medals of the continental congress

8/14/2019 Medals of the Continental Congress

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MEDALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

David D. Crippen

LTC (CA) RET

CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR MILITARY HISTORY


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DEDICATION Thomas Crippen

Connecticut Minute Men andVolunteers 1776 Company ofHouseholders Town of

Sharon.

Berkshire County RegimentMassachusetts 1780

Roswell CrippenAlbany Militia, 9th Brigade,

New York John Crippen

Albany Militia, 9th Brigade NewYork

Mathew Fuller, Captain,Plymouth Colony Militia,Surgeon General,Massachusetts Bay ColonyMilitia; King Phillips War


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CREDITS

AMERICAS FIRST MEDALS; A collection issued by the U.S. Mint 1976

MEDALS COMMEMORATING BATTLES OF THE AMERICANREVOLUTION, BY Vladimir and Elvira Clain-Steffaneli, National museumof History and Technology, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.

MEDALIC PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON, 2ND Ed., Russell Rulau andGeorge Fuld, Krause Publications.

THE CALL OF DUTY Military Awards and Decorations of the UnitedStates of America, LTC John E. Strandberg and James Bender, R. James

Bender, Publishing

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MUSEUM COLLECTION, REVOLUTIONARYWAR. cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/revwar/inde/indenorthern/html


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GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON

BATTLE OF BOSTON

OBVERSE: Washingtons Head,from a bust by Houdon.

INSCRIPTION: The AmericanCongress to George Washington,Commander-in-Chief of the armies ,the defender of liberty.

REVERSE: The evacuation ofBoston by the British. TheAmerican Army in the distance.Washington in the foregroundpointing out the fleeing enemy to agroup of officers.

INSCRIPTION: The enemy put toflight for the first time-Boston

retaken, March 17, 1776.

The Continental Congress, on March25, 1776 adopted a resolution Thatfor a wise and spirited conduct inthe siege and acquisition ofBoston A medal in gold bepresented to General Washington.

1732-1799


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MAJOR GENERAL HORATIO GATES

VICTORY AT SARATOGA

OBVERSE: A bust of Major General

Gates. INSCRIPTION: The American

Congress to Horatio Gates a

dauntless general.

REVERSE: The enemy groundingarms; their commander presenting his

sword to MG Gates, the American

Army at shoulder arms.

INSCRIPTION: The Safety of the

Northern Department The enemys

surrender on 17

th

of October 1777.1729-1806


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BG ANTHONY WAYNE

STONY POINTOBVERSE: America prepares to

award BG Wayne with a laurel

wreath.

INSCRIPTION: The American

Congress to the commander of the

Army Anthony Wayne.

REVERSE: The fort at Stony Point,

when the Americans enter with fixedbayonets.

INSCRIPTION: Stony Point

conquered July 15, 1779

1745-1796


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LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANCOIS DE FLEURY

STORMING STONY POINTOBVERSE: Mars on the ruins of the

fort treading on the British Flag andraising his sword over vanquishedenemies.

INSCRIPTION:A memorial rewardfor bravery and boldness. TheAmerican Republic presented thisaward to M. De Fleury a FrenchOfficer, who was first to scale the

walls. REVERSE: The fort at Stony Point

and enemy vessels on the riverbelow it.

INSCRIPTION: Fortifications,marshes and the enemy overcome.Stony Point taken by assault, July5th 1779.

The medal was issued in silver.The dies reengraved by the U.S.Mint, 1880

The Flagstaff Battery stormed by De Fleury

On the walking tour of Stony Point


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MAJOR JOHN STEWART

STORMING OF STONY

POINT

OBVERSE: America presentingthe palm of victory to MajorStewart.

INSCRIPTION: The AmericanCongress to Major JohnStewart.

REVERSE: Major Stewart at thehead of his soldiers forces anabatis of trees protecting thefort, seen in the background.

INSCRIPTION: Stony Pointstormed July 15, 1779.

The position at Stony Point attacked by Major

Stewart as seen today

Medal

issued in

silver


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MAJOR HENRY LEE

ATTACK ON PAULUS HOOK

OBVERSE: Bust of Lee.

INSCRIPTION: The American Congress to Henry Lee,

Commander of a Cavalry Regiment.REVERSE: Inscription in a laurel wreath.

INSCRIPTION: in spite of rivers, fortifications, he vanquishedthe enemy through skill and military bravery with a handful ofmen, he conquered through humane action those who hadbeen subdued by the sword. In commemoration of the battle ofPaulus Hook, August 19th 1779


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CAPTAIN JOHN PAUL JONES

BONHOMME RICHARD vs. HMS SERAPIS

OBVERSE: Bust of John Paul

Jones.


Congress to John Paul Jones.

Captain of the Navy.

REVERSE: Sea Battle between

the Bonhomme Richard and

HMS Serapis.

INSCRIPTION: The enemys

vessels captured or put toflight- Off the coast of Scotland,

September 23, 1779


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BRIGADIER GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN

VICTORY AT COWPENS

OBVERSE: America rests herhand on a trophy of arms andflags; with her right handcrowns General Morgan with alaurel wreath.

INSCRIPTION: The AmericanCongress to the Commander ofthe Army.

REVERSE: General Morganat the head of his army, putsthe enemy to flight.

INSCRIPTION: Victory,defender of liberty-theenemy put to flight, capturedor slain at Cowpens,January 17, 1781.


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LT COL JOHN E. HOWARD

BATTLE OF COWPENS

OBVERSE: LTC

Howard on Horseback,

sword raised pursuing

and enemy soldier;

Victory flying abovewith a palm branch

holds a laurel wreath

above his head.

INSCRIPTION: The

American Congress to

John Eager Howard,Commander of a

regiment of Infantry.REVERSE: Legend

contained in a Laurel

Wreath. INSCRIPTION:

By suddenly attackingthe wavering lines of

enemy, he gave an

example of military

gallantry in the battle of

Cowpens, January

17,1781

1752-1827

Medal issued in

silver


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LT COL WILLIAM WASHINGTON

BATTLE OF COWPENS

OBVERSE: LTC Washington, at

the head of his legion, charges

and routs the enemy. Victory

above his head, holds a laurel

wreath and a palm branch.


Congress to William

Washington, Commander of aregiment of cavalry.

REVERSE: Inscription in a

laurel wreath.

INSCRIPTION: Through a

determined pursuit of the

enemy with a small group ofsoldiers, he gave a

distinguished example of

inborn valor in the battle at

Cowpens, January 17, 1781.

1752-1810

Medal issued in silver


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PRIVATES JOHN PAULING, ISSAC VAN DER WAART, DAVID WILLIAMS

CAPTURE OF MAJOR ANDRE

KNOWN AS THE FIDELITYMEDAL

OBVERSE: Floweringrosemary joined at the bottomwith a bow surrounds arococo shield. INSCRIPTION:FIDELITY

REVERSE: FloweringRosemary joined at thebottom

INSCRIPTION: Love ofcountry triumphant.

Each medal was inscribed:

Presented

ByCongress

to(initials of the recipient )

As one of the captors of

ANDRE

medals of the continental congress

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