BULL. 30] 



MEDALS 



833 



A large body of Indians assembled in 

 general council at Montreal, Aug. 17, 

 1778, representing the Sioux, Sauk, 

 Foxes, Menominee, Winnebago, Ottawa, 

 Potawatonii, and Chippewa. It is gen- 

 erally supposed that at this time the 

 presentation of the medals took place, in 

 consideration of the assistance rendered 

 the British in the campaigns of Kentucky 

 and Illinois and during the War of the 

 Revolution. Gen. Haldimand, com- 

 mander in chief of the British forces in 

 Canada, also gave a certificate with each 

 medal (see Hoffman in 14th Rep. B. A. E., 

 1896; Betts, p. 28-1-286). 



1778. Obverse, bust of king to right, wearing 

 ribbon of the Garter. Reverse, the royal arms, 

 surrounded by ribbon of the Garter and motto, 

 surmounted by a crown, supported by the lion 

 and the unicorn; at bottom ribbon, with motto, 

 Dieu et Mon Droit; shield of pretense crowned. 

 Silver; size, '2f in., with loop for suspension. 



The following medals were presented, 

 until aboitt the time of the war of 1812, 

 to Indian chiefs for meritorious service, 

 and continued in use possibly until re- 

 placed by those of 1814 (Leroux, p. 157): 



1775. Obverse, bust of the king, to left, with 

 hair curled, wearing ribbon of the Garter; legend, 

 Georgius III Dei Gratia. Reverse, the royal arms 

 with supporters; surmounted by crown and rib- 

 bon of the Garter; below, ribbon with motto, 

 Dieu et Mon Droit. Silver; size, 2^ in., with loop 

 for suspension. 



1794. Obver.9e, bust of king to right, in armor, 

 wearing ribbon of the Garter, hair long, cloak 

 over shoulders; two laurel branches from bottom 

 of medal to height of shoulders of bust; legend, 

 Georgius III Dei Gratia; in exergue, 1791,. Re- 

 verse, on plain field, the royal arms with sup- 

 porters, surmounted by helmet and crest, encir- 

 cled by ribbon of the Garter, and below ribbon 

 and motto. Silver; size, li in. 



At the close of the war of 1812, the 

 Government, desirous of marking its ap- 

 preciation of the services rendered by its 

 Indian allies, besides making other pres- 

 ents and grants of land, caused the fol- 

 lowing medal, in three sizes, to be struck 

 in silver for presentation to the chiefs and 

 principal warriors (Leroux, p. 158): 



1814. Obverse, bust with older head of king to 

 right, laureated, draped in an ermine mantle, 

 secured in front with a large bow of ribbon, 

 wearing the collar and jewel of StGeorge; legend, 

 Georgius III Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rex F. D.; 

 under bust, T. Wyon, Jun. S. Reverse, the royal 

 arms of Great Britain with shield of pretense of 

 Hanover, surmounted by a crown and crested 

 helmet, all encircled by ribbon of the Garter and 

 stipporters, below a ribbon with motto, Dieu et 

 Mon, Droit; above ribbon, a rose, thistle, and 

 shamrock; behind helmet on both sides, a display 

 of acanthus leaves; in exergue, ISli. Silver; 

 size, 2f to m in. 



The following medal, in three sizes, 

 was struck in 1840 for participants in the 

 early treaties of the Queen's reign. It is 

 possible that it may have been presented 

 also to the Indians of Lower Canada who 

 took no part in the abortive uprising of 

 1837 (McLachlan, p. 36; Leroux, p. 161): 



1840. Obverse, bust of Queen, to right, crowned; 

 legend, Victoria Dei Gratia Britanniarum Rcgina 



F. D.; under neck W. Wyon, R. A. Reverse, 

 arms of Great Britain, surmounted by crown and 

 crested helmet, encircled by ribbon of the Garter, 

 supported by the lion and the unicorn; below, 

 ribbon with motto, Dieu ct Mon Droit, the rose 

 and thistle; in exergue, 181,0. Silver; sizes, 2f to 

 4i9g in. 



The medal known as the Ashburton 

 treaty medal was given through Lord 

 Ashburton, in 1842, to the Micmac and 

 other eastern Indians for services as guards 

 and hunters, and assistance in laying out 

 the boundary between the United States 

 and Canada. 



1842. Obverse, bust of queen in an inner den- 

 tilated circle, garland of roses around psyche 

 knot; under bust, iJ. Wyon; no legend. Reverse, 

 arms of Great Britain in an inner circle, sur- 

 mounted by a crowned and crested helmet, encir- 

 cled by the ribbon of the Garter; legend, Victoria 

 Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regina Fid. Def. Rib- 

 bon in lower lield backed by the rose and thistle 

 (Betts, p. 159). Silver; size, 2^^ in. 



In 1848 the Peninsular War medal was 

 issued, to be given to any officer, non- 

 commissioned officer, or soldier who had 

 participated in any battle or siege from 

 1793 to 1814. In general orders, dated 

 Horse Guards, June 1, 1847, were included 

 the battles of Chateaugay, Oct. 26, 1813, 

 and of Chrystlers Farm, Nov. 11, 1813, 

 covering the invasion of Canada by the 

 American army in 1813. "The medal 

 was also conferred upon the Indians, the 

 name of the battles engraved on clasps, 

 and the name of the recipient on the 

 edge of the medal, with title of warrior" 

 (Leroux, j). 177). 



1848. Obverse, bust of the queen to right, crown- 

 ed; legend, Victoria Regina; below bust, iSiS, and 

 W. Wyon, R. A. Reverse, figure of the queen in 

 royal robes, standing on a dais, crowning with a 

 wreath of laurel the Duke of Wellington, who is 

 kneeling before her ; by side of dais a crouching 

 lion; in exergue, 1703-lSl/,. Silver; size, 2^ in., 

 with loop for suspension. 



The Prince of Wales on his visit to 

 Canada in 1860 was i-eceived by Indians 

 in full ceremonial dress. Each chief w^as 

 presented with a large silver medal, while 

 the warriors received smaller medals. 

 This medal is known as the Prince of 

 Wales medal. 



I860. Obverse, head of queen to right, undrap- 

 ed and crowned; legend, Victoria D. (I. Regina F. D. 

 In lower right-hand field, the three leathers and 

 motto; lower left-hand field, I860. Reverse, the 

 royal arms surmounted by a helmet, crown, and 

 lion, with ribbon of the Garter, and on the ribbon 

 below, Dieti, et Mon Droit; at back, roses, sham- 

 rock, and thistle; in exergue, 1860. Silver; size, 

 2 in., with loop for suspension. 



In 1860, when the Government had ac- 

 quired the lands of the Hudson's Bay 

 Company's territory and after the extinc- 

 tion of the Indian land titles, the follow- 

 ing medal was presented to the Indians 

 under Treaty No. 1. In the Report of 

 the Commissioners it is stated: "In ad- 

 dition each Indian received a dress, a flag, 

 and a medal as marks of distinction." 

 These medals at first were not struck for 

 this occasion. 



Bull. 30—05- 



-53 



