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THBCSA Color Bearer, James Hunt Taylor, 1st South Carolina Infantry, KIA Gaines' Mill, Two CDVs, One Autographed, Plus Calling Card & Death Letter
Lot 316
About Seller
Cowan's Auctions
6270 Este Ave.
Cincinnati , OH 45232
United States
With offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver, Cowan’s holds over 40 auctions each year, with annual sales exceeding $16M. We reach buyers around the globe, and take pride in our reputation for integrity, customer service and great results. A full-service house, Cowan’s Auctions specializes in Am...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,500 - $2,500
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| $0 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Cowan's Auctions
Jun 13, 2014 - Jun 14, 2014
Set Reminder
2014-06-13 01:00:00
2014-06-14 01:00:00
America/New_York
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Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
Cowan's Auctions dawnie@cowans.com
View Full Catalog (603)
- Lot Description
Lot of 4, including: Ainsley H. Montieth ALS to Gen. William J. Taylor, 1p., July 1862, reporting the death of Color Sgt. James Hunt Taylor on June 27; a fine signed carte de visite (with some soiling) of Taylor at the time of his enlistment, dated Jan. 3, 1861, posed in his new uniform and Hardee hat, seated with his rifle, and looking every bit of his 15 years of age. The image was taken by M. Sancier in Mobile, AL; a second CDV of an unidentified man in civilian dress, also believed to be James Hunt Taylor, with deep stains at the bottom that look like, and are reputed to be Taylor's blood, suggesting that the image was carried by him in the fateful battle; a fantastically rare hand-written calling card, J.H. Taylor / Color Bearer of 1st S.C.V.
James Hunt Taylor became a tragic hero of the Confederacy, earning his laurels as one of the color bearers for his regiment cut down in the line of duty. The great-grandson of a Revolutionary War veteran, grandson of the first mayor of Columbia, SC, a governor and congressman, and the son of a noted physician, James Hunt Taylor was raised in luxury, the scion of a wealthy and well-connected Carolina family. Though only 15 at the time of secession, Taylor enlisted almost immediately, joining the six-month 1st SC Infantry in January 1861, and reenlisting when the 1st renewed in August 1861. Appointed sergeant despite his youth, Taylor was granted the honor of being the regimental color bearer, carrying the Confederate flag as he led his comrades into battle.
During the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, the 1st SC was assembled on the battlefield at Gaines Mills on June 27. When called upon to charge the enemy, Taylor led the way as ordered, but was wounded almost immediately. Undaunted, he struggled to his feet and continued forward until knocked down by a second shot. At this point, a friend grabbed the flag and urged his comrades onward, but he too was shot down. Somehow, Taylor staggered up again, grabbed the banner for a third time, and for a third time was struck down and shot in the chest. The dying Taylor reputedly looked up to his Lieutenant Colonel, Daniel H. Hamilton, and said “I can't carry it any further, Colonel.” Five of the six young men who carried the flag for the 1st South Carolina that day were killed while doing their duty. To put a final twist on the story, when the battle ended and the bodies were retrieved from the field, Taylor’s corpse was discovered by his own older brother.
This touching letter from Taylor's comrade, Ainsley Monteith, informs the star-crossed sergeant's family of the obligations they had made for one another: I promised your son the late James H. Taylor that if he was wounded I would telegraph you but he did not say what I must do if anything worse should happen and as everything has been in such a confused state for the past few days or since the battle, I was unable to write you until the present. James was killed on Friday the 27th day of June & was buried on Saturday morning by his friends on the battle field. If in the coming fight my brother and myself do not perish one of us expect to come home and anything we can do for you will be done cheerfully...Very good condition apart from the blood staining and minor soiling.Condition
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