Davis Guards Medal
The Davis Guards Medal was a military award presented by the citizens of Houston to each of the participants a few weeks after the battle of Sabine Pass (September 8, 1863). Father Quesart, in charge of the Catholic Church in Houston during the American Civil War, started the project by popular subscription. These hand-engraved medals are the only medals known to be presented to Confederate soldiers during the Civil War,[1].
| Davis Guards Medal | |
|---|---|
Obverse and reverse of the medal | |
| Type | Campaign medal |
| Awarded for | The defense of Sabine Pass, Texas |
| Country | Confederate States |
| Presented by | the citizens of Houston |
| Eligibility | Members of Company F (Davis Guards), 1st (Cook's) Texas Heavy Artillery Regiment; Second Lieutenant N. W. Smith, Engineer Corps; and Assistant Surgeon George H. Bailey |
| Campaign(s) | Joint Federal Expedition to Sabine Pass, Texas (September 7–8, 1863) |
| Established | 1863 |
History edit
The Davis Guards Medal was presented by the citizens of Houston a few weeks after the battle of Sabine Pass (September 8, 1863)[2] to the members of Company F (Davis Guards), 1st (Cook's) Texas Heavy Artillery Regiment; Second Lieutenant N. W. Smith, Engineer Corps; and Assistant Surgeon George H. Bailey.[3] Some time later, President Jefferson Davis also visited that locality, and the Davis Guards had another medal made and presented it to him.[3]
Appearance edit
The obverse of the Davis Guards Medal consisted of a Mexican silver dollar, each side smoothed off and engraved like a love token with the letters " D G ", below which is a rude cross of the form known as cross pattée. The reverse of the medal bore the inscription in three lines " Sabine Pass " / " Sept. 8th " / " 1863 " in cursive script. Border, on each side, a line, about one-eighth of an inch from the edge, from which groups of oblique lines extend to the edge. Loop for suspension.[3]
Museum exhibitions and displays edit
Three of the medals are known to exist. These are on display at the American Civil War Museum, Bullock Museum,[4] and Texas Military Forces Museum.
Recipients edit
Below is a list of recipients of the Davis Guards Medal. On February 8, 1864, all members of the artillery company also received the "thanks of Congress."[5]
- Patrick Abbott
- George H. Bailey
- Michael Carr[note 1]
- Abner R. Carter
- Patrick Clair
- James Corcoran
- Hugh Deagan
- Michael Delaney
- Thomas Daughtery
- Jefferson Davis (Honorary)
- John A. Drummond
- Daniel Donovan
- Richard W. Dowling
- Michael Eagan
- David Fitzgerald
- Patrick Fitzgerald
- James Fleming
- John Flood[note 2]
- William Gleason
- John Hassott
- James Higgins
- Timothy Hurley
- John Hennessey
- Thomas Hagerty
- Timothy Huggins
- William Hardin[note 3]
- W. L. Jett
- Patrick Malone
- Thomas McKernon
- John McKeever
- Alexander McCabe
- Timothy McDonough
- Patrick McDonnell
- John McGrath
- John McNealis
- Daniel McMurray
- Michael Monoghan
- Richard O'Hara
- Laurence Plunkett
- Edward Pritchard
- Maurice Powers
- Charles Rheins
- N. W. Smith
- Thomas Sullivan[note 4]
- Michael Sullivan
- Patrick Sullivan
- Matthew Walsh
- Jack W. White
- John Wesley
- Joseph Wilson
See also edit
Notes edit
- ^ Buried at Texas State Cemetery.
- ^ Buried at Texas State Cemetery.
- ^ Buried at Texas State Cemetery.
- ^ Buried at Texas State Cemetery.
References edit
- ^ "Davis Guards Medal". Bullock Texas State History Museum. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ "Heroes of Sabine Pass". The Galveston Daily News. Vol. LIV, no. 54. May 17, 1895. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b c Belden, Bauman L. (1914). "War Medals of the Confederacy". American Journal of Numismatics. American Numismatic Society. 48: 195–204. JSTOR 43587815.
- ^ "Davis Guards Medal". Bullock Texas State History Museum. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ U.S. War Department, comp. (1889). Scott, Lieut. Col. Robert N. (ed.). War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I–Volume XXVI–In Two Parts. Part I. Washington: Government Printing Office. p. 915.