Confederate medals?

[SpiritofPickett]

I've found conflicting claims in my reading. Some authors claim the CSA issued gallentry medals. Others that the CSA only used a 'mentioned in despatches' method., that no medals were issued.

Which is true? anyone help?

[RebAl]

The only medal that comes to mind are the ones presented to the Defenders of Sabine Pass by the people of Houston.

http://www.texasescapes.com/Houston/...ston-Texas.htm

[larry_cockerham]

I don't really know what I'm writing about, as many of you may have guessed in the past, but I don't recall ever hearing of Confederate medals aside from scarce medals of honor that were financed by regiments or folks back home. The Confederacy could barely manufacture bullets, much less distribute them. Many "medals of honor" were on paper only such as with the 15th Alabama.

[Battalion]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

I don't really know what I'm writing about, as many of you may have guessed in the past, but I don't recall ever hearing of Confederate medals aside from scarce medals of honor that were financed by regiments or folks back home. The Confederacy could barely manufacture bullets, much less distribute them. Many "medals of honor" were on paper only such as with the 15th Alabama.

Medals were authorized by the Confederate government but as far as I know were never issued.

[SpiritofPickett]

.........so that's a 'No' then........?

[ole]

.........so that's a 'No' then........?

Looks like it, but my money is on someone coming up with an exception.

P;e

[Hanny]

http://www.2020site.org/medals/index.html

See also the Hunly medal.

[ole]

All:
I was going to say, "See, I told you so!" But in an admittedly hasty perusal of Hanny's citations, I saw no instance of the Confederacy actually stamping and awarding a medal. New Orleans, Texas, UCV, are not official.
Ole

[Hanny]

Originally Posted by ole

All:
I was going to say, "See, I told you so!" But in an admittedly hasty perusal of Hanny's citations, I saw no instance of the Confederacy actually stamping and awarding a medal. New Orleans, Texas, UCV, are not official.
Ole

Ole

You are correct, mentioned in dispatches was as good as it got for the CSA.

I do recal J Wayne in The Searchers giving a CSA medal to his brothers daughter in the early part of the film and wondering then, (many years ago....) about gallantry awards, but have never found that to be the case. Now if you cant trust Wayne, what is the world comming to?.

[Brian Downey]

recycled from AotW on ... Why no Confederate Medal of Honor?

Although authorized by legislation of the Confederate Congress, and approved by President Davis in October 1862, no Confederate Medals of Honor were ever issued to soldiers. Due to financial pressures, metal and other shortages, and opposition from some persons in authority (probably including General R. E. Lee), nominations were not acted upon. There is no question that there were many Southern soldiers who would have qualified, and should have been recognized with such a medal.


As an alternative, a Roll of Honor was established by legislation. This Roll was to contain the names of deserving soldiers selected one-per-company by their peers at each engagement. This was apparently only sparingly utilized, notable exceptions being Chickamauga and Murfreesboro in the West. There appear to be only 3 Regiments represented in the Roll published after Sharpsburg.


In the more recent past, the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV), an organization of descendents of Confederate Veterans, has reintroduced the Confederate Medal of Honor, and has awarded about 50 [ list ] since beginning in about 1968. These are, obviously, not official, war-era recognition.