Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Massachusetts Minuteman medal awarded to Private Nathan D. Parker, 5th Infantry Regiment, the only Massachusetts Infantry Regiment to serve at 1st Bull Run and receive a medal. Later as a Hospital Steward of the 9th ‘Irish’ Infantry Regiment, he was wounded in action at the battle of Malvern Hill on 1 July 1862 where his regiment suffered over 50% casualties

Massachusetts Minuteman Medal (Nathan D. Parker, Prvt. B 5th Reg.) extremely fine £400-£500

Nathan D. Parker, aged 29, a druggist from Reading, Massachusetts, enlisted into "B" Company, 5th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (Militia) on 1st May 1861 as a Hospital Steward. Initially stationed for the defence of Washington, the Regiment was one of just three Massachusetts regiments to see action at 1st Bull Run on 21 July 1861, the first major battle of the Civil War. During the battle the regiment the regiment was heavily engaged, suffering 9 killed and 11 wounded and 22 prisoners. This battle was fought so early in the War that the standard blue and grey uniforms for opposing armies had not come into being. This, along with the large number of militia units in both armies taking part in the battle; each with their own individual style and colour of uniform, produced a kaleidoscope of colour that would not be seen again during the Civil War. Of the 3 Massachusetts regiments at Bull Run, the 5th was the only 3 month Militia unit and as such were the only regiment to receive the Minuteman medal. Parker and his regiment was Mustered out just days after Bull Run on 31st July 1861 at Boston.

On 8 February 1862, Parker mustered into service as a Hospital Steward in the 9th ‘Irish’ Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (the Fighting Ninth), a regiment which was composed almost wholly of men of Irish birth. With the 9th Parker took part in the siege and capture of Yorktown, Hanover Court House on 27 May 1862, at Mechanicsville, on 26 June, Gaines’ Mill on 27 June, and Malvern Hill on 1 July. During the two last named battles the regiment lost 111 killed and mortally wounded and 286 wounded and missing, well over half the Regiment.

Parker was one of those wounded at Malvern Hill and being hospitalised after the battle, he was discharged for disability on 28th November 1862.