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HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT BATTLE OFLITTLE BIG HORN RELATED SOLDIERS IDENTITY TAG FROM WILLIAM O. TAYLOR

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Other Start Price:20,000.00 USD Estimated At:40,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT BATTLE OFLITTLE BIG HORN RELATED SOLDIERS IDENTITY TAG FROM WILLIAM O. TAYLOR
HISTORIC AND IMPORTANT BATTLE OFLITTLE BIG HORN RELATED SOLDIERS IDENTITY TAG FROM WILLIAM O. TAYLOR. This historic ID tag descended through the Taylor family from William O. Taylor. Taylor was with Major Marcus Reno’s force at the Little Big Horn, so this tag is one of the rare artifacts that were present at that historic battle. This tag was purchased as part of a large lot directly from the Taylor family around 1985 by Alexander Acevedo. The lot in question was a black tin box with various items used and collected by Taylor. It contained photographs, Indian artifacts, and a hand-written memoir by W. O. Taylor, which has since been published.The ID tag was among these historic items and acquired by the consignor from Acevedo prior to the remainder of the items being sold at Butterfield’s auction in California in 1995. Taylor enlisted in 1872 at the age of 17 and was assigned to Company M of the 7th Cavalry. In 1876 he was transferred to Company A, and this is when he bought his ID tag. His company was assigned to the command of Maj. Reno, and he managed to survive the heavy Sioux onslaught of the Little Big Horn battle. Taylor spent the next thirty-odd years writing about the events of those few days. This is a silver shield-shaped ID tag, 7/8" high x 7/8" wide with a spread winged American eagle on the front, over mounted by three ribbons which are stamped "W.O. Taylor / Co. A. 7. U.S. / Cav." on the front. The back has later engraving "J.H. Taylor / Orange, Mass" (for Taylor’s wife Jessie H. Taylor). Across the top of the obverse, as part of the stamping is "Pat. Dec. 29. 1868". It has a loop affixed to the top and is accompanied by a fine silver chain. This early identified tag is typical of those carried by military personnel from the Civil War onward. As noted above, William O. Taylor was with Reno at the Little Big Horn and rode in the charge with him and was later assigned to the burial detail of Custer's command. Sgt. John Ryan, whose Springfield appears as lot 1432 in this catalog, commanded the burial detail. Taylor and Ryan were purportedly friends after the war, and each gave talks on their experiences with Custer and the 7th Cavalry. Taylor wrote an account of the battle entitled "With Custer on the Little Big Horn". He wrote it over a period of about 30 years, finishing in about 1917, and died in 1923. Taylor never published his book and it was unknown until 1986 when it was found amongst his collection of artifacts, in the black tin box mentioned above, and later published. A copy of this interesting book accompanies this lot. This item is accompanied by a signed affidavit from Alexander Acevedo stating that he bought this item from the descendents of William O. Taylor. CONDITION: Very fine. Shows little wear on the front side and light wear on the backside. A rare and important artifact from the most famous of all Indian battles. Ex. Acevedo Collection. 4-53307