July 15, 2011

The Southern Cross of Honor

Over the last several months, on genealogical mailing lists to which I subscribe, I've seen discussions about "The Southern Cross of Honor." Questions have arisen about its origin, when it was awarded, and what the meaning of the inscription on it means. I'd like to discuss the background of this medal. . ." this week...

The United Daughters of the Confederacy
Following the U.S. Civil War, many women in the South worked hard to rehabilitate the country and the economy, and most of all to help its Confederate veterans. For three decades following the war, these local women's groups did their utmost to recognize the sacrifices made by their soldiers. Among their other efforts for veterans and their families, they raised money to erect monuments, set tombstones in cemeteries, and to maintain graves. Two of the local organizations came into existence as early as 1890, the Daughters of the Confederacy in Missouri, and the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Confederate Soldiers Home in Tennessee.

On 10 September 1894, the United Daughters of the Confederacy was...