South Carolina "Palmetto Medal" for the Mexican War
Sergt. Carey W. Styles
Carey Wentworth Styles was born October 7, 1825 in Spartanburg, SC and died February 25, 1897 in Stephenville, TX.  He was a veteran of both the Mexican War and the Civil War.  A noted journalist, he founded the Albany, GA "Albany News" (1866-1876), founded the Atlanta Constitution (1868) and was elected a Georgia state senator from the 10th District (1872).  He was also connected with the Atlanta, GA "Daily Commonwealth", the "Atlanta Telegram", the "Gainesville Eagle", and the "Brunswick Seaport Appeal".  In 1881 he moved to TX where he edited the "Weatherford Constitution".   He lived there until his death in 1897.
During the Mexican War he served with Company D of the Palmetto Regiment.   "South Carolina in the Mexican War" notes his service as a 4th Corpl. in Co. D, the "Old 96 Boys" of the Edgefield District under Capt. Preston S. Brooks.

Styles returned to military service during the Civil War as a Captain with the 2nd Georgia Infantry Inf., Co. B. and then with the 26th Regiment Georgia Infantry F&S where he rose to the rank of Colonel.

It is common to find these medal drilled to allow them to be worn.  Styles chose to add a loop to his medal.  Note that it is in the original case as well.
$SOLD

HISTORICAL NOTES:

The Georgia 26th Infantry Regiment [also called 13th Regiment] completed its organization in October, 1861, at Brunswick, Georgia. Its companies were recruited in the counties of Charlton, Berrien, Glynn, Twiggs, Clinch, Ware, Coffee, and Wayne. After serving in the Department of Georgia at St. Simons Island and Savannah, the unit moved to Virginia where it was brigaded under Generals Lawton, John B. Gordon, and C.A. Evans. The 26th participated in the campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Seven Days' Battles to Cold Harbor, fought with Early in the Shenandoah Valley, and ended the war at Appomattox. This regiment came to Virginia with 1,100 officers and men, lost 37 killed and 87 wounded at Second Manassas, and reported 6 killed, 49 wounded, and 6 missing at Sharpsburg. It had 53 casualties at Fredericksburg and 12 at Second Winchester. The unit was detached from its brigade to support the artillery at Gettysburg and lost few casualties. On April 9, 1865, it surrendered 85 men, of which 4 officers and 34 men were armed.

FIELD OFFICERS:
Colonels Edmund N. Atkinson and Carey W. Styles; Lieutenant Colonels James S. Blain, Eli S. Griffin, William A. Lane, and William A. McDonald; and Majors Thomas N. Gardner and B.F. Grace.