2 Cos.). Bulltown August 20 (Detachment). Sutton August 24 (Detachment). Nutter Hill August 27 (Detachment). New Creek November 28 (Detachment). Mustered out June 10, 1865.  [sr] [ph:m]

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