Fantastic Identified Gold Bayard Brigade – 1st Pa. Cavalry Medal SOLD

Description

William S. Craft enlisted on February 12, 1863 as a sergeant in the 1st Pa. Cavalry, and was later wounded on May 28, 1864, at Hawes’ Shop, Va. were he was shot in the right leg, and later in hospital, that leg was amputated.  He was discharged on September 27, 1864.  During his time in service with this regiment he was commissioned in the ranks of 1st Lieutenant as well as captain.  I believe he had service in the 16th Pa. Cavalry prior to joining the 1st.

The 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry was organized at Camp Curtin, Pa, and mustered in on July 1861. During this regiment’s time in service they belonged to several commands. They were part of Bayard’s Cavalry Brigade (1st Pa Cav., Kane’s Bucktail Bn., 1st New Jersey Cav., Hall’s Maine Battery), as it later came to be known was initially part of the Dept. of the Rappahannock until June 1862. Then with 3rd Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to Sept of that same year. Then “Bayard’s Brigade, Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac to June of 1863, and finally 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac to June of 1865.

The data base lists 105 separate engagements during the war, having lost 9 officers and 87 enlisted killed and mortally wounded, 1 officer and 104 men lost to disease.

The battles and place names are too numerous to mention here, but a quick search will give you the complete list; Those battles listed:

“Roll of Honor”

• Woodstock, Va.
• Harrisonburg
• Cross Keys
• Cedar Mountain
• Brandy Station
• Rappahannock
• Thoroughfare Gap
• Gainville
• Bull Run (2nd)
• Warrenton
• Fredericksburg.

Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Culpeper, Wilderness, Spottsylvania CH to Hawes’ Shop were his war ended.

Captain Craft was an escort for the 1st NJ Cavalry (Co “L”) as well as Provost Guard with the 1st Pa. Cav (Co. “H”). under General John Sedgwick’s 6th Corps for a brief time.

The badge is mostly gold with silver and black enamel used for the applied horseshoe with the name “Bayards Brigade” in the upper arch, and “Bayard” at the bottom. Also in silver are crossed cavalry sabers. The horseshoe encompasses a gold panel that named the above units of the brigade, and the battles on the reverse.  “Capt. W.S. Craft, 1st PA. CAV.” is engraved on the upper arch of the shoe.

Suspended from the horse shoe (that swings) that is a fine rendition of a McClellan Saddle and saddle bag; in gold and blue enamel for the saddle cloth (some loss of enamel). The stirrup actually swings. The brooch is also in gold with a period “T” bar pin, with”FREDERICKSBURG” engraved upon it. I believe it is needless to say that the badge was made just after the Battle of Fredericksburg in December of 1862. Captain Craft saw many more engagements after this.

Overall height is 70mm. The condition is fine with only the little enamel scratched away on the saddle cloth. The workmanship is top notch and the engraving is very well done.

A fabulous badge with super history.