There were no Confederate Medals of Honor issued during the War Between the States despite the countless number of heroic deeds committed by numerous Confederate Soldiers. On August 23, 1862, William Porcher Miles of SC, a member of the Confederate Congress, intro- duced a bill authorizing medals for courage and good conduct on the field of battle. On October 10, 1862, the Confederate Congress passed the act authorizing medals and badges of distinction for courage and good conduct on the field of battle. It was passed into law later that same day when President Jefferson Davis signed the act. Due to the war, no medals were issued. There was, however, a Confederate Roll of Honor which recognized a small portion of these Confeder- ate Soldiers and their deeds.

The highest award presented by the Sons of Confederate Veterans is the Confederate Medal of Honor. John Amasa May, (of Aiken, South Carolina) past Commander-in-Chief of the SCV 1964-1966, made the resolution to re-establish the medal. The SCV approved the resolution and the Confederate Medal Of Honor was re-established on August 16, 1968 in Nashville at their annual convention. However, the first one was not awarded until 1977. John Amasa May had died in 1976 so did not see the first medal issued.

The award is given to the individual who distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against the enemy of the Confederate States of America. The deed or deeds must have been of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life. Incontestable proof of the performance of service is considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

Lieutenant William Alexander McQueen, February 3, 1839 – April 9,

1865, was a member of Garden’s Battery of Light Artillery, Confederate States of America (also called Palmetto Light Artillery). Lieutenant McQueen served for all four years of the war and saw action at Sharpsburg and the Crater at Petersburg, where he personally fired mortar rounds into the advancing northern troops to halt the advance. Lieutenant McQueen also showed his bravery on the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, where he and his crew were in the forefront of Pickett’s Charge with only one field Howitzer. With twenty Union cannons firing at the crew, they stood their ground. Four of McQueen’s men and six horses were killed with Lieutenant McQueen being severally wounded in the head.

On October 7, 1864, Lieutenant McQueen was again severely wounded by a minieball on Darbytown Road outside of Richmond, Virginia. He was sent home to Sumter to recover. On April 9, 1865, with 2500 Union troops headed toward Sumter, 154 old men and boys took up position at Dingle’s Mill with Lieutenant McQueen commanding an artillery piece. Against the overwhelming number of enemy forces, Lieutenant McQueen once again stood firm, this time protecting his home town. Lieutenant McQueen was killed at his gun when a Union artillery round struck him in his shoulder. He is buried in the Sumter City Cemetery, Sumter, SC.

“Killed at his gun, in defense of his hometown.”

Division Commander Robert L. Brown nominated and General P. G. T. Beauregard Camp 1458 sponsored the Medal of Honor for Lieutenant McQueen. The presentation ceremony was held November 17, 1991 at the Sumter County Museum in Sumter, where the Medal is on permanent display in the War Room honoring Sumter’s military. The ceremony was covered by the Sumter Item Newspaper and TV Channel 15 News of Florence.

Lieutenant General Wade Hampton, III, born in Charleston on March 28, 1818 and died in Columbia on April 11, 1902. Twenty thousand mourn- ers followed his casket to Trinity Episcopal Churchyard where he is buried.

“God bless all my people black and white.”

General Hampton offered to enlist as a private, however, Governor Pickens of South Carolina secured him a Colonel’s commission. Colonel Hampton organized the “Hampton’s Legion” with his own money. Hampton paid for six Blakely Cannons and 400 Enfield Rifles for his legion.

During the war General Hampton would be wounded five times. His brother and his youngest son were both killed in the war. Another of his sons was wounded. General Hampton was first wounded in the head at the Battle of First Manas- sas while leading a charge.

At the Battle of Gettysburg, General Hampton received a saber wound to the head on the second day of battle, but this did not stop him. On the third day of battle, (July 3, 1863) Hampton killed three of the enemy with his revolver and another with his sword. Hampton then saw one of his men battling alone and surrounded. Hampton, then by himself, charged to aid his fellow soldier. Hampton knocked one of the enemy from the saddle. Hampton received a second saber wound that fractured his skull but refused to leave the soldier. While continuing to defend the soldier and himself General Hampton  killed several of the enemy in personal combat, cleaving one man’s skull to his chin with a single stroke. Hampton had also received a wound to his side.

First Lieutenant Raphael Painpare, Beauregard’s Artillery – Louisiana, was killed at the Battle of “Dingle’s Mill,” Sumter, SC on April 9, 1865. Lieutenant Painpare was on leave in the Sumter area recovering from a serious illness, when scouts reported that some 2600 enemy troops were advancing on Sumter. Lieutenant Painpare volunteered to command one of two cannons with a Southern force of 154 defenders of old men, teenage boys and local militia. Some of the locals believed it to be hopeless. Lieutenant Painpare stepped up and told them

“men your home is in Sumter. My home is in Louisiana, and I propose to fight my gun if anyone will help me.”

The battle began with fire on the enemy. One of the two guns was lost early. Lieutenant Painpare and the local defenders fought the enemy to a standstill. After two enemy regiments flanked the defenders, Lieutenant Painpare ordered his men to take cover, as Lieutenant Painpare alone remained at his gun, firing on the enemy. Despite a federal officer’s call to “spare that man, don’t fire at him, for he is too brave to die,” Lieutenant Painpare was mortally wounded by a volley directed at him. He is buried in Sumter, SC.

Lieutenant Charles H. Jones, was born in Clarendon County, SC in 1833. He died in Sumter in 1895 and is buried in the Sumter City Cemetery. Lieutenant Jones served as a member of Company I, 7th South Carolina Cavalry.

Lieutenant Jones, while leading a small scouting mission around Manning, SC, found himself and his unit cut off by yankee cavalry. While attempting to escape into the Pocotaligo Swamp, one of the young Confederates was thrown by his horse. Lieutenant Jones immediately turned back to defend his young scout. Lieutenant Jones

“single handedly drove the enemy cavalry from the field, and not one of the scouts were captured, wounded or killed!”

Lieutenant Jones stood in the middle of the road, drawing the yankee fire while urging his men on to the safety of the nearby swamp. After his men were safe, Lieutenant Jones made his escape but not before stopping a second time by himself, turning to face the enemy, pistols drawn and challenged the yankees to follow. The yankee cavalry then turned and retreated. The enemy was so enraged that they put a price on Lieutenant Jones’ head. Lieutenant Jones survived the war and became sheriff of Sumter County for several years.

The Medal of Honor service was held on December 4, 1999 at the Manning Archives in Manning, SC. There were approximately thirty people present. The Medal of Honor was presented to Lieutenant Jones’ granddaughter and is on display at the Manning Archives. The Medal of Honor for Lieutenant Jones was sponsored by the General P.G.T. Beauregard Camp of Sumter, SC.