Page images
PDF
EPUB

8. OCCASION.-Same as the preceding. Silver. Device-America personified in an Indian queen, is presenting a palm branch to Captain Stewart: a quiver hangs at her back: her bow and an alligator are at her feet with her left hand she supports a shield inscribed with the American stripes, and resting on the ground. Legend-Johanni Stewart cohortis prefecto. Comitia

Americana.

Reverse-A fortress on an eminence in the foreground, an officer cheering his men, who are following him with charged bayonets, in pursuit of a flying enemy troops in Indian files ascending the hill to the storm, front and rear: troops advancing from the shore: ships in sight.

Exergue-Stony Point oppugnatum, xv. Jul.

MDCCLXXIX.

9. OCCASION.-Same as the preceding. Silver. Device-A soldier helmetted and standing against the ruins of a fort: his right hand extended, holding a sword upright: the staff of a stand of colours reversed in his left: the colours under his feet: his right knee drawn up, as if in the act of stamping on them.

Legend-Virtutis et audaciæ monum. et præmium D. De Fleury Equiti Gallio Primo Supr. muros Resp. Americ. D. D.

Reverse-Two water batteries, three guns each: one battery firing at a vessel: a fort on a hill: flag flying: river in front: six vessels before the fort.

Legend-Aggeres Paludes Hostes Victi.
Exergue-Stony Pt. expugn. xv. July 1779.

10. OCCASION.-Capture of Major André, Adjutant General of the British army. Silver.

Device-A shield.

Legend-Fidelity.

Reverse-A wreath.

Legend-Vincit Amor Patriæ.*

* See Note G.

11. OCCASION.-Victory at the Cow Pens, North
Carolina. Gold.

Device-An Indian chief with a quiver on his
back, in the act of crowning an officer with a laurel
wreath his hand resting on his sword: a cannon lying
on the ground: various military weapons and imple-
ments in the back ground.

Legend-Danieli Morgan Duci exercitus. Comitia

Americana.

Reverse. Device-An officer mounted, at the head of
his troops, charging a flying enemy. A battle in the
back ground in front a personal combat between a
dragoon unhorsed and a foot soldier.
Legend-Victoria libertatis vindex.

Exergue--Fugatis captis aut cæsis ad Cowpens
Hostibus.-XVII. Jan. MDCCLXXXI.

12. OCCASION.-Same as the last.

Silver.

Device-An officer mounted with uplifted sword,
pursuing an officer on foot, bearing a stand of colours;
Victory descending in front over the former, holding a
wreath in her right hand over his head: a palm branch
in her left hand.

Legend-Joh. Egar Howard,* Legionis Preditum
Præfecto. Comitia Americana.

Reverse. Inscription.-Quod in Nutantem Hostium
Aciem Subito Irruens, Præclarum Bellicæ virtutis Spe-
cimen Dedit in Pugnam ad Cowpens XVII. Jan.
MDCCLXXXI.*

13. OCCASION.-Same as the two last.

Silver.

Device-An officer mounted, at the head of a
body of cavalry, charging flying troops: a Victory over
the heads of the Americans, holding a laurel crown in
her right hand, and a palm branch in her left.

Legend-Gulielmo Washington, Legionis Equit. Præ-
fecto. Comitia Americana.

Reverse. Inscription-Quod Parva militum manu,
Strenue Prosecutus Hostes, virtutis Ingenitæ Præclarum

*See Note I.-Mr. Howard's name is John Eagar Howard.

Specimen Dedit in Pugna ad Cowpens, xvII. Jan.

MDCCLXXI.*

14. OCCASION.-Gallant conduct at the Eutau Springs, South Carolina. Gold. Face-Head of General Greene.

Legend-Nathanieli Greene, Eggregio Duci. Comitia Americana.

Reverse-A Victory lighting on the earth: under her feet broken arms; colours; a shield.

Legend-Salus Regionum Australium.

Exergue-Hostibus ad Eutaw debellatis, die viii. Sep. MDCCLXXXI.

15. OCCASION.-Alliance of the United States with France. Copper.

Device-A head of liberty: a liberty cap on a staff, resting on her right shoulder.

Legend-Libertas Americana, 4 Jul. 1776.

