| Davis Guards Medal | |
| Image Upright: | 0.75 |
| Presenter: | the citizens of Houston |
| Type: | Campaign medal |
| 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 |
| Awarded For: | The defense of Sabine Pass, Texas |
| Campaign: | Joint Federal Expedition to Sabine Pass, Texas (September 7–8, 1863) |
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]
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.
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.
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.
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]