The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 71

FRANKLIN PIERCE was born at Hillsborough, New Hampshire, November 23, 1804. He was graduated at Bowdoin College, Maine, 1824, and was admitted to the bar at Hillsborough, 1827; was member of the State Legislature, 1829; member of Congress, 1833-1837; United States senator, 1837-1842; brigadier-general of volunteers, March, 1847; served under General Scott throughout the Mexican campaign; President of the United States, 1853-1857. He retired to Concord, New Hampshire, and died there, October 8, 1869.

No. 67. (p. 352) PLATE LXVIII.

_July 2, 1853._

Smyrna. American sloop of war St. Louis. Austrian brig of war Hussar. [Rx]. Presented by the President of the United States to Commander Duncan N. Ingraham, etc.

COMMANDER DUNCAN NATHANIEL INGRAHAM.

[_Release of Martin Coszta._]

The United States sloop-of-war St Louis, and the Austrian brig-of-war Hussar, are at anchor in the roads of Smyrna; while a second Austrian war vessel and three mail steamers are at a little distance. The city of Smyrna and the ruins of the Acropolis, on Mount Pagus, are in the background. Exergue: SMYRNA. AMERICAN SLOOP OF WAR ST. LOUIS. AUSTRIAN BRIG OF WAR HUSSAR, S. EASTMAN D. (_delineavit._) P. F. CROSS SC..

(_sculpsit._) LONGACRE.

Within a wreath of laurel and oak: PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO COMMANDER DUNCAN N. (_Nathaniel_) INGRAHAM AS A TESTIMONIAL OF THE HIGH SENSE ENTERTAINED BY CONGRESS OF HIS GALLANT AND JUDICIOUS CONDUCT ON THE 2D OF JULY 1853. JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS AUGUST 4{TH} 1854. Exergue: The American eagle, with outspread wings, holds an anchor in its talons; above are thirty-one stars, the whole lighted by the rays of the sun. S. EASTMAN D.

(_delineavit._) J. B. LONGACRE SC. (_sculpsit_).

SETH EASTMAN was graduated at West Point as second lieutenant of (p. 353) infantry, July 1, 1829; was a.s.sistant teacher of drawing at West Point, 1833-1840; first lieutenant, 1836; and captain, 1839. He engraved the armorial bearings of several of the new States, and designed the Ingraham medal. He was living in Washington in 1872.

P. F. CROSS, who engraved the obverse of the Ingraham medal, was born in Sheffield, England, and died in Philadelphia in 1856.

JAMES BARTON LONGACRE was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1794, and became a steel-plate engraver. In 1844 he was appointed engraver to the United States Mint, in Philadelphia, and retained the situation till his death, January 14, 1869. He was also one of the publishers and proprietors of the "National Portrait Gallery," to which he contributed many engravings. His largest plate, however, the equestrian portrait of General Jackson, is not in that work.

DUNCAN NATHANIEL INGRAHAM was born in Charleston, South Carolina, December 6, 1802. He was appointed a midshipman, June 18, 1812; became a lieutenant, January 13, 1825; and commander, September 8, 1841.

While in command of the sloop-of-war St. Louis, off Smyrna, in July, 1853, he rescued Martin Coszta from the Austrian brig-of-war Hussar; for this act Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He became a captain, 1855; and in 1856 was appointed chief of the Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography in the Navy Department, Washington. He resigned, February 4, 1861, and acted with the Southern Confederacy during the Civil War. He died in Charleston, South Carolina, June 10, 1863.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Commander Ingraham._

_Resolved unanimously by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to cause to be made a medal, with suitable devices, and presented to Commander Duncan N. Ingraham, of the navy of the United States, as a testimonial of the high sense entertained by Congress (p. 354) of his gallant and judicious conduct on the second of July, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, in extending protection to Martin Coszta, by rescuing him from illegal seizure and imprisonment on board the Austrian war brig Hussar.

Approved August 4, 1854.

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_Commander Ingraham to Commodore Stringham._

United States ship St. Louis, To Smyrna, July 6th, 1853.

COMMODORE SILAS H. STRINGHAM, Commander-in-Chief of the United States Naval Forces in the Mediterranean.

Sir: It becomes my duty to report to you an affair at this place in which I have taken upon myself to compromise the American flag.

I arrived here upon the 23d of June, and soon after anchoring was informed that an American had been kidnapped by the Austrian Consul upon the Turkish soil and sent on board an Austrian brig-of-war.

