- Time Period: Pre-WW1
- Established: 1907
- Country: United States
The Indian Campaign Medal is a distinguished decoration that was established through War Department General Orders 12 in 1907. This medal was bestowed retrospectively upon U.S. Army soldiers who had actively served in the American Indian Wars, engaging in conflicts with Native American tribes from 1865 to 1891. It recognizes the contributions and sacrifices made by those individuals during this significant period of American history.
Originally, the medal featured an all-red ribbon; however, in December 1917, two black stripes were added to avoid confusion with the ribbon of the French Legion of Honor, which bore a similar appearance.
In addition to the medal itself, campaign streamers were authorized for units that participated in Indian Wars as early as 1790. These streamers, bearing the same design as the service ribbon, are displayed as recognition of a unit’s campaign credit. The inscriptions on the streamers that are displayed on the organizational flag correspond to the unit’s lineage and honors. For the Army flag, there are 14 prescribed inscriptions for the campaign streamers, which can be found in AR 840-10 and AR 600-8-22.
The Indian Campaign Medal Design
The bronze medal measures 1 ¼ inches in diameter. The obverse side showcases a mounted Indian facing to the left, adorned with a war bonnet and holding a spear in his right hand. Positioned above the horseman are the words “Indian Wars,” while below, a buffalo skull is flanked by arrowheads arranged in a conventional manner to complete the circle.
On the reverse side, a trophy is depicted, featuring an eagle perched on a cannon supported by crossed flags and rifles. Additional elements of the trophy include an Indian shield, spear, and quiver of arrows, a Cuban machete, and a Sulu kriss. Below the trophy, the words “For Service” are inscribed. Surrounding the design is a circular border with the words “United States Army” in the upper half, while the lower half is adorned with thirteen stars.
The medal is suspended by a ring and is worn with a silk moire ribbon measuring 1 ⅜ inches in length and 1 ⅜ inches in width. The ribbon consists of a red stripe measuring ¼ inch, followed by a black stripe measuring 3/16 inch. Next is a red band measuring ½ inch, again followed by a black stripe measuring 3/16 inch, and finally, a red stripe measuring ¼ inch.
