Indian Wars Campaign Medal No.1642

[Medalman90]

I’ve been wanting one of these for a very long time and I’m pleased to be able to share this recent acquisition with the forum.

 

Private Thomas Foran. United States Army & Costal Artillery Corps.

 

Thomas Foran was born April 19th 1865 in Dublin, Ireland. He was Baptized on April 21st at St Catherine's, Dublin. He immigrated to the United States in 1885, at the age of 20. 

 

Thomas enlisted into the Army on April 24th 1888. He was first assigned to G-Co., 17th Infantry and was stationed at Fort D.A. Russell, Wyoming. 

 

The Standing Rock Reservation in South Dakota was the center of the Ghost Dance Movement. Its followers believed in the advent of a messiah who would restore former Native American traditions while removing “The White Man”. Afraid that Sitting Bull would join the movement and incite a rebellion, Indian Agency Police attempted to arrest him. The police arrived at Sitting Bull’s camp along the Grand River on December 15th, 1890. The arrest quickly went sideways when Sitting Bull refused to comply with officers. A tribesmen shot one of the officers which lead to the death of Sitting Bull. Two days later United States Army mobilized to occupy the Pine Ridge Reservation and capture and disarm other prominent Native American Chiefs including Spotted Elk, Big Foot, and Kicking Bear, along with their tribes. 

 

Seven Companies (A,B,C,D,E,G,and H) of the 17th Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Offley; deployed to Black Hills, South Dakota. From here, the regiment set up a perimeter from Rapid City to Oelrichs (north to south). This was to prevent Big Foot, Kicking Bear, and Spotted Elk from heading westward. The unit proceeded to tighten the perimeter by heading east to the Badlands and Rosebud. After the Wounded Knee Massacre on December 29th, four companies of the 17th Regiment were dispatched to link up with Lieutenant Colonel George B. Sanford’s Fort Leavenworth Cavalry Squadron in the Whiteclay Vally. The unit held its position here until the Pine Ridge Campaign ended. For his service during the Pine Ridge Campaign, Private Thomas Foran was awarded Indian Wars Campaign Medal Nọ 1642 in 1910.

 

During the Johnson County War in April 1892, C-Co. and G-Co. of the 17th Regiment rode by rail to Douglas, Wyoming to transfer the prisoners to Fort D.A. Russel. 

 

During the Spanish American War, Private Foran served in H-Battery, 5th Artillery. The unit was stationed at Fort Hamilton, New York. During the interwar years, Thomas was assigned to multiple units:

 

1.H-Battery,5th Artillery:1893-1901. Fort Jay, New York.

 

2.84th Co., Coastal Artillery Corps: 1901-1905. Fort Hamilton, New York.

 

3.87th Co., Coastal Artillery Corps: 1905-1908,1910-1913. Fort Hamilton, New York. 

 

4.98th Co., Costal Artillery Corps: 1908-1910: Fort Hamilton, New York. 

 

5.4th Co., Costal Artillery Corps: 1913-1914. Fort Totten, New York.

 

6.3rd Co., Costal Artillery Corps: 1914-1914. Fort Grant, Canal Zone.

 

7.15th Co., Costal Artillery Corps: 1914-1915. Cristobal, Canal Zone.

 

During The Great War. Private Thomas Foran was assigned to 1st Co., Coast Artillery and was stationed at Fort Totten, New York. After 31 years of service, Thomas Foran was discharged for the final time on March 10th, 1919. 

 

In the civilian sector, Tom worked as a Watchman for the New York Naval Militia.  

 

Thomas Foran died of pneumonia on February 6th 1937. He is buried in Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery, Queens, New York. 

 

 

[Medalman90]

Note that Mr. Foran’s obituary states that he was in the “37th Regiment out of California”. After reviewing his enlistments, I haven’t seen anything mentioned about a 37th Regiment. However; 5th Artillery was stationed in California for a time. Not sure if it was before or after the unit was stationed at Fort Jay.

[Medalman90]

Upon further research, I learned that Battery-H was deployed to the Sacramento Depot during the Central Pacific Railroad Strike from July 10th-August 19th 1894.

[m1903]

Nice medal, I like the early style ribbon

 

[Medalman90]

5 hours ago, m1903 said:

Nice medal, I like the early style ribbon

 

Thanks 03! The Indian Wars Campaign Medal has always been my favorite of the old US campaign medals.

[usmedalman]

Here is his medal award card. The serial #1759 is the A.G. correspondence serial number. Medal # is in red pencil.

[Medalman90]

On 1/18/2024 at 2:39 PM, usmedalman said:

Here is his medal award card. The serial #1759 is the A.G. correspondence serial number. Medal # is in red pencil.

Thank You USMM!
 

I also appreciate the clarification between the Adjutant General Correspondence Serial Number and the medal’s Number. I can see how this can easily be confused.

[Medalman90]

I thought I would update this thread with some photos I found of the 5th Artillery Regiment at Fort Slocum, NY in the September 12th, 1897 edition of the New York Times. I’d like to think Pvt. Foran is in one of these photos. He was assigned to this unit from 1893-October 1901.

[CAC1901]

Nice. I like to supplement identified items with period images of the guys unit even if I can't attribute them to being in the picture. It certainly gives more context.

That 37th California bit in the obituary is probably just a misinterpretation of 17th infantry. Family provided info to a paper for a family members obituary. A recollection of the details of the persons life from decades earlier - esp. when written on a piece of paper or verbally relayed - is prone to minor mistakes.  

[Blacksmith]

On 1/18/2024 at 2:39 PM, usmedalman said:

Here is his medal award card. The serial #1759 is the A.G. correspondence serial number. Medal # is in red pencil.

If I may ask, what resource is this from?

[usmedalman]

These cards are available online here: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/601682. They are more or less alphabetized by recipient's last name.