A very rare 8th Infantry regimental sterling silver presentation medal for valor. The sterling silver medal consists of a Maltese Cross surrounded by a wreath of acanthus leaves with a silver disk in the center. The face of the disk is inscribed: "HONOUR/Awarded To/TRUMPETER THOMAS A. KEATING/FOR BRAVERY/while in pursuit of/Hostile Indians/AT WHITE RIVER/NEBRASKA/9th Septr 1888/in rescuing/ 1st Lieut. R.W. Wilson/Co. C. 8th U.S. Infantry." The reverse of the medal is engraved: "PRESENTED/by the Officers of/the 8th U.S. Infantry" and stamped with silver hallmarks. The medal is approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter and has a pin back on the upper rear. This unique award was apparently presented by the officers of the 8th Infantry to Trumpeter Keating to commemorate bravery in action that was not recognized by an official award. In 1888, the only official award for valor was the Congressional Medal of Honor. This award may have been commissioned by the officers of the 8th Infantry in lieu of official recognition. It is a unique medal awarded for one of the last engagements between the U.S. Army and Native Americans. This medal was formerly part of the William O. Taylor Collection, located at the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association at Deerfield, Massachusetts. The medal is complete with a certificate of authenticity from Butterfield & Butterfield dated April 4, 1995.

Very fine. The medal has been professionally mounted in a 15 inch by 12 inch frame with double glass that enables the viewer to read the inscriptions on both sides of the medal. This is a unique medal, awarded for individual valor, in one of the last engagements of the Indian Wars. This medal would be the centerpiece of any U.S. military or martial arms collection.