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

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"

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.

C.W. Vaught enlisted on 1 September 1861 as a private into Company K of the 8th Texas Cavalry, better known as Terry's Texas Rangers. Considered one of the most effective mounted regiments in the Western Theater, they fought in approximately 275 engagements. They were particularly involved at the Battles of Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, the Knoxville Campaign, and the Atlanta Campaign. They spent most of 1864 harassing the army of General William Tecumseh Sherman and made their final charge at the Battle of Bentonville. 

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]