The Kearny Cross - Cross of Valor - Enlisted Medal

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The ONLY U.S. government authorized military medal during the Civil War was the Medal of Honor (authorized in July 1862). The United States had no official awards for bravery or heroism to issue to it’s military at the start of the American Civil War of 1861. Many general officers did however, design and create their own such decorations of which they gave to their junior officers or others under their command.

Description:

1. Commissioned by Brigadier General David B. Birney, First Division of the Third Army Corps in March 1863.
2. On the death of General Kearny, Brigadier General David B. Birney succeeded to the command of his division. On the 13th of March, 1863, General Birney issued an order to the effect that a "Cross of Valor," to be known as the " Kearny Cross " would be bestowed upon such non-commissioned officers and privates as had "most distinguished themselves in battle."
3. A subsequent order announced that it was the division decoration and was bestowed in honor of the former division commander, General Kearny.
4. This version of the Keanry Cross was awarded to non-commissioned officers and privates.
5. Published reports suggest that 30 Kearny Crosses (“Cross of Valor”) were distributed to each Regiment in the Division, and the task fell to the Regimental Captains to determine who in their respective companies would be awarded the medal.
6. The Cross was also given to civilian nurses and related workers under The General’s Command. It was awarded to some of the first contributing females to the Union war effort. These women were known as vivandieres. (Known Kearny Cross recipients - Marie Tepe, Annie Etheridge)
7. By 1865, both the Kearny Medal and the Kearny Cross were commonly referred to by the single name of the Kearny Cross. Since the decorations were issued by local commanders, the medals remained unofficial awards and were not issued after the close of the Civil War. Nevertheless, the Kearny Cross and Medal are regarded as one of the oldest military decorations of the United States Army, second only to the Badge of Military Merit and the Fidelity Medallion.

Background:

1. The Medal is 42 mm (1.65") in diameter.
   1. OBVERSE
      1. It is a cross patté of bronze.
      2. Bearing the words KEARNY CROSS on a ribbon.
      3. END
   2. REVERSE
      1. In one line, "BIRNEY'S DIVISION"
      2. At the bottom, in very small letters, JACOBUS PHILA. 
      3. END
   3. RIBBON
      There was NO Ribbon as this was a medal only award.  It is attached to an oblong open clasp of fasces and suspended by a red ribbon from similar clasp pin.
2. Information from
   UNITED STATES WAR MEDALS by Bauman L. Beldex appearing in American Journal of Numismatics (1897-1924) , 1915, Vol. 49 (1915), pp. 1-72
   Kearny Medal of Honor – Enlisted Personnel Award Civil War Recreations sales information
   4th Maine Infantry Regiment, Company B homepage, Tripod.com