McClellan Identification Disk of John King 1st Michigan Cavalry, Battle of Gettysburg Veteran and Prisoner at Andersonville / SOLD
McClellan Identification Disk of John King 1st Michigan Cavalry, Battle of Gettysburg Veteran and Prisoner at Andersonville - Inventory Number: IDE 205 / SOLD
Brass identification disk bearing the likeness of George McClellan and the legend “MAJOR GENERAL Geo. B. McCLELLAN / WAR OF 1861.” The reverse is stamped “JOHN KING / PRESENTED TO / EMILY KING / TRENTON, MICH.” John King was a 32-year-old Great Lakes sailor in Trenton in August 1861 when he enlisted as a private in the 1st Michigan Cavalry. He was taken prisoner at Second Manassas and paroled in April 1863. Under George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of Gettysburg, he was engaged in the desperate saber charge by the 1st Michigan against Wade Hampton’s brigade at East Cavalry Field. In September 1864 he was captured again at Berryville, Virginia and held at Danville, Virginia and Salisbury, North Carolina for five months. After the war he filed pension claims for disabilities suffered from his service, including an injured shoulder from a train accident, rheumatism, deafness, and kidney troubles from typhoid fever. King’s identification disk measures 1 1/8” and retains very sharp details and an uncleaned brass patina. Accompanied by extensive copies of King’s service and pension records. A fine example identified to a veteran Michigan cavalryman.
The 1st Michigan Cavalry was organized at Detroit, Michigan, between August 21 and September 6, 1861. Among the initial officers was William d’Aalton Mann, a future prominent Michigan newspaper and magazine publisher. Over the span of its existence, the regiment carried a total of 2705 men on its muster rolls and suffered 14 officers and 150 enlisted men killed in action or mortally wounded and 6 officers and 244 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 414 fatalities. The regiment’s actions include Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, Kilpatrick’s Raid on Richmond, The Wilderness, Yellow Tavern, Cedar Creek, Five Forks, Sailor’s Creek. The regiment was mustered out of service on September 12, 1865.
John King - Residence Trenton MI; 32 years old. Enlisted on 8/13/1861 at Trenton, MI as a Private. On 9/26/1861 he mustered into “K” Co. MI 1st Cavalry. He Re-enlisted on 12/21/1863. He was discharged on 6/7/1865 at Camp Chase, OH. (Reported at Camp Chase, 03/15/65.). He was listed as: POW 8/30/1862 2nd Bull Run, VA. Returned 4/6/1863. POW 9/4/1864 Berryville, VA. Intra Regimental Company Transfers: 3/6/1864 from company K to company E.
Comes housed in an 8 x 12 inch display case with blue velvet backing and descriptive card.