The Indian Campaign Medal is a decoration established by War Department General Orders 12, 1907. The medal was retroactively awarded to any soldier of the U.S. Army who had participated in the American Indian Wars against the Native Americans between 1865 and 1891.
Background
The Indian Campaign Medal was established by War Department General Orders 12 in 1907. It was created at the same time as the Civil War Campaign Medal.
The initial ribbon was all red; however, two black stripes were added in December 1917 because of the similarity to a ribbon used by the French for the French Legion of Honor.
Campaign streamers of the same design as the service ribbon are authorized for display by units receiving campaign credit participation for Indian Wars as early as 1790. The inscriptions for streamers displayed on the organizational flag will be as indicated in the unit's lineage and honors. The inscriptions for the 14 streamers displayed on the Army flag are listed in AR 840-10 and AR 600-8-22.
Eligible campaigns
The service in the following campaigns are eligible for award of the Indian Campaign Medal:
- Southern Oregon, Idaho, northern California, and Nevada between 1865 and 1868.
- Against the Comanches and confederate tribes in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and Indian Territory between 1867 and 1875.
- Modoc War between 1872 and 1873.
- Against the Apaches in Arizona in 1873.
- Against the Northern Cheyennes and Sioux between 1876 and 1877.
- Nez Perce War in 1877.
- Bannock War in 1878.