Reverse-Pallas holding a shield in her left hand, with three fleurs de lis on it, (the arms of France,) and opposing it to a leopard, which is springing against it: her right hand drawn back, and holding a barbed javelin, as if in the act of plunging it into the leopard : under the shield, an infant strangling a serpent, which he is holding up; and, at the same time, stooping to pick up another at his feet.

Legend-Non sine Diis animosus infans.
Exergue-17, 1779

[blocks in formation]

The above are all the medals struck in reference to public events, in North America, previously to the close of the war of Independence. Those for General Wayne, Colonel Fleury, and Captain Stewart, were executed under the direction of Dr. Franklin; and those presented to Generals Washington, Gates, Greene, and Morgan, and Colonels Howard and Washington, were contracted for by the late Colonel Humphreys.§ The dies were engraven by Dupres and Duvivier.

*See Note H.-t See Note K.

See his letter to Mr. Carey, American Museum, Philadelphia, vol. ii.

16. OCCASION.-Capture of the French frigate La Vengeance, by Captain Thomas Truxton, of the United States frigate Constellation. Decreed March 29, 1800.

Face-A head of Captain Truxton.

Legend-Patriæ Patris Filio digno Thomas Trux

tun.

Reverse-Two ships of war: the French a two decker: both much shattered: the rigging of both much cut up.

Legend-The United States frigate Constellation, of thirty-eight guns, pursues, attacks, and vanquishes the French ship La Vengeance, of fifty-four guns; 1 Feb. 1800.*

17. OCCASION.-To Commodore Preble, for his good conduct in the attack on the Dey of Tripoli, in 1804. Decreed March 3d, 1805.

Gold face-Head of Commodore Preble.

Legend-Edwardo Preble Duci Strenuo Comitia

Americana.

Reverse-The American fleet bombarding the town and forts of Tripoli.

Legend-Vindici Commercii Americani.
Exergue-Ante Tripoli, MDCCCIV.†

The following gold medals, for victories by the Navy of the United States, over British vessels of war, during the last war between the United States and England, were decreed by Congress and the state of Pennsylvania. War was declared in June, 1812, and the treaty of peace signed at Ghent, December, 1814.

i. To Captain Isaac Hull, of Connecticut, commander of the United States frigate Constitution, of 44 guns, for the capture of the Guerriere, Captain J. R. Dacres, rated at 38 guns, but carrying 50; on the 19th August, 1812.

[blocks in formation]

2. To Captain Jones, of Delaware, of the Wasp sloop of war, for the capture of the sloop of war Frolic, Captain Whinyates, October 18, 1812.-Vote for the above two passed January, 29, 1813.

3. To Captain Stephen Decatur, of Philadelphia, of the frigate United States, for the capture of the Macedonian frigate, Captain John Carden, on the 25th October, 1812.

4. To Captain William Bainbridge, of Philadelphia, of the frigate Constitution, for the capture of the frigate Java, Captain Lambert, on the 30th December, 1812. Passed March, 3, 1813.

5. To Com. Oliver Hazard Perry, of Rhode-Island, commodore of the fleet on Lake Erie, for the signal victory over a British squadron of superior force, on that lake, on the 10th September, 1813. Voted January 6, 1814.

6. To Captain Jesse Duncan Elliot, of Baltimore, second in command, for his gallantry in the same action. Passed January 6, 1814.

7. To Commodore O. H. Perry,

8. To Captain J. D. Elliott,

9. To Lieutenant John J. Yarnal, of Pennsylvania, for good conduct in the same action, voted by the Legislature of Pennsylvania, January 31, 1814.

10. To the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Willam Burrows, of Philadelphia, killed in action, and

11. To Lieutenant Edward R. McCall, of SouthCarolina, first and second in command of the brig Enterprise, for the capture of the British sloop of war Boxer, Captain Blythe, September 4, 1813. Passed 6th January, 1814.

12. To the nearest male relative of Captain James Lawrence, of New-Jersey, of the sloop of war Hornet, for the capture of brig Peacock, Captain William Peak, on the 24th January, 1813, after an action of fifteen minutes. Passed January 11, 1814.

13. To Captain Thomas M'Donough, of Delaware, commodore of the fleet on Lake Champlain.

14. To Captain Robert Henly, and Lieutenant Stephen Cassin, officers in that fleet, for the victory over the

« PreviousContinue »