Posted on: Orange Co. Tx Query Forum Board URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Tx/Orange?read=113 Surname: ------------------------- The Southern Soldiers that fought for the South only received ONE Medal after the "War Between the States" for the sacrifices and sufferings they endured MOST of their lives! If a Soldier was still residing in this world during 1898 -1908...they more than likely received one of these "Southern Cross of Honor" Medals...finding the "Application for the Southern Cross of Honor" is a problem, or nearly impossible...SOME ARE STORED IN OLD TRUNKS IN ATTICS ROTTING AWAY....others probably have been thrown away; because a person did NOT know what they were. Tibets of information about the Orange Confederate Soldiers on these Applications, can be found NOWHERE else! Many of the Applications are in the Orange Confederate Soldiers own hand writing. Mrs. Alexander S. (Mary Ann Lamar Cobb) Erwin of Athens, Georgia, conceived the idea of the "United Daughters of the Confederacy" (U.D.C) bestowing the Southern Cross of Honor on the "United Confederate Veterans" (U.C.V., a Veterans Service Organization) while attending a "Reunion" (many times Northern Veterans attended these same Reunions; their Veterans service Organization was named: "Grand Army of the Republic", G.A.R.) in Atlanta, Georgia, in July 1898. Mrs. Erwin and Mrs. Sarah E. Gabbett of Atlanta are credited with the design of the Cross. The design was the Maltese Cross with a wreath of laurel surrounding the words "Deo Vindice (God our Vindicator) 1861-1865" and the inscription, "Southern Cross of Honor" on the face. On the reverse side is a Confederate Battle Flag surrounded by a laurel wreath and the words "United Daughters of the Confederacy to the U.C.V." Copyright was secured by the U.D.C. on February 20, 1900. During the first eighteen months of the Crosses availability, 12,500 were ordered and delivered, ALL over the South. The Medals were made of copper..not an expensive material, the Medals are hard to find today...many were pinned to the Southern Veterans chest when he left this world...the Southern Soldiers sleep with them on today! Only a Confederate veteran could wear the "Southern Cross of Honor" and it could only be bestowed through the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Money could not buy the Cross; they were bought by "Loyal", "Honorable" service to the South and were given in recognition of this devotion. Allen C. Connel Walter P. Lane, Camp 1745 Sons of Confederate Veterans (Heirs: to the United Confederate Veterans...a Veteran Service Organization) http://www.texas-scv.org/camps/lane1745.html Orange, Texas