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Replica of the original medal created in 1863 to boost the morale of the prisoners.
Available with or without a certificate. Extra Certificates $10.00
each.
Tall 1 1/2"
Wide 1 1/4"
Black and white cloisonné seven pointed star suspended from a gold plated sword.
A History of the Badge of the Seven Confederate Knights
The order of the Seven Knights of the Confederacy was created in 1863 at Rock Island Union Prison by seven Confederate soldiers as one means of combating desertions among their fellow prisoners. Its members took an oath to stand by each other under all circumstances and to die in prison rather than give in to pressure by their captors to take oath of allegiance to the Union and join the armed forces of the United States. This oath was to be binding so long as the Confederate government was in existence. The oath spoke to the behavior of these prisoners of war in the absence of a formal code of conduct for POW's such as we have today.
The badges were made of pearl, bone, or rubber highly polished. The device was a star with seven points, and our motto was "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori," which means, "It is sweet and glorious to die for one's country." The initial letter of one of these Latin words in each point of the star. In the center of the star was a shield on which were the emblematic letters "C.K."
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