American Historical Ephemera & Photography

1900 Brooklyn, NY Medal of Honor Legion National Reunion souvenir 2-piece badge. New York: C.G. Braxman, 1900. Approx. 2 x 4 1/4 in. gilt-bronze 2-piece badge with pinback and blue silk ribbon (minor tarnish, wear to ribbon). Maker's mark to verso. Suspender reads "National Reunion Souvenir", medal with spread-winged eagle with patriotic symbolism and the legend: "Congressional Medal of Honor Legion / Brooklyn, N.Y. 1900 / Honor to the brave."

[With:] Maryland GAR badge. Approx. 1 3/8 x 2 1/2 in. gilt metal badge with suspension ring (small areas of tarnish). Obverse with GAR logo and a terrapin with the legend "Our Bird". Reverse legend: "1894 / M.J. Rose / Fraternity, Charity, Loyalty / Dept. Commander."

[With:] "Maryland" badge. 1 1/2 x 1/4 in. gilt metal badge with pinback. -

[Also with:] GAR 2-piece badge lacking ribbon. Approx. width 2 in. (general wear, remenant of American flag ribbon to suspender). 1886 patent date to suspender reverse. 

A collection of post-war medals identified to Medal of Honor recipient William Taylor. 

William Taylor (1836-1902) enlisted at the beginning of the war on 27 May 1861 as a sergeant, mustering into Company H of the 1st Maryland Infantry (Union). He was promoted twice, first to 2nd lieutenant (12 April 1863) and again to captain at the close of the war (7 June 1865). 

He was wounded in action at the Battle of Front Royal on 23 May 1862, an interesting battle as the 1st Maryland Infantry of the Union was attacked by the Confederate 1st Maryland Infantry, the only time such an anomaly of regiments of the same number and state designation occurred. 

The regiment would see heavy action during the Overland Campaign, including the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, North Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Five Forks. At the Second Battle of Weldon Railroad (Battle of Globe Tavern), Taylor was taken as a prisoner of war on 19 August 1864. he was confined at Salisbury, NC on 2 October 1864 but he escaped at Danville, VA on 19 October 1864. 

He was the recipient of the Medal of Honor on 29 August 1864 for his actions at both Front Royal and Weldon Railroad, the citation reading: "When a sergeant at Front Royal, Va., he was painfully wounded while obeying an order to burn a bridge, but, persevering in the attempt, he burned the bridge and prevented its use by the enemy. Later, at Weldon Railroad, Va., then a lieutenant, he voluntarily took the place of a disabled officer and undertook a hazardous reconnaissance beyond the lines of the army; was taken prisoner in the attempt."