Description
West Virginia medal presented to private James Parill of the 6th West Virginia Cavalry. This one is missing the suspension bar. The obverse of medal depicts Lady Liberty conferring a crown of laurels to a soldier above the State Seal of West Virginia and “1861. 1865.” Reverse reads: “Presented by the State of West Virginia.” with a laurel wreath and maker’s mark. The rim is engraved “Jas J. Parill Co. C. 6th Reg. Cav. Vols.”. The state of West Virginia authorized the minting of these medals to honor its Union Civil War soldiers in 1866. James would muster with the regiment in June of 1861 and serve through August, 1864 when he was discharged. They would see action at Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, Gainesville and a handful of others.
