Lot 628: 2 Southern Crosses – Coleman Scouts and Beauregard

2 Southern Crosses of Honor for Confederate Soldiers, William J. Moore and Victor A. Beauregard of New Orleans. Moore (1840-1913) was born in Tennessee and was a member of the Coleman Scouts. He served alongside the legendary Sam Davis of Smyrna, Tennessee. Private V.A. Beauregard served in the Miles Legion Volunteer Infantry Company C (Turner's, Wilson's), and also in Company 1, 1st regiment Heavy Artillery. Each of two part copper construction with names engraved at top, 2". This lot includes an original printed Southern cross mailing envelope c. 1893 and a paperback book, THE SOUTHERN CROSS OF HONOR; HISTORICAL NOTES AND TRIAL LIST OF VARIETIES by Peter Bertram.c. 2003, along with a packet of research information about Beauregard and Moore. Included in the Moore packet is an account from the Confederate Daughters of Dixie of Moore's arrest in November of 1863, when he was captured on a scouting and courier mission outside Pulaski, TN. Moore managed to talk his tipsy captors into sharing some food with him and during this process he managed to destroy the documents he was carrying before the Union soldiers could find them. Moore was imprisoned in Pulaski along with Sam Davis and their commander, Captain Shaw Coleman. Moore later managed to escape from jail and served the remainder of the war with his unit.

PROVENANCE: Collection of John Cooper. Beauregard cross acquired from dealer Everitt Boyles, an expert on Southern crosses and contributor to the Bertram book included in this lot.

CONDITION: Moore cross exhibits oxidation and lacks screw mount post and nut on reverse. Beauregard cross in very good condition. Envelope in fragile condition with losses. Book in good condition.