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| Title |
CIVIL WAR "DAVIS GUARD" MEDAL |
| Image |
 |
| Found in |
1994 |
| Found By |
Bert Green |
| Value |
11000 |
| Category |
Medal |
| Heading |
Remembering the history of Sabine Pass |
| Description |
Bert Green felt sure that the unusual, hand-engraved silver disc had historical value, but only later did he learn just how remarkable it was. To the astonishment of scholars and collectors alike, he had found one of the medals of the Civil War's legendary Davis Guard!
Undaunted by the fact that he was hunting a well-known and hard-hunted area, Bert had enjoyed considerable success even before making his most spectacular find. "I've found a lot of coins out there," he admits. "...two half dimes, a Seated Liberty half dollar, two or three Texas Confederate state buttons, and a Confederate belt buckle."
Yet for all his knowledge and experience, the medal had him stymied. Fashioned from a Mexican silver dollar, it had an applied suspension loop at the top. On one side were engraved the Roman letters D and G, above a Maltese cross. On the reverse was inscribed, "Sabine Pass, Sept. 8th, 1863." At first research turned up nothing, but then a friend suggested a meaning for the initials D.G.: Davis Guard.
Bert lost no time in following up on this lead, and with the help of a local librarian he was soon immersed in an amazing story...
During the Civil War, a simple earthwork known as Fort Griffin had been thrown up at the Sabine Pass to keep watch over the mouth of the Sabine River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico and forms the border between Texas and Louisiana. Under the command of Lt. Dick Dowling, the Davis Guard were dock workers from Houston and Galveston, hand picked to hold the strategic location. Only 42 men in all, on September 8, 1863, they defied all odds and withstood a massive assault from 22 Union ships and five gunboats.
After 92 unanswered volleys from the enemy, the Davis Guard methodically sank the flagship Sachem and heavily damaged the Clifton and Arizona. Stunned by their losses, the Union forces steamed away on the low tide. When the smoke had cleared, Lt. Dowling discovered that there had not been a single casualty among his command.
In recognition of their heroic stand, the Davis Guard were awarded silver medals, as well as two gold ones for the officers. Another of the medals was presented to C.S.A. President Jefferson Davis. Detailed descriptions in records of the period, and comparisons with photos of another of the medals, leave little doubt about the identity of Bert's find.
What is believed to be the first Davis Guard medal offered at public auction was sold by Stack's in 1993, bringing $11,000. Apart from the fact that its loop is detached, it appears virtually identical to Bert's. According to a Stack's spokesman, it was originally awarded to a man named Thomas Hagerty.
For Bert, this suggests another challenge. "I'm not sure just how to go about researching the identity of the member of the Davis Guard who received the medal I found, but there must be a way," he muses.
If there is, Bert Green will find it.
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| General Location Found |
border between Texas and Louisiana |
| Condition |
Very Good |
| Contact Email |
westeast@treasurenet.com |
| Keywords |
Davis, Texas, Louisiana, Medal |
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Entered s0-217-a-gte.br5.blv.nwnexus.net 2000/05/28 20:20
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