The Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, accepted the design of the Civil War Campaign Badge created by Mr. F. D. Millett, a well-known American Artist, and endorsed its production in 1906. The design was given to the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia for its production after the cancellation of the initial contract with a commercial company.
The original ribbon design had two rows of red, white, and blue. The red was to the outside and the blue bands center with a very thin white stripe between them. The profile of Lincoln was placed on the medal to not cause offense to the opinions of the country regarding the Civil War. The selection of the portrait of Lincoln that was acceptable to all was of utmost importance, especially as it was to be accompanied by the noble words that expressed his attitude during the war and given during his second inaugural address, "WITH MALACE TOWARD NONE WITH CHARITY TOWARD ALL." In 1913, the ribbon was changed to two equal stripes of blue and gray, with the blue on the left.
In a letter dated 30 June 1913, to the Director of the U.S. Mint, Major General Leonard Wood, Chief of Staff requested that the U.S. Mint sell the campaign badges to persons who were no longer in the service to provide that individuals who had served be given the opportunity to have the medal.
In AR 600-65, 20 November 1928, the Civil War Campaign badge is referred to as a medal rather than a badge. After this time, all correspondence and regulations refer to it as such.
Section 33, Act of Congress, 10 August 1956, (10 USC 3751) demands that the Secretary of the Army provides and issues without a charge the Civil War Campaign Medal and all other service medals. It also grants that the Civil War Medal be given to the recipient's family in the case of the member dying before being presented to him.
