The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 Part 31

No. 9. (p. 046) PLATE IX.

_January 17, 1781._

Gulielmo Washington legionis equit. praefecto Comitia American.

[Rx]. Quod parva militum manu, etc.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON.

[_Victory of the Cowpens._]

GULIELMO WASHINGTON LEGIONIS EQUIT. (_equitum_) PRaeFECTO COMITIA AMERICAN. (_Americana._) (_The American Congress to William Washington, commander of a regiment of cavalry._) Lieutenant-Colonel Washington, at the head of his men, is pursuing the enemy's cavalry. A winged Victory hovers above him, holding in her right hand a crown of laurel, and in her left a palm branch. DUV. (_Duvivier_).

Within a crown of laurel: QUOD PARVA MILITUM MANU STRENUE PROSECUTUS HOSTES VIRTUTIS INGENITae PRaeCLARUM SPECIMEN DEDIT IN PUGNA AD COWPENS XVII. JAN. (_Januarii_) MDCCLx.x.xI.(_Because in vigorously pursuing the enemy with a handful of soldiers he gave a n.o.ble example of innate courage at the battle of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781_).[41],[42]

[Footnote 41: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xi, xii, xvii, xxiii, xxviii, x.x.xv; B, x.x.xvi; G, xlv; and H, xlvii.]

[Footnote 42: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official report of the battle of the Cowpens, are given under No. 8, page 40.]

WILLIAM AUGUSTINE WASHINGTON, a distant relation of General Washington's, was born in Stafford County, Virginia, February 28, 1752. He was educated for the church, but entered the army as captain of infantry, and fought in the battles of Long Island, Trenton, and Princeton. In 1778 he was lieutenant-colonel of dragoons, and served in the South under Generals Lincoln, Greene, and Morgan. He distinguished himself at the victory of the Cowpens, for which he (p. 047) received from Congress a silver medal; was made a prisoner at Eutaw Springs, and remained in captivity in Charleston, South Carolina, till the close of the war, when he settled in that city. He served for some time in the South Carolina Legislature; was appointed on General Washington's staff with the rank of brigadier-general, in 1797, and died in Charleston, March 6, 1810.

No. 10. (p. 048) PLATE X.

_January 17, 1781._

Joh. Egar Howard legionis peditum praefecto Comitia Americana.

[Rx]. Quod in nutantem hostium aciem, etc.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN EAGER HOWARD.

[_Victory of the Cowpens._]

JOH. (_Johanni_) EGAR. (_sic_) HOWARD LEGIONIS PEDITUM PRaeFECTO COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to John Eager Howard, commander of a regiment of infantry._) Lieutenant-Colonel Howard, on horseback, is in pursuit of a foot-soldier of the enemy who is carrying away a standard. A winged Victory hovers over him, holding in her right hand a crown of laurel, and in her left a palm branch.

DUVIV. (_Duvivier_).

Within a crown of laurel: QUOD IN NUTANTEM HOSTIUM ACIEM SUBITO IRRUENS PRaeCLARUM BELLICae VIRTUTIS SPECIMEN DEDIT IN PUGNA AD COWPENS XVII. JAN. (_Januarii_) MDCCLx.x.xI. (_Because by rushing suddenly on the wavering lines of the enemy, he gave a brilliant example of martial courage at the battle of the Cowpens, January 17, 1781_).[43],[44]

[Footnote 43: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xi, xii, xvii, xxiii, xxviii, x.x.xv; B, x.x.xvi; G, xlv; and H, xlvii.]

[Footnote 44: The resolution of Congress voting this medal, and the official report of the battle of the Cowpens, are given under No. 8, page 40.]

JOHN EAGER HOWARD was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, June 4, 1752. On the breaking out of the Revolution he was appointed captain, and took part in the battle of White Plains. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1777, and fought at Germantown and Monmouth. He became lieutenant-colonel of the 5th Maryland regiment of infantry in 1779, and served in the South under Generals Gates, Greene, and Morgan, taking a brilliant part in every engagement. At the victory of the Cowpens he held in his hands at one time the swords of seven (p. 049) British officers who had surrendered to him. For his services in this battle Congress awarded him a silver medal. He was colonel of the 2d Maryland regiment at Eutaw Springs. At the close of the war he retired to Baltimore, and was governor of Maryland, 1789-1792, and United States senator, 1796-1803 When a war with France was expected in 1797, he was selected by General Washington for one of his brigadier-generals. He organized the defence of Baltimore in 1814, and died in that city, October 12, 1827.

