Southern Cross of Honor
| Southern Cross of Honor | |
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| Date | 1899 |
| Presented by | United Daughters of the Confederacy |
The Southern Cross of Honor was a postbellum honor presented by the United Daughters of the Confederacy to members of the United Confederate Veterans.
A metal cross pattée with the representation of a Confederate battle flag placed on the center thereof surrounded by a wreath, with the inscription "The Southern Cross of Honor." On the back of the medal is the motto of the Confederate States of America, "Deo Vindice" ([With] God [As Our] Vindicator), the dates 1861 1865, and the inscription, "From the U. D. C. to the U. C. V." (U. D. C. stands for the United Daughters of the Confederacy; U. C. V. stands for the United Confederate Veterans.) The Southern Cross of Honor could only be bestowed through the United Daughters of the Confederacy. It could not be purchased; it was given in recognition of loyal, honorable service to the South and only a Confederate veteran could wear it. The first Cross ever bestowed was upon Mrs. Erwin’s husband, Captain Alexander S. Erwin, by the Athens (Ga.) Chapter on April 26, 1900.
The Southern Cross of Honor is not the same as a wartime medal that was approved by an act of the Congress of the Confederate States on October 13, 1862. Titled: "An Act to authorize the grant of medals and badges of distinction as a reward for courage and good conduct on the field of battle." The text of the act read:
The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That the President be and he is hereby authorized to bestow medals, with proper devices, upon such officers of the armies of the Confederate States as shall be conspicuous for courage and good conduct on the field of battle; and also to confer a badge of distinction upon one private or non-commissioned officer of each company after every signal victory it shall have assisted to achieve. The non-commissioned officers and privates of the company, who may be present on the first dress parade thereafter, may choose, by a majority of their votes, the soldier best entitled to receive such distinction, whose name shall be communicated to the President by commanding officers of the company, and if the award fall upon a deceased soldier, the badge thus awarded him shall be delivered to his widow, or if there be no widow, to any relation the President may adjudge entitled to receive it.
However, there is no indication that any such medals were ever awarded. The Confederate Congress did at times pass resolutions bestowing the "special thanks of Congress" such as that for the successful defense of Sabine Pass. In addition Texans raised funds to provide medals to each of the men, the "Sabine Pass Davis Guard Medal." One was also given to Jefferson Davis.
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