7th Virginia Infantry, UCV, Confederate Southern Cross of Honor Document

Description

Allen Fry,
7
th
Virginia Infantry, UCV, Confederate Southern Cross of Honor
This Southern Cross of Honor is one of a collection of 15 Southern Cross United Confederate Veterans Applications that I am parting out on EBay from UCV Camp 1446 of Giles County, Virginia.
After the War Between the States, there was no official recognition of the service of Confederate Veterans, as the U.S. War Department did not, until much later, recognize these men as Veterans. Furthermore, metal was scarce, so none were awarded by the Confederate Government during the War. Around the turn of the twentieth century, the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) created a medal appropriate for the defenders in grey; one which would show their appreciation to their Confederate ancestors and also, honor their heritage. The medal was called the Southern Cross of Honor. Thousands of these medals were awarded. Winnie Davis, daughter of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, traveled around the South bestowing these medals to these aging Confederate Veterans.
These applications were required to be filled out to confirm military service and receive a Southern Cross medal. The 15 applications I acquired came from a paper dealer in Maryland. This was the largest cache that I have seen coming from a defunct UDC chapter. This document originated from United Confederate Veterans Camp 1446 in
Pearisburg,
Giles County, Virginia, and all the signatures are of Confederate Veterans.
Camp 1446 operated from 1903 until the 1920’s, and closed their doors after the veterans had passed away.
This application is for Sgt.
Allen Lloyd Fry. Fry enlisted on May 13, 1861 into Co. D, 7
th
VA Infantry. He was wounded in the 1
st
Battle of Manassas on July 21, 1861, and captured on November 6, 1862 and paroled. He was captured again at Harpers Farm on April 6, 1865 and paroled at City Point on June 12, 1865. This application is dated 1907.
Sgt. Fry was born on September 12, 1842 in Pearisburg, Virginia and died on March 19,1915 in Pearisburg, Virginia.
7th Regiment, Virginia Infantry
Overview:
7th Infantry Regiment was organized in May, 1861, at Manassas Junction, Virginia, with men from Giles, Madison, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Greene, and Albemarle counties. It fought at First Manassas under General Early, then served with Ewell, A.P. Hill, Kemper, and W.R. Terry. In April, 1862, the regiment had 700 effectives and later was active in the various campaigns of the Army of Northern Virginia from
Williamsburg
to
Gettysburg
. It participated in Longstreet's Suffolk expedition, was prominent in the capture of
Plymouth
, then fought at
Drewry's Bluff
and
Cold Harbor
. The 7th continued the fight in the
Petersburg
trenches south of the James River and around
Appomattox
. It sustained 47 casualties at
First Manassas
, 77 at
Williamsburg
, 111 at Frayser's Farm, 59 at
Second Manassas
, and 4 at
Fredericksburg
. Of the 335 engaged at Gettysburg about forty percent were disabled. It lost 39 men at Drewry's Bluff, and many were captured at
Five Forks
and
Sayler's Creek
. Only 20 officers and men were present at the surrender. Its commanders were Colonels Charles C. Flowerree, James L. Kemper, and Waller T. Patton; Lieutenant Colonel L.B. Williams, Jr.; and Major Aylett A. Swindler.
Thanks for looking and good luck bidding.