The Medallic History of the United States of America Part 83

Every exertion was now made by both officers and men to a.s.sist the crew in keeping the ship afloat; by clearing her of water and throwing overboard freight.

A constant succession of gales continued for four days, rendering it almost certain (to human foresight) that she must go down. But by the merciful goodness of G.o.d we were preserved, and I am happy to inform you that all the survivors have been taken from the wreck and are now in this harbor, and on the ship "Antarctic" for Liverpool, except eighteen men that volunteered to remain, and help work the old bark Kilby into port.

On the 27th of December the bark Kilby of Boston hove in sight, and her n.o.ble commander, Captain Low, said he would lay by us until the sea would permit him to remove us on board his vessel.

On the 28th, the sea having in a measure become quiet, he came alongside, sent his boats and removed all the ladies, children, pa.s.sengers (citizens), a number of officers, and about fifty soldiers, when suddenly a squall of wind separated the two vessels, parting the hawser by which they were attached, and continued to blow all night a violent gale. This squall came on so suddenly that my quarter-master and acting adjutant, 1st Lieutenant Fremont, who came on board the bark for a few hours to urge the sailors on to renewed exertions, and offer them large inducements to work the boats all night, was left on the bark unable to get back.

Brevet Major Wyse, the senior officer, undisabled, was, by my orders, detailed to superintend the transfer of troops, and was thus left in command of those remaining on the wreck. For two days and nights the gale continued, and though we tried constantly to regain the wreck, it was found impossible to do so, with the old bark in her crippled condition, and as we were put on an allowance of bread and water, it was finally resolved to make if possible an American port.

We drifted before the wind for fifteen days, and were at last, after living on parched corn five days, taken off by the packet ship Lucy Thompson, of this port, Captain Pendleton, a n.o.ble hearted sailor.

I cannot close this brief report without expressing my high admiration of the n.o.ble conduct of every undisabled officer, and most of the men. Brevet Major Wyse, Captain Judd, my only staff officer (quartermaster and acting adjutant), 1st Lieutenant Fremont, who, in addition to his own duties, served at the (p. 416) pumps, 1st Lieutenant Loeser, acting Commissary, 1st Lieutenant W. A. Winder, 2d Lieutenants C. S. Winder, Van Voast, and Chandler.

These officers, some of them though slightly disabled, never faltered in their duty, working day and night at the pumps and elsewhere, and I would specially notice the three 2d lieutenants who, being unenc.u.mbered with the cares of family, labored unremittingly, and deserve the highest praise.

My regiment is broken up and disorganized, and it will be many months before it can take the field successfully. We were all anxious to reach California; our "all" was embarked in the expedition, and by the providence of G.o.d it has been swept away, and we are now penniless and dest.i.tute. We claim that our tour of duty in California has been performed, by every military principle, we have suffered more in the last three weeks than we could, ordinarily, during a five-year tour in California. "We have marched off parade," sought our destination, and been crushed, cruelly crushed, and we now ask that due consideration be shown us.

I further request that the officers of companies "B" and "L" now under orders for California be directed to report to me in this city for duty, with the remnants of those companies.

The officers lost are Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, Brevet Major George Taylor, Brevet Captain H. B. Field, and 1st Lieutenant R. H. Smith.

As soon as possible a detailed report with a return of the survivors will be made to you.

The troops taken off by the "Kilby" and "Three Bells" are at Bedloe's Island.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, William GATES, _Colonel commanding_.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Acts of Congress Voting Eight Months' Pay to Lieutenant Francis Key Murray and others._

_Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled_: That there shall be paid, under the direction of the President, to each of the officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians and privates, who, on the twenty-first day of December, eighteen hundred and fifty-three, embarked at New York, under orders to California, on the steamship San Francisco, and who was on board the vessel on the occasion of her recent disaster at sea, and to Lieutenant Francis Key Murray, and any other officer or seaman of the United States Navy, who was on board the said steamship, under orders, a sum equal in amount to his pay and allowance for eight months.

SECTION 2. _And be it further enacted_, That if any such (p. 417) officer, non-commissioned officer, musician or private, shall have died before receiving such payment, from any cause consequent upon said disaster, his widow, if one survive him, and if not, then his minor children, if any there be, shall be paid a sum equal in amount to six months' pay, and allowances of the deceased; and that the widows and minor children of those officers, non-commissioned officers and privates, who perished by this disaster, or who died from disease in consequence thereof, shall be allowed pensions in the same manner in all respects as if the said officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates had been killed in battle.

