CONFEDERATE SOUTHERN CROSS OF HONOR NAMED TEXAS

Stellar named, Civil War Confederate Veterans named Southern Cross of Honor that was awarded to a member of the 26th Texas Cavalry. His name is engraved on the top bar to A.M. Hill Co. B. 26 Texas. After further research the only possibility in the roster is Augustus M. Hill whose residence was not listed; Enlisted on 3/1/1862 as a Private. On 3/1/1862 he mustered into "B" Co. TX 26th Cavalry (date and method of discharge not given). Excellent. The 26th Texas Cavalry Regiment was a unit of mounted volunteers from Texas that fought in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. The unit first organized in August 1861 as the 7th Texas Cavalry Battalion with seven companies for the purpose of patrolling the Texas Gulf Coast. In January 1862, three companies were added, and the unit was renamed the 26th Texas Cavalry Regiment. The original colonel resigned and was replaced by Xavier Debray, a Frenchman educated at Saint-Cyr military academy. Constant drilling gave the unit its reputation as one of the best disciplined in Texas. Until 1864, the regiment only fought minor skirmishes with Union landing parties. That year it fought at Mansfield and Pleasant Hill in the Red River Campaign. Instead of disbanding in May 1865, the regiment stayed intact and briefly guarded the city of Houston against marauders.