Southern Cross of Honor two-piece bronze badge. Upper pin bar engraved "J.W. Gibson". 

Suspended cross pattée obverse features the Confederate battle flag and wreath with the legend: "United / Daughters / Confederacy / To The U.C.V." Reverse reads: "Southern Cross of Honor / Deo Vindice 1861 1865"

With printed silk ribbon with brass suspension bar and lower fringe. Reads, "Stonewall Jackson / No. 25, U.C.Vet, No. 469, Staunton, Va. / Co. ,  Regt. Va. Vol." The regiment and company are unfilled. 

The Southern Cross of Honor was a medal conceived of and issued by the United Daughters of the Confederacy beginning in 1900. The medal was given to living Confederate veterans in recognition of their faithful service and could not be purchased.

Several men named J.W. Gibson or J. Gibson served in Virginia regiments. John W. Gibson (1842-1912) was a 19-year-old farmhand who served from July 1861 until surrender at Appomattox Court House in Company C of the 52nd Virginia Infantry. He was wounded in action at the Battle of Fredericksburg (right hip) and at Fort Stedman, Virginia (eye). Living in Staunton before and after the war, he is possibly the recipient of this badge. 

A nice example of the UDC's Southern Cross of Honor, issued to a veteran of a distinguished Texas cavalry regiment. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Relics, Militaria] [Medals, Corps Badges, Badges] [Veterans, Veterans’ Organizations, Fraternal Organizations] [UCV, United Confederate Veterans, UDC, United Daughters of the Confederacy]