No. 11. (p. 050) PLATE XI.

_September 8, 1781._

Nathanieli Green egregio duci Comitia Americana. [Rx]. Salus regionum australium.

MAJOR-GENERAL NATHANIEL GREENE.

[_Victory of Eutaw Springs._]

NATHANIELI GREEN (_sic_) EGREGIO DUCI COMITIA AMERICANA. (_The American Congress to Nathaniel Greene, a distinguished general._) Bust of General Greene, in uniform, facing the left.

SALUS REGIONUM AUSTRALIUM. (_The safety of the southern regions._) A winged Victory holds a crown of laurel in her right hand, and a palm branch in her left; one foot is resting on a trophy of arms and flags of conquered enemies. Exergue: HOSTIBUS AD EUTAW DEBELLATIS DIE VIII SEPT (_Septembris_) MDCCLx.x.xI. (_The enemy vanquished at Eutaw on the 8th of September, 1781._) DUPRe.[45]

[Footnote 45: See INTRODUCTION, pages x, xi, xiii, xvi, xvii, xviii, xxi, xxviii, x.x.xv; B, x.x.xvi; C, xli; F, xlv; and H, xlvii.]

The legend of the reverse of this medal, as originally proposed by the French Academy of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres was, SALUS PROVINCIARUM AUSTRALIUM.

NATHANIEL GREENE was born at Potowhommet, Warwick County, Rhode Island, May 27, 1742. He began life as a blacksmith, but entered the "Kentish Guards" as a private in 1774. He was made brigadier-general of the Rhode Island contingent to the army before Boston, in May, 1775, and a brigadier-general in the Continental Army, June 22, 1775, and remained in active service throughout the war. In 1776 he commanded in Long Island as a major-general; and fought at Trenton, Princeton, the Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Newport, and Springfield. He was quartermaster-general from March 2, 1778, to August, 1780; and was commander of the army, in September, when Arnold's treason was discovered. The same year he was appointed commander-in-chief of (p. 051) the southern department, retook the two Carolinas and Georgia, and won the battle of Eutaw Springs, September 8, 1781, for which victory Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. After the war he removed to a plantation, which the State of Georgia had given him, on the Savannah river, and died there of a sunstroke, June 19, 1786.

_____

ORIGINAL DOc.u.mENTS.

_Resolutions of Congress Voting a Medal to General Greene, etc._

BY THE UNITED STATES IN CONGRESS a.s.sEMBLED.

_Resolved_, That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to Major-General Greene for his wise, decisive, and magnanimous conduct in the action of the 8th of September last, near the Eutaw Springs, in South Carolina, in which, with a force inferior in number to that of the enemy, he obtained a most signal victory.

That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to the officers and men of the Maryland and Virginia brigades, and Delaware battalion of continental troops, for the unparalleled bravery and heroism by them displayed, in advancing to the enemy through an incessant fire, and charging them with an impetuosity and ardour that could not be resisted.

That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to the officers and men of the legionary corps and artillery, for their intrepid and gallant exertions during the action.

That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to the brigade of North Carolina for their resolution and perseverance in attacking the enemy, and sustaining a superior fire.

That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to the officers and men of the state corps of South Carolina, for the zeal, activity, and firmness by them exhibited throughout the engagement.

That the thanks of the United States in Congress a.s.sembled, be presented to the officers and men of the militia, who formed the front line in the order of battle, and sustained their post with honour, propriety, and resolution, worthy of men determined to be free.

_Resolved_, That a British standard be presented to Major-General Greene as an honourable testimony of his merit, and a golden medal emblematical of the battle and victory aforesaid.

That Major-General Greene be desired to present the thanks of (p. 052) Congress to Captains Pierce and Pendleton, Major Hyrne and Captain Shubrick, his aids-de-camp in testimony of their particular activity and good conduct during the whole of the action.

That a sword be presented to Captain Pierce, who bore the general's despatches giving an account of the victory, and that the Board of War take order herein.