The United Daughters of the Confederacy awarded the Southern Cross of Honor medal to ex-Confederate soldiers who were members of the United Confederate Veterans in recognition of their devotion to the southern cause.

The cross below was awarded to William Lewis Beasley, Co. C, 4th Virginia Cavalry about 1895. On the Verso is engraved the name of the manufacturer, Charles W. Crankshaw, Atlanta, Georgia, and an inscription, "Southern Cross of Honor - Deo vindice, 1861 - 1865" [ God will judge ].

One Tippah country soldier who received the Southern Cross of honor was my great great grandfather, Charles Pinkney Dickerson. Charles was the son of James and Elizabeth McCay/McCoy Dickerson. He was born in Greenville, Dist. S.C. about 1829. The Dickerson family moved to Tippah County in the early 1840's. Charles served in Co. A 23rd Miss. Infantry as a private, enlisting at Iuka, MS. in Aug. 1861. The 23rd surrendered at Ft. Donelson in Feb. 1862 and was exchanged in Sept. 1862. According to his pension application, Charles received a slight wound below the ribs and above the hip bone in this battle. The 23rd was exchanged and took part in the battle for Vicksburg. Confederate records say he deserted May 16, 1863, however Union records show he was captured at the Big Black River or Champion Hill May 17, 1863 and sent to Memphis and then on to Ft. Del., Del. where he arrived June 9, 1863. He was exchanged July 4, 1863 -- the day Vicksburg fell. According to his pension application he was not with his company when it surrender in Tenn. (actually NC), having been paroled for six months. The 23rd was captured at the battle of Nashville in Dec. 1864 while covering the retreat of Hood's defeated army. When asked if he was continuously with his company his response was "when not in prison."

Charles married Martha Emily Persons, daughter of Joseph John and Nancy Persons in 1858 in Tippah County, MS. They remained in Tippah County until the late 1870's and were found in the census of Okolona, Chickasaw County in 1880. They were not found in the 1900 census. Charles made application for a Confederate pension from Chickasaw Co., date not stated but was about 1900. In Sept. 1907 he again made application but this time from Lee County. The pension was granted but he died 14 Dec. 1907. In 1908 Mary E. Dickerson, wife of C. P. Dickerson of the 23rd Miss. made application from Lee County. Martha E. Dickerson, wife of C. P. Dickerson made application in 1916. Apparently Mary was what Martha was called because that is name used in her obituary.

Martha was found in the 1910 census of Tupelo living with a son. She died 12 April 1917 in Memphis while visiting her sons and was returned to Tupelo and buried in Glenwood Cemetery the next day in an unmarked grave probably next to Charles whose grave is also unmarked. I do not know which UDC unit awarded Charles the Southern Cross of honor.