It is not very often that anything related to West Virginia in the Civil War comes up for sale but here we have an ID tag that belonged to Lieutenant J. V. Keepers of Battery B, 1^st West Virginia Light Artillery.

The obverse of this stamped brass tag has a bust of McClellan at center and is surrounded by “MAJOR GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN-WAR OF 1861.” The reverse has stamped lettering around the edge that reads “LT. J. V. KEEPERS-LAWRENCE CO. O” with “BATTERY B 1^ST VA.” at center.

The tag is in good condition and the brass has a light patina and some surface dirt. All lettering is visible.

John V. Keepers was commissioned as a 1^st Lieutenant in Company A, of the 18^th Ohio Infantry for three months on April 19, 1861. After serving in West Virginia he was discharged on August 28, 1861.

On October 1, 1861 he was commissioned a 1^st Lieutenant in Battery B, 1^st Virginia Artillery whose designation was later changed to the 1^st West Virginia Artillery. The commanding officer of the battery never reported for duty so command devolved upon Lt. Keepers. He commanded the Battery throughout its service until his muster out on October 22, 1864. During its service the Battery lost 164 men to battle and disease.

Keepers lost part of his hearing due to concussion of artillery firing at Droop Mountain. His hearing loss continued throughout his life and got worse as he got older. He died in Allentown, Pennsylvania on February 5, 1905.

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