New Market Cross of Honor
The New Market Cross of Honor is a rare, one-time, decoration issued to servicemen of the Confederate States of America, for extraordinary service in the American Civil War. The decoration was issued by the Virginia Government about 40 years after the war in 1904.
The award was presented to the 294 members of the Cadet Battalion from the Virginia Military Institute who marched into combat at the Battle of New Market on May 15, 1864, turning the tide of the battle for the Confederacy. This is the only time in American history wherein a student body marched as a unit to war. The cross medal was presented at VMI to all living members of the Corps of Cadets, as well as the families of the 10 cadets Killed in Action as well as those who had died since the war.[1]
Notable Recipients
| Cdt.1stSgt. William Henry Cabell | Co. D | KIA May 15, 1864 | Class of 1865 | Killed by an exploding artillery shell with two fellow cadets. |
| Cdt.Pvt. Charles Gay Crockett | Co. D | KIA May 15, 1864 | Class of 1867 | Killed by an exploding artillery shell with two fellow cadets. |
| Cdt.Pvt. Henry Jenner Jones | Co. D | KIA May 15, 1864 | Class of 1867 | Killed by an exploding artillery shell with two fellow cadets. |
| Cdt.Pvt. William Hugh McDowell | Co. B | KIA May 15, 1864 | Class of 1867 | Shot and killed instantly during the charge. |
| Cdt.Pvt. Jaqueline Beverly Stanard | Co. B | KIA May 15, 1864 | Class of 1867 | Shot and killed, died on the battlefield hours after the battle. |
| Cdt.Pvt. Thomas Garland Jefferson | Co. B | DOW May 18, 1864 | Class of 1867 | |
| Cdt.Pvt. Joseph Christopher Wheelwright | Co. C | DOW June 2, 1864 | Class of 1867 | |
| Cdt.Pvt. Luther Cary Haynes | Co. B | DOW June 15, 1864 | Class of 1867 | |
| Cdt.Pvt. Alva Curtis Hartsfield | Co. D | DOW June 26, 1864 | Class of 1866 | |
| Cdt.Cpl. Samuel Francis Atwill | Co. A | DOW July 20, 1864 | Class of 1866 |
47 cadets Wounded in Action, one of whom was:
| Cdt.Sgt. Moses Jacob Ezekiel | Co. C | WIA | Class of 1866 |
The remaining 237 cadets involved in the battle.
Other CSA Honors
| Medal | Awards | Authorized | Presented | Established |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confederate Medal of Honor | >50 | CSA | SCV | 1862 |
| Confederate Roll of Honor | 2,104 | CSA | SCV | 1862 |
| Davis Guard Medal | 50 | CSA | Texas | 1864 |
| New Market Cross of Honor | 294 | Virginia | VMI | 1904 |
| Southern Cross of Honor | 78,761 | UDC | UDC | 1900 |
| Civil War Campaign Medal | ~800,000 | USA | USA | 1907 |