Civil War - Army

BACK DEVICE(s) none

Description:

1. Authorized by General Orders 4, War Department, dated 11 January 1905
2. The initial ribbon design was two bands of red, white, and blue with the red on the outside and the blue bands separated by a thin white stripe in the center.
3. The head of Lincoln was selected because it was the only thing that could be used on the medal without offense to the sentiment then happily prevailing over the whole country in regard to the Civil War. The portrait of Lincoln must be acceptable to everybody, particularly when accompanied by the noble phrase from his second inaugural address which so tersely and accurately expresses his attitude during the war.
4. The ribbon was changed in 1913 to half blue (on the left) and half gray.

Background:

1. The Medal
   1. Obverse
      A Bronze medal, 1 1/4 inches in diameter, with the head of Lincoln, nearly in profile, facing sinister, surrounded by the words “WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE WITH CHARITY FOR ALL”.
   2. Reverse
      Displays the the words “THE CIVIL WAR” and below this are the dates “1861-1865”, surrounded by a wreath formed by a branch of oak on the left and a branch of olive on the right with the stems joined at the bottom by a conventional knot.
   3. Ribbon
      The ribbon is 1 3/8 inches wide and equally divided with 11/16 inch Navy Blue #1 67179 and 11/16 inch Gray 67200.
2. Information from
   The Call of Duty : Military Awards and Decorations of the United States of America by John E. Strandberg
   The Army Institute of Heraldry
   Medal, Civil War Campaign MIL-DTL-3943 190 30 June 1997
   Medal, Civil War Campaign MIL-DTL-3943 190D 28 April 2021
   Ribbon, Civil War Campaign Medal MIL-DTL-11589 25E 15 Sentember i995
   Ribbon, Civil War Campaign Medal MIL-DTL-11589 25H 16 June 2021