Item number: M200-1

Year: AD 1905

Material: Bronze

Size: 58.7 x 32.7 x 2.3 mm

Weight: 21.45 g

Provenance:

1. Heritage Auctions 2023

2. Nicolas D. Wood Collection

This is a medal established by the US War Department on January 11, AD 1905, in accordance with General Order No. 5, known as the “China Campaign Medal.” It was created to recognise the officers and soldiers of the US Army who participated in the battles of the Eight-Nation Alliance between June 20, AD 1900, and May 27, AD 1901. Approximately 2,300 medals were issued.

The medal is circular in shape, with a ring suspension attaching to a ribbon featuring yellow with blue stripes. On the obverse side is a depiction of a five-clawed dragon, symbolizing the Qing Empire, surrounded by the inscription “CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION” in English, with the years “1900-1901” engraved at the bottom. On the reverse side is the emblem of the United States Army, featuring a spread-winged bald eagle standing on a cannon, flags, and weapons, with thirteen stars as decoration at the bottom. Below the eagle is the inscription “FOR SERVICE” in English, while the outer ring bears the inscription “UNITED STATES ARMY.” The bottom rim of the medal is engraved with the issuance number, with three versions starting with either “No.”, “M.No.” or “Un-prefixed.” This medal is the “No.” version, with the issuance number “1460.” The medal’s owner is James F. Hibbard, who later participated in the US military campaigns to suppress the resistance in the Philippines.

On June 10, AD 1900, to rescue the various foreign diplomats and citizens, including those from the British Legation, who were besieged by the Boxers in the Beijing Legation Quarter, which included 56 US Marines from the United States. The first relief expedition led by British General Seymour, the multinational force (with 112 US Marines) departed from the Tianjin Concession. However, they encountered resistance from Qing forces and Boxers, forcing them to retreat to their starting point to regroup and await reinforcements.

To support military operations in China, the United States Army appointed Major General Adna R. Chaffee as the commander. Drawing forces from the recently acquired colony of the Philippines, the US dispatched the 9th, 14th, and 15th Infantry Regiments, the 6th Cavalry Regiment, the 3rd and 5th Field Artillery Regiments, and additional logistical units, totalling 2,200 troops, to reinforce the campaign in China.

On July 7, AD 1900, the 9th Infantry Regiment participated in the battle for the strategic position of Taku Forts. On July 13, two battalions under the 9th Infantry Regiment were involved in the capture of Tianjin, resulting in a total of 95 casualties for the American forces.

On August 4, AD 1900, the Allied forces advanced towards Beijing, reaching the outer city ten days later. On August 14, the Allied forces divided into five routes to besiege the British Legation compound in the inner city. Soldiers from the US 14th Infantry Regiment scaled the 30-foot walls of the Dongbianmen Gate and continued advancing towards the inner city. At 4:30 PM, the US became the second force to enter the Legation Quarter after the British troops, providing relief.

In the winter of AD 1900, most US troops stationed in China were withdrawn to the Philippines to suppress local resistance movements. On September 7 of the following year, the Qing government and the foreign powers signed the Boxer Protocol, also known as the Xinchou Treaty, which forced the Qing to allow foreign troops to be stationed in the Legation Quarter of Beijing. The US maintained a detachment in Beijing until AD 1938. Additionally, the Qing government was required to pay 24 million US dollars in indemnities to the US government.

However, in AD 1907, through the efforts of Liang Cheng, the Chinese Minister to the United States, the US agreed to return the indemnity as a fund to reward Chinese students studying in the US and assist in the establishment of higher education institutions in China. This fund contributed to the founding of Tsinghua University, a renowned institution in both China and Taiwan.

物件編號: M200-1

年代: 公元 1905 年

材質: 青銅

尺寸: 58.7 x 32.7 x 2.3 mm

重量: 21.45 g

來源:

1. 海瑞得拍賣行 2023

2. 尼古拉斯·D·伍德舊藏

這是一枚公元1905年1月11日，美國戰爭部按照〈第五號命令〉設立之「中國戰役獎章」，以表彰公元1900年6月20日至翌年5月27日間，參與八國聯軍戰役的陸軍官兵，發行量約有2300枚。

獎章外觀為圓形，以環形懸掛銜接黃底藍條的綬帶。正面是一條象徵清帝國的五爪蟠龍，周圍以英文鐫刻「遣華解救遠征」銘文，下緣則刻上「1900-1901」年份字樣。獎章背面是美國陸軍的徽章，一隻腳踏大砲、旗幟和武器的展翅白頭鷹，最下方以十三顆星星為裝飾。老鷹下方以英文寫有「用於服務」，外圈的銘文則是「美國陸軍」。獎章下緣則鐫刻頒發的編號，有「No.」、「M.No.」和「無前綴」的三種版本。該獎章為「No.」版本，其頒發編號為「1460」。獎章的主人是詹姆斯·F·希巴德，他後續亦有參加美國為鎮壓菲律賓反抗的戰役。

公元1900年6月10日，為拯救遭義和團圍困於北京英國大使館的各國公使和公民，跟其中戍守使館的56名美國陸戰隊同袍。包含112名美國陸戰隊員在內的國際聯軍在英軍將領西摩爾指揮下，從天津租界出發的第一次解圍行動遭到清軍和義和團的阻擋，僅能退回原點整補與等待增援。

為支援在中國的軍事行動，美國陸軍指派阿德納·霞飛少將為指揮官，以不久前奪取的殖民地菲律賓為基地，抽調第9、第14、第15步兵團、第6騎兵團、第3、第5野戰砲兵團和其餘後勤部隊，總計2200名的兵力增援中國戰事。公元1900年7月7日，第9步兵團先參與戰略要地大沽口砲台的爭奪戰；7月13日，第9步兵團轄下兩個營則參與天津的攻克戰，美方總計有95人傷亡。公元1900年8月4日，聯軍朝北京正式推進，並且在十天後抵達北京外城區。8月14日當天，聯軍分為五路進逼圍困在內城區的英國使館，美國第14步兵團的士兵們徒手攀登30英尺的東便門，持續向內城區挺進。下午4點半，美國成為繼英軍之後，第二支進入使館區的解圍部隊。

公元1900年冬，美國已將多數的駐華部隊撤回菲律賓，以鎮壓當地的反抗運動。隔年9月7日，清廷和列強簽訂《辛丑條約》被迫允許各國在北京使館區駐紮部隊，美軍便在北京留下一支分遣隊直到公元1938年為止。除此之外，清廷還必須給予美國2400萬美金的賠款。不過公元1907年，在清國駐美公使梁誠的奔走下，美方同意退回賠款以此為基金，獎勵中國留學生赴美和協助中國高等教育機關的創建，這便是兩岸知名學府清華大學的創立背景。