I sent for the American Consul and informed him of what I had heard. He told me the man was a Hungarian refugee (named Martin Coszta), who had a certificate of intention to become a citizen of the United States, and came here in an American vessel, but that he did not consider him under his protection, having to his knowledge no pa.s.sport.

The Consul and myself then went on board the brig, and requested to see the commander, but were told he was not on board. We then went to the Austrian Consul, and demanded to see Coszta, which after some demur was granted.

After a conversation with Coszta, I was afraid I had no right to demand him as a citizen of the United States, but determined neither to make a claim nor acquiesce in his seizure until I could hear from the Legation at Constantinople. I was guided in this opinion by the Consul, who seemed to think we could not use force without more evidence than the paper in his possession gave.

I then requested the Consul to write immediately to the Legation, which he did. Before an answer could arrive, I received information that Coszta was to be sent to Trieste. I immediately wrote to the commander of the brig, protesting against this step, and received a verbal reply that he was ignorant of any such intention. Next morning, at daylight, I got under way, and anch.o.r.ed within half cable's length of the brig, and loaded my guns, the steamer in which it was said Coszta was to be sent being very near. At 11 A.M. an answer came from Mr. Brown, stating that Coszta was an American citizen, and advising the Consul to give him all aid and sympathy, but in an unofficial way. I then told the Consul he must insist upon Coszta remaining until I again heard from the Charge. He did so, when the Austrian Consul told him he had intended to send the man off that day, but would wait until the next mail. On Sat.u.r.day, the 2d of July, (p. 355) the Capen Oglan of the Legation arrived with letters from the Charge to the Consul and myself to use stringent measures.

I immediately held an interview with Coszta, in which he claimed the protection of the American flag. I then addressed note "B" to the commander of the brig, demanding Coszta's release. I also directed the American Consul to furnish the Austrian Consul with a copy of the demand, which was done. At this time the Austrian brig and a ten-gun schooner that arrived the day before prepared for action, having three mail-steamers to a.s.sist. I did the same, and awaited the hour of 4 P.M. At 12, our Consul came off with a proposition that Coszta should be delivered into the hands of the Consul-General of France, to be held at the joint order of the American and Austrian Consuls, until his nationality should be determined. After some consideration, and the advice of the English and French Consuls to ours, I agreed to the terms. The prisoner was then landed amid the cheers of the inhabitants and every demonstration of joy. I know, Sir, I have taken a fearful responsibility upon myself by this act, but after Mr. Brown informed me Coszta had taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, and foresworn all allegiance to Austria, that he was an American citizen and had been under the protection of the Legation at Constantinople, I could not hesitate to believe he was fully ent.i.tled to protection. It was a case of life and death; for, if Coszta had been taken to Trieste his fate was sealed, and could I have looked the American people in the face again, if I had allowed a citizen to be executed and not used the power in my hands to protect him for fear of doing too much? The easy manner, also, in which he was given up, and the Convention that he should be held by a third party until his nationality could be established, is evidence that they were not sure of their ground.

Should my conduct be approved by you, Sir, it will be one of the proudest moments of my life that I have saved this gallant man from a cruel and ignominious death. On the other hand, should the course I have pursued be disavowed, I must bow to the decision; but whatever may be the consequence to myself, I shall feel I have done my best to support the honor of the flag, and not allow a citizen to be oppressed who claimed at my hands the protection of the flag.

I enclose copies of all the papers (A to E) relating to this affair.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. N. INGRAHAM, _Commander_.

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A

_Commander Ingraham to Commander Schwartz._

United States ship St. Louis, Smyrna Roads, To Evening June 28, 1853.

THE COMMANDER OF THE AUSTRIAN BRIG HUSSAR.

Sir: I have this moment received a letter stating Martin Coszta was to be sent on board the steamer to-morrow at daylight, to be sent to Trieste. I have been only waiting to hear from the (p. 356) Minister at Constantinople before I took some action in the case of Coszta, as he has a paper stating his intention to become a citizen of the United States. He came here in an American vessel, and has been some time in the United States. I earnestly protest against his leaving this port until something has been heard from Constantinople.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, D. N. INGRAHAM, _Commander_.

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B

_Commander Schwartz to Commander Ingraham._

His Imperial Majesty's brig Hussar, To Smyrna, June 29th, 1853.

THE COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP ST. LOUIS.

Sir: I had the honor to receive your letter of the 28th inst.

Concerning the matter respecting Martin Coszta, I request you, Sir, to communicate with the Consul General, as I can personally do nothing in the matter, as I receive all my orders from him.

I have the honor to subscribe myself, with great respect, your obedient servant, SCHWARTZ.