Approved March 27th, 1854.

SECTION 3. _And be it further enacted_, That the amount which it may be found necessary to pay under the act of twenty-seventh March, eighteen hundred and fifty-four, to the widows and orphans of United States troops, who perished by the recent disaster to the steamship San Francisco, be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Approved August 5th, 1854.

No. 77. (p. 418) PLATE LXXVII.

_1866._

Honor and fame are the reward. [Rx]. By resolution of the Congress of the United States. March 2, 1867. to Cyrus W. Field, of New York, etc.

CYRUS WEST FIELD.

[_Laying of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable._]

Within a circle formed by a telegraphic cable: HONOR AND FAME ARE THE REWARD. On clouds in the midst of sunbeams the undraped bust of Cyrus West Field, facing the left. A hand from above places a crown on his head; below is the Atlantic Ocean; two ships going in opposite directions are paying out the cable; to the left, the western hemisphere, AMERICA; to the right, the eastern hemisphere, EUROPE; beneath, in a band formed by the Atlantic cable and a chain uniting the two worlds, INDOMITABLE PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURING FAITH ACHIEVED THE SUCCESS, J. G. BRUFF D. (_delineavit._) BARBER F. (_fecit_).

Within an endless chain: BY RESOLUTION OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. MARCH 2, 1867. TO CYRUS W. (_West_) FIELD, OF NEW YORK FOR HIS FORESIGHT, FAITH, AND PERSISTENCY, IN ESTABLISHING TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION, BY MEANS OF THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH, CONNECTING THE OLD WITH THE NEW WORLD. To the left, the American shield; to the right, a star formed of thirty-one smaller stars; below, the terrestrial globe, showing AMERICA and EUROPE, surrounded with electric sparks, surmounted by a torch and a caduceus crossed, and resting on branches of laurel and of oak.

J. GOLDSBOROUGH BRUFF was in 1872 one of the designing artists (p. 419) attached to the Treasury Department in Washington. He designed the face of this medal.

WILLIAM BARBER, at present engraver to the United States Mint in Philadelphia, was born in London, England. The princ.i.p.al medals engraved by him are those of Cyrus W. Field, Elliot, Rittenhouse, James Pollock, Joseph Pancoast, and Dr. Linderman.

CYRUS WEST FIELD was born in Stockbridge, Ma.s.sachusetts, November 30, 1819. He went to New York city at the age of fifteen, and entered a commercial house. He was one of the first promoters of an Atlantic telegraph, and founded the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company in 1854; organized the Atlantic Telegraph Company in 1856; and took a leading part in the various attempts to lay a transatlantic cable. He received a vote of thanks and a gold medal from Congress for the final success of this great undertaking. He is still living.

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ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Cyrus W. Field._

_Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress a.s.sembled_: That the thanks of Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to Cyrus W. Field of New York, for his foresight, courage and determination in establishing telegraphic communication by means of the Atlantic cable, traversing mid-ocean and connecting the Old World with the New; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscription, to be presented to Mr. Field.

_And be it further resolved_, That when the medal shall have been struck, the President shall cause a copy of this joint resolution to be engrossed on parchment, and shall transmit the same, together with the medal, to Mr. Field to be presented to him in the name of the people of the United States of America.

_And further_, That a sufficient sum of money to carry this resolution into effect is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Approved March 2, 1867.

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_The Secretary of State to Cyrus W. Field._ (p. 420)

To Department of State, Cyrus W. FIELD, Esq., Washington, January 7, 1869.

New York.

Sir: Pursuant to the resolution of Congress of March 2, 1867, the President has caused to be prepared, for presentation to you, in the name of the people of the United States, a gold medal, with suitable devices and inscriptions, in acknowledgment of your eminent services in the establishment of telegraphic communication, by means of the Atlantic cable, between the Old World and the New.

This testimonial, together with an engrossed copy of the resolution referred to, is herewith transmitted to you by direction of the President.

I am, Sir, your obedient servant, William H. SEWARD.

No. 78. (p. 421) PLATE LXXVIII.