Southern Cross of Honor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Approved by the Congress of the Confederate States on October 13, 1862, the Southern Cross of Honor was meant to honor the officers, noncommissioned officers and privates for their valor in the armies of the Confederate States of America.

Southern Cross of Honor (front)

Southern Cross of Honor (back)

The design consists of a cross with a Confederate battle flag surrounded with a laurel wreath on the face of the medal, 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" (God Our Vindicator), the dates 1861 1865, and the inscription, "From the UDC to the UCV." (UCV stands for the United Confederate Veterans.)

[edit] History

During the war, however, there were shortages of metals, and many medals were not minted or awarded. The names of these soldiers were, however, recorded in an Honor Roll and preserved in the Adjutant Inspector General's records.

While attending a reunion of Confederate veterans in Atlanta in 1898, members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy decided to produce the original medal.