Confederate 44th GA Infantry Southern Cross of Honor Signed by Col./ 3rd Georgia For Sale

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Confederate 44th GA Infantry Southern Cross of Honor Signed by Col./ 3rd Georgia:
$120.00

Up for sale is a Southern Cross of Honorapplication for Sgt. (Listed as a private on the application) Thomas JosephBranam, of Co. F, 44th Georgia Infantry Regiment. Sgt. Branam servedwith distinction until surrendering at Appomattox (April 9, 1865) with Lee’sArmy of Northern Virginia. This application is signed by five Confederateveterans including Sgt. Branam and Lt. Col. Nesbitt, and measures 8½\" wide by11\'\"tall.

The Southern Cross of Honor Medals were introduced aroundthe turn of the 20th century, to recognize Confederate veterans for theirservice. The United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) created the medal suitedfor the defenders in grey. Confederate President Jefferson Davis daughter,Winnie Davis, an original Daughter of the Confederacy member, traveledthroughout the South bestowing thousands of these medals to aging Confederate veterans.

The Southern Cross of Honorapplications were filled out by locate United Confederate Veteran Camps inorder to verify the military service of the applicant. This application was filled outby UCV Camp #759 (R.T. Davis Camp in Eatonton, Georgia) and signed by itsCommander, Reuben B. Nesbitt (former Lt. Col. of the 3rd GeorgiaInfantry Regiment who was wounded nine times in one campaign), its Adjutant (Sgt.) Robert F. Young (member of Co. G,12th Georgia Infantry), and two veteran witnesses’; 1st Sgt.Charles R. Sanford (member of Co. F, 44th Georgia Infantry) and Sgt.Edward F. Elliott (member of Co. B, 3rd Georgia Infantry).

A Brief History of the \"44TH”

In March of 1862, ten companies from the counties of middle Georgia assembledat Camp Stephens, near Griffin, to form the 44th Regiment of Georgia Infantry.Some owned slaves, however, the majority did not. A few had seen a year\'sprevious service with the Georgia State troops garrisoning various points onthe Georgia coastline. The regiment was mustered into Confederate service onMarch 17, 1862. On April 7, the 44th Georgia left for Virginia under ColonelRobert A. Smith.

Stopping over briefly in Goldsboro, NC, theregiment was brigaded under General J.G. Walker with the3rdArkansasand the1st and 3rd North Carolinaand assigned to theDivision of Gen. T.H. Holmes. The division hastened by rail to Richmond to helpin the crisis of McClellan\'s threatening Richmond.

Once arriving in Richmond on June 1, themen posted picket duty until the 26th. The regiment suffered its first battlecasualty on June 5, 1862. After being assigned to Ripley\'s Brigade, the 44thGeorgia went into action at Mechanicsville on June 26. The regiment was orderedto charge Union breastworks in the face of supporting artillery fire across aflooded millrace at Ellerson\'s Mill. The 44th did so with élan, but endured oneof the highest regimental casualty rates of the entire Civil War, including theloss of Col. Smith. Brave acts such as this would help save Richmond.

After the Seven Day\'s Battles, the regimentmarched in the 2nd Manassas Campaign and splashed across the Potomac River onSeptember 5, 1862, on Gen. Robert E. Lee\'s first invasion of Maryland. At theBattle of Sharpsburg men from the 44th Georgia fell around the Mumma Farm, theEast Woods, and the maelstrom of the Cornfield. After that battle, the regimentoperated in the Shenandoah with Gen George Doles assuming command of thebrigade.

On January 19, 1863, the12thand21stGeorgiajoined the 4th and 44th in the realignment of Dole\'s Brigade. These fourregiments would stay together for the rest of the war.

The 44th Georgia participated in Jackson\'sflank march at Chancellorsville on May 2 and the smashing charge thatafternoon, capturing numerous prisoners and some pieces of artillery. Thatstunning success was followed up at Gettysburg on the first day when men of the44th pursued retreating Federals through the streets of Gettysburg itself. Itwas at Gettysburg that the 44th Georgia lost a second regimental commander,Col. Samuel P. Lumpkin, in action. After the retreat from Gettysburg, theregiment marched, and counter marched during the Mine Run Campaign beforecamping for the winter. During the cold months the regiment shared picket dutyon the Rapidan River.

On May 4, 1864, the regiment broke wintercamp to grapple with Union forces in almost 60 days of constant combat. Thenext day, the regiment also participated in one of the few night attacks of thecivil war on the same day. After two more days in contact with the Federals,the men marched to Spotsylvania.

May 10, 1864, was the darkest day of thewar for the 44th Georgia. Just before dusk, the Federal forces massed twelveregiments in column and broke into the brigade\'s breastworks. Men had time tofire at most one shot and 200 of the 44th were instantly captured, includingthe third regimental commander lost to combat, Col. William H. Peebles. Therest of the regiment fought savagely hand to hand as documented by many menreceiving bayonet wounds. Only this desperate fighting finally drove theFederals out and recaptured all the lost ground. The survivors of the 44thGeorgia continued fighting with the Army of Northern Virginia at the BloodyAngle, North Anna, and Cold Harbor. Here Gen. Doles was killed in action andwas replaced by Gen. Philip Cook.

Lee detached Cook\'s Brigade and sent itwith Gen. Early on the Valley Campaign of 1864. The 44th Georgia crossed thePotomac heading north for the third time and closed on the outskirts ofWashington, D.C. with Early in mid-July before retiring. The regiment sufferedin the reverses of Winchester, Fisher\'s Hill, and Cedar Creek before rejoiningLee in the Petersburg trenches for the winter of 1864-65. Col. Peebles,recently exchanged, was wounded at Winchester and lost to the 44th again, thistime for the rest of the war.

The 44th clawed its way into the Union linearound Ft. Stedman in the Army of Northern Virginia\'s last offensive action onMarch 25, 1865. The regiment lost a fifth commander in action when Cpt. ThomasR. Daniel was wounded and captured. It would evacuate its trenches one weeklater and begin movement to Appomattox, but not before several members of theregiment fought in the heroic delaying action at Ft. Gregg.

Despite a rapid pace, hunger, and othertrying circumstances, the 44th Georgia kept its march order on the way toAppomattox. The officer ranks were so depleted that Cpt. John Tucker was loanedfrom the 21st Georgia to command the regiment. Five officers and seventy-fivemen would answer the surrender roll before returning to Georgia to till thesoil, restart their businesses and have a reunion with the families they hadleft three years and two days earlier.

Over the course of the war, the 44thGeorgia Infantry fought in over 50major engagements and numerous,uncounted skirmishes. The regiment would lose over 350 killed in action andover 450 wounded. The 44th soldiers proved their bravery in each engagement.Perhaps, though, they should be noted most for their loyalty-only four soldiersdeserted during three years of war and hardship

This is a great piece of southernhistory and would make a great addition to any Civil War collection.

Seephotos for condition.

Thanksfor looking and good luck offerding.

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